The Impact of 'The Deer Hunter' on a Veteran and Reflections on Veterans' Role

In the early 1980s, as America is grappling with the fallout of Vietnam, a troubled big-screen vet named John Rambo launches an unlikely movie franchise—and leads a wave of make-believe soldiers who are ready to fight the war all over again.  

Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘First Blood’ (1982), ‘Uncommon Valor’ (1983), ‘Missing in Action’ (1984), and ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ (1985). 

Host: Brian Raftery 

Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel

Sound Design: Bobby Wagner 

Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville 

All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.

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