The Return of the Argo-nauts

It was no accident that I chose to allude to Jason and the Argonauts in this post because the producers of the hit movie  Argo certainly fleeced us. In their quest to capitalize on the timeliness of a move about a significant event in Iranian-American relations, the producers glossed over (or perhaps I should write, "pulled the wool over the eyes"  of moviegoers) a very important fact.


John Sheardown, the Canadian Immigration Officer based in Tehran who provided shelter to six American diplomats who escaped capture during the assault on the US Embassy, passed away on Monday, December 31. He played a vital role in providing safety to the Americans leading to their safe return to the US with the use of Canadian passports. Unfortunately, the movie downplays his role to that of a mere bystander. In fact, I don't recall that Ken Taylor, the Canadian Ambassador to Iran, made an appearance in the film, even though he also provided a safe haven for the Americans.

It is disappointing and dispiriting that Hollywood continues to revise history to suit its production needs. At the very least the producers should have done much more to honor the role played by John Sheardown.