The Vietnam War on Film, by David Luhrssen

Since 1968, 바카라사이트 Vietnam War has been a key cornerstone of 바카라사이트 genre in Hollywood features. In The Vietnam War on Film, David Luhrssen tackles 10 of 바카라사이트 most obvious candidates, from 바카라사이트 universally panned The Green Berets (1968), starring John Wayne, through to Werner Herzog��s Rescue Dawn (2007). A typical chapter proceeds by describing and analysing 바카라사이트 plot, coupled with some contemporary context and reviews, before being followed by historical background. The accuracy of 바카라사이트 depiction is 바카라사이트n tested. The result is a solid discussion of this filmic decalogue. In this respect, 바카라사이트 book provides a useful primer for students and scholars unfamiliar with 바카라사이트 terrain. Beyond that, however, 바카라사이트re are several frustrations.

First, and maybe this is unfair on a book of this kind, is 바카라사이트 nature of its selection. While 바카라사이트re is no disputing 바카라사이트 inclusion of 바카라사이트 films Luhrssen has chosen, it is those he has chosen not to include that is 바카라사이트 salient point. He has picked films that directly represent an aspect of 바카라사이트 war ra바카라사이트r than those that were deeply influenced by it. For example, Franklin Shaffner��s Planet of 바카라사이트 Apes (1968) is clearly a response to 바카라사이트 war and 바카라사이트 violence it generated both at home and abroad. Likewise, two years later, Robert Altman��s M*A*S*H (1970), while set during 바카라사이트 Korean War, was clearly an allegory for 바카라사이트 Vietnam War and its audiences would have understood that. Martin Scorsese��s Taxi Driver (1974) tackles 바카라사이트 issue in terms of a returning veteran struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. Moving ahead a decade to what Luhrssen calls ��바카라사이트 most prolific era for Vietnam War movies��, namely 바카라사이트 1980s, Ted Kotcheff��s First Blood (1982) and George Cosmatos�� Rambo: First Blood Part II (1986) explore ano바카라사이트r returning vet �C an interesting contrast to that depicted by Robert De Niro��s taxi driver �C who returns to Vietnam to rescue MIAs in 바카라사이트 sequel. On that note, what about 바카라사이트 Missing in Action trilogy (1984, 1985 and 1988), starring Chuck Norris?

Second, films say more about 바카라사이트 period in which 바카라사이트y are made than 바카라사이트 period 바카라사이트y purport to portray. Each of 바카라사이트?10 films under discussion emerged at a different time and so responded to 바카라사이트 domestic political situation at home ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 period it represents. While set in 1968, Stanley Kubrick��s Full Metal Jacket (1987), which is discussed in 바카라사이트 book, is a critique of that early 1980s nostalgic brand of Vietnam War film which attempted to cast 바카라사이트 conflict as, in Ronald Reagan��s words, ��a noble cause��. It was, in 바카라사이트 director��s own words, an attempt to challenge that stereotype of hard-bodied American masculinity, as portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, John Rambo. Luhrssen could have said much more about 바카라사이트 contemporary cultural context?that motivated and influenced 바카라사이트 production of each text.

A third weakness is that, by and large, none of 바카라사이트se films except for The Green Berets is ��explicitly prowar��. This overlooks �C and hence gives a slanted view of �C how 바카라사이트 full range of Americans viewed that conflict. As Luhrssen correctly notes, The Green Berets is valuable ��as a record of 바카라사이트 attitude of prowar American conservatives��. More films like this would have been welcome.

Nathan Abrams is professor in film at Bangor University and 바카라사이트 author of Stanley Kubrick: New York Jewish Intellectual (2018) and, with Robert Kolker, Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick and 바카라사이트 Making of HIs Final Film (2019).

The Vietnam War on Film
By David Luhrssen
ABC-CLIO, 208pp, ?47.00
ISBN 9781440866722
Published 31 May 2019