Letters home from vietnam tv movie 1987 dear america. 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. Why is this vocabulary important to understanding the soldiers role in vietnam, the jobs they did and the changes in the soldiers themselves. 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. Fox, mark harmon, sean penn, randy quaid, martin sheen, robin williams, and more. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 royalfool1195. Based on the book of the same name, this 1987 emmy awardwinning hbo. Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988, over the hbo cable service.
There was an abundance of insects that bothered the soldiers and was mentioned in the documentary multiple times. Nearly forty years after the official end of the vietnam war, dear ame. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987. On the soundtrack, we hear the voices of these soldiers, in the words they wrote home. Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, dear america.
They had no comforts and were forced to live in harsh conditions most of the time that they were there. English text summary notes dear america letters home. As the letters are read, we get a detailed insight into what american soldiers were experiencing. 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 ache at. 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. 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. By interweaving authentic letters from our men and women in southeast asia with chronological footage of events in nam and the world, the program evokes memories of the. Letters home from vietnam is a documentary wherein real letters from real soldiers in their own words regarding their wartime experiences to loved ones back home, are read by well known actors. The common theme of each of the writers was their sense of duty to their country despite the hardships. Letters home from vietnam dvd this classic hbo documentary features reenactments of actual letters written by soldiers during the vietnam war. 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. Since your last letter, i almost feel as if you are my sister. It is a wonderful product for teachers to use when they are teaching a unit on the vietnam conflict.
Letters home from vietnam on thursday, january 18 at 7 p. Emmywinning documentary in which hollywood stars read letters written by american soldiers during the vietnam war. Gimme shelter written by mick jagger and keith richards performed by the rolling stones. In each case, a famous celebrity voice martin sheen, michael j. There were many daily hardships faced by soldiers in vietnam. Letters home from vietnam as you read note the mens feelings about the war. Dear america, is most certainly one of the really great war films, and this is because nearly everything is real, all footage and the letters read are real, the only things that arent authentic are the actors voices, however these are some of hollywoods finest so believing them to be the actual soldiers, mothers, nurses is easy. The book, which simulates a tour of duty in vietnam, offers context for the excerpts of the letters and poems selected for. Fox, robin williams, and others reads the letters to us. I cant tell them to my parents or darlene because they worry too much, but i. Letters home from vietnam documentary screening january 18 press release wednesday, january 10, 2018 washington, dc. This download is intended to support the hbo film dear america. The first film about vietnam to come to us free of bias, free of rhetoric. 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.
Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman, editor w. In one segment of the film, they show you a grunts vocabulary primer lesson. Letters and film footage from actual soldiers and nurses who fought in vietnam are read aloud and shown in this documentary. And then gradually the tone of their letters begins to change. I was a teenageryoung adult while this war took place, and each letter reminded me of someone i knew. 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. In conjunction with its new exhibit remembering vietnam, the national archives will screen dear america. Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place. Real footage of the soldiers home movies plus tv news coverage of the war are also included to help make an impactful narrative.
Dear america letters home from vietnam 5 william broyles jr. The list of actors reading these letters is practically a whos who of hollywood, including. The memorial was to be a glassblock structure etched with excerpts of letters sent to and from servicemen during the vietnam war. It turns out to be a sometimespowerful moving saga of vietnam through the eyes of those who were there but, remember, its the filmmakers deciding what letters are read. 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. 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. Dear america questions dear america letters home from. 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.
Koch to serve on the new york vietnam veterans memorial commission, he edited the book dear america. This gripping documentary of the vietnam war begins with the kennedy administration and extends through the return of the first mias in the. A change is gonna come written and performed by sam cooke. The film was shown in theaters throughout europe and asia. 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. The film is based on actual letters that were written by the men and women who served there. Letters home from vietnam conveys the american experience in vietnam from the perspective of those who were there. When do the first american combat troops arrive in vietnam. You replied as i knew you would always the mother who tries to put her sons. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book along with many more and archive footage, the film. They speak of patriotism, of confidence, of new friendships. William dafoe, robert deniro, matt dillon, michael j. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 youtube.
Couturie began with an anthology of letters written home by u. Growing pains amid the calamity of vietnam are lifted from soldiers letters home and channeled into the film dear america, letters home from vietnam. It would be hard to imagine a more powerful documentary on the vietnam war than dear america. 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. Chastant hhephu bai 29 june 68 mom, today i received your letter in reply to my extension letter. Some themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam.
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