Letters home from vietnam on thursday, january 18 at 7 p. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book along with many more and archive footage, the film creates a highly personal experience of the vietnam war. Laudable though the intentions may be, theres something a little hollow about this allstar oral history of the vietnam war that puts it close to hollywoods. Letters home from vietnam 1987 a documentary featuring letters written by u. Mcgowan theater, washington, dc based on the book of the same name, this 1987 emmy award winning hbo documentary features actors and actresses reading actual letters home from men and women serving in the vietnam war. During the 1968 campaign, nixon promised to end the war in vietnam, secure. The film was shown in theaters throughout europe and asia. The book, which simulates a tour of duty in vietnam, offers context for the excerpts of the letters.
In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions of the rigors of life in the bush, their longing for home and family, their emotions over the conduct of the war, and their. Based on the book of the same name, this 1987 emmy. Eloquent, gutwrenching letters from american men and women stationed in vietnam paint a poignant picture of wars agonies and joys. Aug 20, 2011 dear america letters home from vietnam part 5 8 royalfool1195. There were many daily hardships faced by soldiers in vietnam. Dear mom and all, dont worry, i didnt get another purple heart. They had no comforts and were forced to live in harsh conditions most of the time that they were there.
In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions. The vietnam war was extremely controversial during this time. William dafoe, robert deniro, matt dillon, michael j. The list of actors reading these letters is practically a whos who of hollywood, including. Consisting of 208 letters, poems, and journal entries written by 125 people, this book is a heart wrenching, first hand account of the personal experiences of soldiers both on and behind the front lines in vietnam, and. In 1981, six years after the official end of the vietnam war, mayor edward koch of new york city appointed a task force of twentyseven leading citizens of the city to develop a framework for a fitting memorial to vietnam war veterans.
Some themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam. Letters home from vietnam also was released theatrically, on 49 screens in the united states and canada in september 1988, a rarity for any film that has been made for cable. The memorial was to be a glassblock structure etched with excerpts of letters sent to and from servicemen during the vietnam war. Bill couturie 84 min documentaryeducational antiwar although this film doesnt directly address libertarian objections to the vietnam warthe draft, the lack of a declaration of war, the irrelevance of the war to national security, etc. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 5 8 royalfool1195. The common theme of each of the writers was their sense of duty to their country despite the hardships. Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, dear america. In conjunction with its new exhibit remembering vietnam, the national archives will screen dear america. Vietnam hell long range recon patrol lrrp, vietnam war.
Sep 02, 2017 achieving peace with honor 1969 to 1973 introduction the most pressing problem facing richard nixon when he assumed the presidency on january 20, 1969, was the war in vietnam. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 48 vietnam hell july 12, 2014. Letters home from vietnam 1967 1979the twentieth century was a decade of war. Letters home from vietnam 1987 rotten tomatoes this gripping documentary of the vietnam war begins with the kennedy administration and extends through the return of the first mias. Letters home from vietnam tv movie 1987 dear america. Absolutely no words can describe exactly how this book made me feel. Many of the letters and film scenes vary in feel and tone. Many citizens, especially young people, protested u. They speak of patriotism, of confidence, of new friendships. Norton, with a new introduction by senator john mccain.
Based on the book of the same name, this 1987 emmy awardwinning hbo. Nearly forty years after the official end of the vietnam war, dear america allows us to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served in vietnam. In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions of the rigors of life in the bush, their longing for home and family, their emotions over. Bernard edelman, a vietnam veteran who was an associate producer of the film and also edited the companion book for the new york vietnam veterans memorial.
Letters home from vietnam dvd this classic hbo documentary features reenactments of actual letters written by soldiers during the vietnam war. In each case, a famous celebrity voice martin sheen, michael j. Based on the book of the same name, the program is devoted to poignant recitations of letters to and from american participants of the vietnam. Letters home from vietnam movie script by richard dewhurst on. Letters home from vietnam as you read note the mens feelings about the war. On the soundtrack, we hear the voices of these soldiers, in the words they wrote home. Watch war letters american experience official site pbs. Dear america letters home from vietnam 4 author notes as a collection of letters from hundreds of authors, it would be confusing and impractical, if not almost impossible, to provide notes on all of the authors. Independent filmmaker bill couturie produced and directed a documentary feature based on dear america. Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman, editor w. Great memorable quotes and script exchanges from the dear america.
Letters home from vietnam, the hbo movie now being released theatrically, is the first film about vietnam to come to us free of bias, free of rhetoric. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or. Nine months after publication of the hardcover, dear america. As i suppose you can see by my new stationery, this is not my normal letter, while walking down the road one day, in the merry, merry month of september, my squad got into a heluva fray, and lost momentarily one member. Vietnams defense minister, phung quang thanh, presents personal letters written by u. And then gradually the tone of their letters begins to change. President richard nixons 14 addresses to the nation on vietnam.
Fox, mark harmon, sean penn, randy quaid, martin sheen, robin williams, and more. When he took office, nearly 36,000 americans had been killed in vietnam. Not having much knowledge on the vietnam war, this book really opened my eyes and my heart it really made me feel something, just reading these simple letters home. Dear america is a collection of letters back home from menand women in vietnam. Letters home from vietnam 19671979the twentieth century was a decade of war. A vietnam veteran s insight on his lifelong struggle duration. This gripping documentary of the vietnam war begins with the kennedy administration and extends through the return of the first mias in the mid 1970s. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987. Based on the book of the same name, this 1987 emmy award winning hbo documentary features actors and actresses reading actual letters home from men and women serving in the vietnam war. This program is presented in collaboration with the vietnam veterans of america. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book along with many more and archive footage, the film creates a highly personal. English text summary notes dear america letters home from. Do all of the letters speak of the vietnam war in the same way. Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988, over the hbo cable service.
David halberstamdecades after the end of the vietnam war, dear america allows us to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served in vietnam. Features the voice talents of eric roberts, julia roberts, willem defoe, randy quaid, harvey keitel, deniro and. This documentary takes a deeper look into the letters that were. Da is split up into 8 sections, giving the reader a decent exposure into what guys went through over there. In their letters there is a sense of wonder at this new world they have found, a world so different from the american cities and towns they left behind. More than 200 letters home from vietnam era servicemen to family, friends, and others have been selected for publication in this volume about the most intimate thoughts of the soldiers who served in vietnam. Pages other community vietnam hell videos long range recon patrol lrrp, vietnam war. Archive footage of the war and news coverage thereof, augment the firstperson narrative by men and women who. Archive footage of the war and news coverage thereof augment the firstperson narrative by men and women who were in the war, some of whom did not survive it. This gripping documentary of the vietnam war begins with the kennedy administration and extends through the return of the first mias in the mid. There was an abundance of insects that bothered the soldiers and was mentioned in the documentary multiple times. Though many of these letters evoke tears, edelman has avoided sentimentality in favor of immediacy, vivid details, and insights dear america is a work of art. Decades after the official end of the vietnam war, dear america.
Versions of this letter circulated through various units in vietnam. Letters home from vietnam was compiled entirely from the avalanche of letters and poems received by the commission for consideration to be included on the memorial. Dear america quotes showing 11 of 1 they tell me the letters i write to you and leave here at this memorial are waking others up to the fact that there is still much pain left, after all these years, from the vietnam war. Dear america questions dear america letters home from. Chastant hhephu bai 29 june 68 mom, today i received your letter in reply to my extension letter. Letters home from vietnam documentary screening january 18 press release wednesday, january 10, 2018 washington, dc. Collecting the letters of wartime letters written in a time of war reflect almost universal longing and loss, no matter the century or the enemy. San jose mercury newslisten to these authentic voices of the vietnam war. They come to us after the journalists, the generals, and the politicians have had their say. Bernard edelman, a vietnam veteran who was an associate producer of the film and also edited the companion book for the new york vietnam veterans memorial commission, will introduce the screening, take questions afterwards, and also sign copies of the book. Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman online at alibris.
Archive footage of the war and news coverage thereof, augment the firstperson narrative by men and women who were in the war, some of whom did. Pages other community vietnam hell videos long range recon patrol lrrp. More than twentyfive years after the official end of the vietnam war, dear america allows us to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served in vietnam. Due in part to escalating advances in military technology, twentiethcentury modern combat was exponentially more devastating than any. Steve flaherty of south carolina, who was killed in.
In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions of the rigors of life in the bush, their longing for home and family, their. Without a clear purpose in vietnam, killing the enemy became the only goal. Based on the book of the same name, the program is devoted to poignant recitations of letters to and from american participants of the vietnam war. Themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 5 8 youtube. Elizabeth mcgovern celebrity profile check out the latest elizabeth mcgovern photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 38 vietnam hell. You replied as i knew you would always the mother who tries to put her sons. Such luminaries as martin sheen, robert deniro, willem dafoe, ellen burstyn, tom berenger, and harvey keitel lent their voices. Letters home from vietnam allows readers to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served there. I was a teenageryoung adult while this war took place, and each letter reminded me of someone i knew. Letters home from vietnam was reissued in may 2002 by w.
Letters home from vietnam, clip 04 lrhssocialstudies. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book along with many more and archive footage, the film. In one segment of the film, they show you a grunts vocabulary primer lesson. Dear mom and dad, doting fathertobe, peach and fuzzy. It would be hard to imagine a more powerful documentary on the vietnam war than dear america. Fox, robin williams, and others reads the letters to us.
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