The True Story

Season 1 Episode 7: The Bourne Identity

This documentary explores the real CIA history that inspired the Jason Bourne films. Robert Ludlum based Bourne on secret CIA mind-control and assassination programs, including unethical brainwashing experiments on psychiatric patients. The novels also drew on Ludlum's CIA contacts and real-life figures such as Carlos the Jackal. For *The Bourne Identity*, director Doug Liman replaced the original villain with Operation Treadstone, a fictional CIA black-ops unit inspired by the Iran-Contra affair, in which CIA operatives secretly conducted illegal missions in Nicaragua. Liman, whose father led the Iran-Contra investigation, used his firsthand insight into espionage to shape the story. Bourne's combat, driving, and survival skills were also designed to reflect the abilities of real elite intelligence operatives.

Genre:

Documentary

Seasons:

5

Episodes:

37

Cast:

Quality:

HD

Duration:

45 min

First Air:

2008

Rating:

-