Bright Shining Lie DVD

A Bright Shining Lie
Adapted from Neil Sheehan's 1988 Pulitzer Prize-winning best-seller, this $14-million TV docudrama, re-creating the Vietnam War with convincing combat footage, was the most expensive two-hour movie ever produced by HBO Pictures. Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann (Bill Paxton) spends ten years (1962-72) in Vietnam. When Vann exposes falsified casualty figures, deceptive battle reports, and other lies about the war, journalist Steven Burnett (Donal Logue) relays the truth to American newspapers, and Vann takes heat from higher-ups. Meanwhile, he's involved with a Vietnamese teacher (Vivian Wu), and his wife (Amy Madigan) is forced to lie so he won't be court-martialed for sexual relations with an underage Vietnamese girl. Back for a second tour, he gets another young Vietnamese woman pregnant and is forced to marry her. Returning in 1968 as a civilian, he's decorated and eventually promoted to general for his contributions during the Tet offensive. The music track features Grace Slick singing "Somebody to Love" while peasant villages are bombed. Filmed in Lompburi, Thailand. Premiered May 30, 1998 on HBO. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Cast Bill Paxton as John Paul Vann Amy Madigan as Mary Jane Vann Vivian Wu as Lee Donal Logue as Steven Burnett Eric Bogosian as Doug Elders Kurtwood Smith as Gen Wm. Westmoreland Robert Burke as Capt. Frank Drummond James Rebhorn as Ambassador Ed Lauter as Gen. Fred Weyland Harve Presnell as Gen. Paul Harkins Pichariva Narakbunchai as Annie Les J.N. Mau as Gen. Chinh Lim Kay Tong as Col. Huynh Van Cao

Crew Dianne Crittenden - Casting Joan Bergin - Costume Designer Terry George - Director Nicholas Beauman - Editor Lois Bonfiglio - Executive Producer Gary Chang - Composer (Music Score) Thomas S. Drescher - Composer (Music Score) Sherry Whitfield - Composer (Music Score) Graham "Grace" Walker - Production Designer Jack Conroy - Cinematographer Greg Ricketson - Producer Steven Borne - Sound/Sound Designer Terry George - Screenwriter Neil Sheehan - Book Author

A Bright Shining Lie
(not reviewed)
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, Spanish Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: Additional Features: Cast bios Languages Scene selections Subtitles MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 118 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1-- 0. Scene Index