A look into the amazing story of Louis Zamperini; American Olympian and World War II POW who survived unbelievable adversity against all odds. Courtesy: CBS
Screen grab of Jack O'Connell as Louis "Louie" Zamperini in the movie 'Unbroken'. Source: Supplied
LAST year, the world lost a legend. Louis Zamperini died.
It was the second time he'd been declared dead, the first time was 70 years earlier during World War II when he was declared killed in action after his US B-24 went down on an exploration mission.
It was one of the many extraordinary tales of survival and endurance that saw Zamperini become the focus of Angelina Jolie's latest film Unbroken.
Angelina Jolie with Louise Zamperini. Picture: Universal Pictures. Source: Supplied
The film was inspired by a biography of the same name penned by Laura Hillenbrand, but Zamperini was also the subject of two lesser-known memoirs, Devil at My Heels, penned by Helen Itria and A World War II Hero's Epic Saga of Torment, Survival, and Forgiveness, written with David Rensin.
But it was Hillenbrand's work that went to the top of the New York Times bestseller list.
Born to Italian migrant parents, Zamperini was raised in Torrence California and had a reputation for getting in trouble.
To try and steer him in the right direction, his older brother encouraged him to start running.
By 1936, just 19, he was on his way to the Olympic Games in Germany, the youngest to ever qualify for the 5,000m race.
He finished 8th, but it was enough to catch the attention of Adolf Hitler who wanted to meet him personally.
May 20, 1939, Louis Zamperini, of the University of southern California, breaks the tape and record with a time of 4:16.3 to win the mile run in the Pacific Coast Conference Track and Field meet the University of Washington Stadium in Seattle. Pic: AP Photo/Paul Wagner, File. Source: AP
In 1941 his pace of life changed when he joined the USA Air Corps and it was during a search mission in a B-24 that his plane crashed off the coast of Oahu.
Eight men were killed.
The world thought Zamperini was one of the dead.
President Franklin Roosevelt had even sent a letter of condolence to Zamperini's family.
Little did they know, that floatin in the ocean, three of the 11 crew on the doomed flight had actually survived.
Zamperini was one of them.
For 47 days the trio were adrift at sea. Somehow they managed to catch enough food to survive while warding off sharks.
And as if that wasn't enough, they were also the subject of overhead attacks from Japanese bombers. Those attacks resulted in the raft being punctured.
Unfortunately, after 33 days, one of the men died.
On their final day the two remaining men reached land.
But to their horror, their fortune quickly turned to bad luck when they were captured by the Japanese Navy and made prisoners of war.
Jack O'Connell, centre, as Louis "Louie" Zamperini in the movie 'Unbroken'. Pic: AP Photo/Universal Pictures Source: AP
For the duration of the battle they would remain in various prisions where they would be tortured, tormented, battered and beaten until the end of the war.
But Zamperini surivived all of this too – proof of his determination and resilience in the face of what many would consider impossible odds.
After the war, when he eventually returned to the US — which was also his return from the dead, he received a hero's welcome.
The following year he was married. He remained with his wife until her passing in 2001.
His extraordinary tale of survival captured the imagination of Angelina Jolie, who was reportedly devastated at Zamperini's passing in 2014.
Jolie and Zamperini who were neighbours in the Hollywood Hills, became friends during the development of the film.
Prior to his death Zamperini referred to Jolie as a "human dynamo".
"I know she will tell this story in the right way," he said.
Jolie said she thought it would be hard to make a film worthy of such a great man.
"I am deeply honoured to have the chance and will do all I can to bring Louie's inspiring story to life.
Angelina Jolie on the set of Unbroken. Pic: supplied. Source: Supplied
"Like all readers of Laura's book and all people who love and admire Louie, I am a fan who has learned so much.
"He has made me a better person," she said.
Jolie told People magazine she had learned some great lessons in life from him.
"When there is an obstacle, you have to rise to the challenge, not be overwhelmed by it," she said
"And we're not alone in the world."
Zamperini died last year.
The movie Unbroken exceeded box office expectations in its first weekend of release, earning $46.05 million.
The book by the same name spent more than 145 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list.
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