On the soundtrack, we hear the voices of these soldiers, in the words they wrote home. Couturie, the director, and his associates have done a firstrate job. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 youtube. Originally published in 1985, this collection of over 200 letters still provides a moving account of the war in vietnam.
June 1988 munich international film festival usa september 1988. The film is based on actual letters that were written by the men and women who served there. Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman, editor w. 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. The means of turning this concept into a film came from cowriter richard dewhurst, who. And then gradually the tone of their letters begins to change. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology. 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. 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. He has written or been involved in the production of several pieces on the vietnam war. France theatrical title dear america lettres du vietnam. Archive footage of the war and news coverage thereof, augment the firstperson narrative by men and women who. 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.
This guide includes 6 open ended questions as well as a chart for students to track the number of troops in vietnam, the death rate and wounded by year and a place for a line graph to be completed after the chart has been completed. 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 situations trying to. What couturie and his researchers have done is amazing. They speak of patriotism, of confidence, of new friendships. The music on the soundtrack is all from the period, and then, at the end of the movie, there is a heartbreaking flashforward to the vietnam war memorial in washington, d. Dear america questions dear america letters home from. Dear america letters home from vietnam washington post. 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. Dear america is a collection of letters back home from menand women in vietnam. Da is split up into 8 sections, giving the reader a decent exposure into what guys went through over there. To many americans, the vietnam war remains an open wound. Some themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam. Aug 11, 2011 dear america, letters from vietnam 002 duration.
There were many daily hardships faced by soldiers in vietnam. By interweaving authentic letters from our men and women in southeast asia with chronological footage of events in nam and. I cant tell them to my parents or darlene because they worry too much, but i tell you truthfully. Letters home from vietnam on thursday, january 18 at 7 p. 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 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. 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 tv movie 1987 dear 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. This program is presented in collaboration with the vietnam veterans of america. 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 situations trying to explain or understand. By interweaving authentic letters from our men and women in southeast asia with chronological footage of events in nam and the world, the program. When do the first american combat troops arrive in vietnam. Many citizens, especially young people, protested u. 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. Pierre sauvage s film of how the villagers of le chambonsurlignon hid 5000 jews from the nazis. Aug 20, 2011 dear america, letters from vietnam 006 duration.
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. All the confusion, pain, despair, and even hope of the men and women who served in vietnam is captured in dear america. The first film about vietnam to come to us free of bias, free of rhetoric. Real footage of the soldiers home movies plus tv news coverage of the war are also included to help make an impactful narrative. 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. 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. Letters home from vietnam is an american grammy awardwinning 1987 documentary, inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie. Dear america, letters home from vietnam movie guide tpt.
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. 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. Dear america letters home from vietnam vietnam war. Dear america, letters home from vietnam movie guide. 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. English text summary notes dear america letters home from. 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. Dear america letters home from vietnam 5 william broyles jr. September 16, 1988, section c, page 18buy reprints. Using real letters written by us soldiers and archive footage, the film creates a highly personal experience of the vietnam war. This gripping documentary of the vietnam war begins with the kennedy administration and extends through the return of the first mias in the mid.
They had no comforts and were forced to live in harsh conditions most of the time that they were there. 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. Growing pains amid the calamity of vietnam are lifted from soldiers letters home and channeled into the film dear america, letters home from vietnam. This documentary takes a deeper look into the letters that were sent from battle from 1954 to 1975. 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. Themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam.
Letters home from vietnam recalls the vietnam war in the words of the men and women who fought it, in letters written in haste, without selfconsciousness and. In conjunction with its new exhibit remembering vietnam, the national archives will screen dear america. 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. 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. 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. Dear america letters home from vietnam dvd 1988 hbo. Letters home from vietnam conveys the american experience in vietnam from the perspective of those who were there. What piece of legislation is passed in august 1964. 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. This download is intended to support the hbo film dear 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 experience of the vietnam war. What reason do some soldiers give for fighting vietnam. Without a clear purpose in vietnam, killing the enemy became the only goal.
Since your last letter, i almost feel as if you are my sister. Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, dear america. Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988, over the hbo cable service. 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. There was an abundance of insects that bothered the soldiers and was mentioned in the documentary multiple times. Pg 1h 24min documentary, history, war tv movie september 1988. 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. The vietnam war was extremely controversial during this time. The film was shown in theaters throughout europe and asia. It is a wonderful product for teachers to use when they are teaching a unit on the vietnam conflict. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film.
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