The harsh realities of life and death, friendships made and lost these letters home tell it all, with the newsreel and homemovie. They had no comforts and were forced to live in harsh conditions most of the time that they were there. Using real letters written by us soldiers and archive footage, the film creates a highly personal experience of the vietnam war. It would be hard to imagine a more powerful documentary on the vietnam war than dear america. 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. 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.
The film is based on actual letters that were written by the men and women who served there. Letters home from vietnam on thursday, january 18 at 7 p. The book, which simulates a tour of duty in vietnam, offers context for the excerpts of the letters. 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 the foreword, he reflects on his own tour of duty and his memories of the intensely personal, yet also.
There were many daily hardships faced by soldiers in vietnam. Letters home from vietnam 1987 pg 10011987 us documentary, war 1h 23m user score. Dear america letters home from vietnam 5 william broyles jr. 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. 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. Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, 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.
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 this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions. This download is intended to support the hbo film dear america. Dear america questions dear america letters home from. And then gradually the tone of their letters begins to change. All the confusion, pain, despair, and even hope of the men and women who served in vietnam is captured in dear america. 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. Dear america is an authentic account of the vietnam war from the actual letters of the men and women who served there. Dear america is a collection of letters back home from menand women in vietnam. Letters home from vietnam dvd this classic hbo documentary features reenactments of actual letters written by soldiers during the vietnam war. This documentary takes a deeper look into the letters that were sent from battle from 1954 to 1975. Fox, mark harmon, sean penn, randy quaid, martin sheen, robin williams, and more.
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. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987. 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. 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. In conjunction with its new exhibit remembering vietnam, the national archives will screen dear america. By interweaving authentic letters from our men and women in southeast asia with chronological footage of events in nam and the world, the program. The book, which simulates a tour of duty in vietnam, offers context for the excerpts of the letters and poems selected for. When do the first american combat troops arrive in vietnam. 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. Since your last letter, i almost feel as if you are my sister.
The list of actors reading these letters is practically a whos who of hollywood, including. In each case, a famous celebrity voice martin sheen, michael j. 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. An overwhelmingly eloquent book of the purest and most simple writing on vietnam. William dafoe, robert deniro, matt dillon, michael j. It is a wonderful product for teachers to use when they are teaching a unit on the vietnam conflict. Archive footage of the war and news coverage thereof, augment the firstperson narrative by men and women who. The most widely used military helicopter, the bell uh1 series iroquois.
What piece of legislation is passed in august 1964. Here is the sad and beautiful countermelody of truth, audible at last, now that we have trashed the drums and cymbals of yet another senseless war, wrote novelist kurt vonnegut. Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988, over the hbo cable service. 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. On the soundtrack, we hear the voices of these soldiers, in the words they wrote home. The vietnam war was extremely controversial during this time. Without a clear purpose in vietnam, killing the enemy became the only goal. The harsh realities of life and death, friendships made and lost these letters home tell it all, with the newsreel and home movie footage shot by the servicemen themselves. They speak of patriotism, of confidence, of new friendships. There was an abundance of insects that bothered the soldiers and was mentioned in the documentary multiple times. New jersey vietnam veterans memorial foundation 182,922 views. Fox, robin williams, and others reads the letters to us.
Using the medium of letters sent home by american soldiers many of whom did not survive long thereafter, dear america takes only 84 minutes to relate americas 10year quagmire in southeast asia. The film was shown in theaters throughout europe and asia. 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. Apr 09, 2008 live life like its golden asked in travel vietnam other vietnam 1 decade ago. Featurelength documentary film featuring reallife letters written by american soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines during the vietnam war to their families and friends back home.
Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology. Based on the book of the same name, this 1987 emmy awardwinning hbo documentary features actors and actresses reading actual letters home from men and women serving in the vietnam war. More than 25 years after the official end of the vietnam war, dear america allows readers to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served there. This gripping documentary of the vietnam war begins with the kennedy administration and extends through the return of the first mias in the mid. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 by royalfool1195. Themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam. 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 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. What was it like returning home from the vietnam war. By interweaving authentic letters from our men and women in southeast asia with chronological footage of events in nam and. Letters home from vietnam was met with almost universal critical acclaim. Letters home from vietnam tv movie 1987 dear america.
Aug 14, 2011 what was it like returning home from the vietnam war. English text summary notes dear america letters home from. One of the greatest hardships faced daily by the soldiers was. Some themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam. Using the medium of letters sent home by american soldiers many of whom did not survive long thereafter, dear america takes only 84 minutes to relate america s 10year quagmire in southeast asia. 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.
Many citizens, especially young people, protested u. Read by dozens of actors such as harvey keitel, matt dillon, and kathleen turner, these letters show a more human story of the war than we see in most media outlets and reveal real people in real. Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place. 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. 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. 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. What reason do some soldiers give for fighting vietnam. Live life like its golden asked in travel vietnam other vietnam 1 decade ago. Letters home from vietnam is an american grammy awardwinning 1987 documentary, inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie.
Letters home from vietnam reprint by edelman, bernard isbn. To many americans, the vietnam war remains an open wound. Letters home from vietnam conveys the american experience in vietnam from the perspective of those who were there. Dear america letters home from vietnam dvd 1988 hbo. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 2 8 by royalfool1195. Da is split up into 8 sections, giving the reader a decent exposure into what guys went through over there. Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman, editor w. 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. France theatrical title dear america lettres du vietnam.
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