In the Book
In the Movie
Robert Anders, Cora Amburn-Lijek, Mark Lijek, Joseph Stafford and Kathleen Stafford went to Ander's apartment and hid out. Over six days this group went from home to home (including a British Residence) to hide out while lead by Thai cook, Somchai Sriweawnetr. The Staffords eventually hid out with Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor, the Lijeks and Anders stayed with Canadian Immigration officer John Sheardown. It took them until November 10th to arrive.
The Embassy attack was on November 4, 1980. The six embassy workers are shown to go directly to the home of Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor.
Lee Schatz hid in the Swedish embassy and at the home of a counselor before joining the others at the Sheardown residence. He occasionally went on outings with the Swedish Embassy staff without complications. Schatz arrived at the Sheardown residence on November 22rd.
A second group, including Consul General Richard Morefield fled and were quickly captured by the Iranians.
Schatz was with the five other Americans when they went to the Canadain residence. Morefield, Sriweawnetr and Sheardown are not in the film.
Mendez is happily married and has two teenage sons.
Mendez is separated from his wife and has a son in grade school.
Mendez does not find out about the “houseguests” until mid-December. He first heard about them in a memo from the State Department and thought they were settled in and safe. They initially planned to wait until after all the other hostages were released.
Mendez is brought into a meeting with CIA officials to talk about ways to get the Americans out. He shoots holes in all of their ideas but has nothing better to offer.
Mendez get the idea to use a fantastic cover story instead of a boring one for the Americans. He contacts his Hollywood friend Joe Calloway.
Mendez gets an idea for the Americans to be a Canadian film crew scouting filming locations while watching Planet of the Apes. Calloway is not in the film.