Conversation so far:
What are some of the historical references in the film Hugo?
The film depicts of the Montparnasse derailment, when at 4:00 pm on 22 October 1895, the Granville–Paris Express overran the buffer stop at its Gare Montparnasse terminus
What era is the film Hugo based on?
Hugo is based on Georges Méliès' life, a Frenchman who lived from 1861-1938

Question: How is history incorporated into the film?
Self-contained rewrite: How is history incorporated into the film Hugo?