The book, which simulates a tour of duty in vietnam, offers context for the excerpts of the letters and poems selected for. On the soundtrack, we hear the voices of these soldiers, in the words they wrote home. Growing pains amid the calamity of vietnam are lifted from soldiers letters home and channeled into the film dear america, letters home from 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 the conduct of the war, and their ache at. The 2hour film, featuring readings from various wellknown actors. 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. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film. Fox, robin williams, and others reads the letters to us. They told us they watched over two million feet of film in the making of this.
Letters home from vietnam dvd this classic hbo documentary features reenactments of actual letters written by soldiers during the vietnam war. 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. They speak of patriotism, of confidence, of new friendships. Letters home from vietnam ryan watson in passing from history to nature, myth acts.
Originally published in 1985, this collection of over 200 letters still provides a moving account of the war in vietnam. 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. Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary. Letters home from vietnam conveys the american experience in vietnam from the perspective of those who were there. Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988, over the hbo cable service. Couturie began with an anthology of letters written home by u. Without a clear purpose in vietnam, killing the enemy became the only goal. As the letters are read, we get a detailed insight into what american soldiers were experiencing. The film was shown in theaters throughout europe and asia. This download is intended to support the hbo film dear america. English text summary notes dear america letters home. Koch to serve on the new york vietnam veterans memorial commission, he edited the book dear america.
William dafoe, robert deniro, matt dillon, michael j. 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. 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. Featurelength documentary film featuring reallife letters. Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman, editor w. Since your last letter, i almost feel as if you are my sister.
Best of 1988 a list of 27 titles created 09 jan 2019 robin williams tribute a list of 32 titles. 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 1988, an hbo film starring tom berenger, kathleen turner, and robert deniro, among over two dozen other actors, featured readings of these real letters from soldiers as newsreels, home movies, and music from the era. Some themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam. 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. It is a wonderful product for teachers to use when they are teaching a unit on the vietnam conflict. Pg 1h 24min documentary, history, war tv movie september 1988. 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. Fox, mark harmon, sean penn, randy quaid, martin sheen, robin williams, and more. Then he screened the entire archive of tv news footage. 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. 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. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology. 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 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. In each case, a famous celebrity voice martin sheen, michael j. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987. 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. The list of actors reading these letters is practically a whos who of hollywood, including. I was a teenageryoung adult while this war took place, and each letter reminded me of someone i knew. Letters home from vietnam 1987 tv movie soundtracks. Letters home from vietnam for the commission, was associate producer of the peabody and emmy awardwinning film based on the book. In conjunction with its new exhibit remembering vietnam, the national archives will screen dear america. Dear america letters home from vietnam 5 william broyles jr. Letters home from vietnam on thursday, january 18 at 7 p.
Letters home from vietnam tv movie 1987 dear america. 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. Dear america letters home from vietnam dvd 1988 hbo. Wolfie the grunt takes 8mm movies of a combat assault in vietnam duration. Using real letters written by us soldiers and archive footage, the film creates a highly personal experience of the vietnam war. Gimme shelter written by mick jagger and keith richards. Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place. And then gradually the tone of their letters begins to change. The film is based on actual letters that were written by the men and women who served there. Based on the book of the same name, this 1987 emmy awardwinning hbo. 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 documentary screening january 18 press release wednesday, january 10, 2018 washington, dc. The common theme of each of the writers was their sense of duty to their country despite the hardships.
Dear america, letters from vietnam 001 usseatondd510. 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. 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. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 royalfool1195. Dear america takes only 84 minutes to relate americas 10year quagmire. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 youtube. Letters home from vietnam as you read note the mens feelings about the war. Real footage of the soldiers home movies plus tv news coverage of the war are also included to help make an impactful narrative. The first film about vietnam to come to us free of bias, free of rhetoric. Themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam. The most widely used military helicopter, the bell uh1 series iroquois.
Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, dear america. Letters home from vietnam 1987 pg 1h 24min documentary, history, war tv movie september 1988. The memorial was to be a glassblock structure etched with excerpts of letters sent to and from servicemen 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. You replied as i knew you would always the mother who tries to put her sons.