The Shocking True Story of 50 First Dates

The Shocking True Story of 50 First Dates

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re discussing the surprising truth behind “50 First Dates.”

For this list, we’ll be looking at the shocking true stories that connect to this 2004 romantic comedy.

What are your thoughts on “50 First Dates?” Let us know in the comments.

Even if you’ve never seen “50 First Dates,” you’re likely familiar with the premise: Adam Sandler’s Henry falls in love with Drew Barrymore’s Lucy, who has a form of anterograde amnesia. Due to the effects of a car accident, Lucy wakes up every day thinking it’s October 13 from the previous year, unable to preserve new memories. George Wing’s script went through various changes from page to screen. The original title of “Fifty First Kisses” was modified for marketing purposes. When Sandler came aboard, the setting shifted from Seattle to Hawaii. Several writers, including Sandler, also tweaked the screenplay to align with the star’s brand of comedy. At its core, though, the film remained a romance centered on short-term memory.

While most audiences were already familiar with amnesia, many wondered if Lucy’s specific condition, Goldfield’s Syndrome, was real. Goldfield’s is merely a product of the script. In the peer-reviewed medical journal BMJ, a 2004 article states, “‘50 First Dates’ maintains a venerable movie tradition of portraying an amnesiac syndrome that bears no relation to any known neurological or psychiatric condition.” While it’s safe to say that the filmmakers took some liberties, Lucy’s condition is actually more grounded than even some medical professionals initially gave the movie credit.

In 1985, Englishwoman Michelle Philpots met her future husband, Ian. That same year, she suffered a motorcycle crash. In 1990, Michelle endured another automobile accident, receiving an epilepsy diagnosis. In addition to getting seizures, Michelle struggled to remember things like copying a document at work. As she lost her new memories, Michelle also lost her office job. It got to the point where Michelle couldn’t remember beyond 1994, continually waking up in a year when O. J. Simpson went to trial, “Pulp Fiction” broke new ground for indie cinema, and every woman tried pulling off “The Rachel” haircut. Despite sometimes forgetting what she was in the middle of doing, Michelle could still carry on with her day-to-day activities. Alas, every tomorrow meant yesterday would be erased.

As heartbreaking as this was for Michelle, Ian was there to support her, just as Henry steps up for Lucy in the movie. However, where Henry doesn’t meet Lucy until after her accident, Michelle thankfully knew Ian before her memory started to slip. However, Michelle and Ian didn’t get married until 1997. Although Michelle has no memory of this, Ian shows her their wedding album every morning, similar to Henry’s videos for Lucy. Michelle also uses post-it notes, her phone calendar, and a GPS to keep up to date. Although they never had children like Henry and Lucy, Michelle and Ian’s marriage remained strong. But wait, “50 First Dates” came out exactly ten years after Michelle’s memories were cut off. Does that mean the film is based on her?

Occasionally, you’ll see “50 First Dates” included on lists of movies based on “true stories.” While there are real-world parallels, other outlets cite the film as fictional. In an interview with the 20/20 Movie Podcast, George Wing referenced the real world inspiration behind his script. Wing didn’t directly mention Michelle, suggesting that he was familiar with anterograde amnesia, but not necessarily this particular patient. Michelle also wouldn’t gain much media attention until 2010 with “50 First Dates” often being referenced.

Still, some might find it awfully coincidental that Michelle’s story shares so much in common with Wing’s script. While Michelle’s condition is rare, it’s not limited to her alone. On March 14, 2005, almost a year after “50 First Dates” hit theaters, a man simply known as “WO” woke up at his German military post, played volleyball at the gym, worked at his office, and got a root canal. The next day, he still thought it was March 14, 2005. Years later, WO can’t remember anything beyond sitting in the dentist’s chair with new memories usually slipping away after 90 minutes.

On May 5, 2005, a 51-year-old woman referred to as “FL” hit the left side of her head when her car got rear-ended. Although the ER released her, FL woke up the following day thinking that the accident had just happened. This has persisted every morning since. FL’s husband gave her a journal to keep a record and she was able to continue working with some adjustments, but every morning starts with no recollection of the previous day. While Drew Barrymore is FL’s favorite actress, she hadn’t seen the film before her accident. However, it’s been theorized that FL might’ve been familiar with the plot, influencing her understanding of amnesia. FL has now seen the film numerous times, but she always forgets watching it.

Similar cases continue to pop up. After slipping and hitting her head on a metal pole, former pub manager Nikki Pegram was taken to Kettering General Hospital. A year later, she still woke up thinking that it was October 15, 2014. Jenny Gisby of Nottingham became comatose after collapsing at work. Upon awakening, she suffered seizures that left her paralyzed. She was also diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder and epilepsy, contributing to a short-term memory that resets daily. Camre Curto lost her short and long-term memory while giving birth. Her undiagnosed preeclampsia resulted in a stroke and seizure. Several years later, Camre’s condition hasn’t stopped her from loving her son while her husband, Steve, wrote the book, “But I Know I Love You.”

Just as George Wing’s script was inspired by a real medical condition, “50 First Dates” has inspired a real-life experimental program. Taking a page from the film, Charlotte Dell of the Bronx’s Hebrew Home got the idea to have residents with early dementia wake up to a comforting video that takes them down memory lane. Dell said, “It was fluff, but it made me think, ‘How could that translate to our residents with memory loss?’” Upon release, some critics wrote off “50 First Dates” as just another Adam Sandler comedy. 18 years later, the film has not only helped to keep memory loss in the public eye, but also inspired ways to help those with this condition.

While all of these cases are different, they all echo “50 First Dates,” right down to the film’s ending. Where most rom-coms would magically cure Lucy’s condition by the conclusion, “50 First Dates” doesn’t provide an easy answer. Although the ending is a happy one, it’s acknowledged that Lucy will always have this issue, but Henry and her family are committed to seeing her through it. With so much mystery surrounding anterograde amnesia, it’s hard to say if there will ever be a true remedy. If Michelle, WO, FL, Nikki, Jenny, Camre, and Lucy demonstrate anything, though, it’s that life can go on, especially with a strong support system by your side.

Tune in next time when we discuss the surprising truth behind “The Wedding Singer.” Okay, not really.