Oliver Stone returns to Vietnam with 'Born on the Fourth of July'. 'Forrest Gump' and 'Dead Presidents' prove that '90s audiences aren't ready to leave Vietnam. Films discussed include 'Running on Empty', 'Dogfight', and 'Heaven and Earth'.
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Quick takeaways
The film 'Born on the Fourth of July' marked a pivotal moment in Hollywood's portrayal of the Vietnam War and its impact on American society.
'Running on Empty' and 'Dead Presidents' challenged traditional narratives and stereotypes associated with Vietnam War films and portrayed a more nuanced exploration of the war's impact on individuals and society.
As interest in Vietnam War movies waned, Hollywood shifted its focus to World War II stories, influenced by cultural and historical context as well as audience preferences for different narratives.
Deep dives
The Rise of Narrative Podcasts
The podcast episode discusses how narrative podcasts have become popular alongside talk shows. It highlights podcasts like ICONS Club, which chronicles the NBA through the voices of legendary players, and This Blew Up, an investigative podcast that explores the impact of social media on stardom. The episode also mentions Gamblers, a show about people who make money through betting. These narrative podcasts offer engaging storytelling and unique perspectives.
The Impact of Vietnam War Films
The podcast delves into the influence of Vietnam War films on American culture. It mentions Ron Kovac, a veteran who was inspired by John Wayne's films and later fought in Vietnam. Kovac's experiences and subsequent disillusionment with films like The Green Berets influenced his memoir 'Born on the Fourth of July,' which became a hit and was eventually adapted into a film starring Tom Cruise in 1989. The podcast discusses how this film marked a pivotal moment in Hollywood's portrayal of the Vietnam War and its impact on American society.
The Evolution of Vietnam War Movies
The podcast explores the evolution of Vietnam War movies throughout the years. It highlights films like 'Running on Empty,' which depicts the aftermath of the war on veterans and their families, and 'Dead Presidents,' which focuses on the struggles faced by African American veterans. These films challenged traditional narratives and stereotypes associated with Vietnam War films and portrayed a more nuanced exploration of the war's impact on individuals and society. The podcast discusses how these films represented a shifting cultural perspective on the Vietnam War and its aftermath.
The Impact of Vietnam War Movies on American Viewers
During the late 1980s and 1990s, movies about the Vietnam War became increasingly intense and focused on the perspective of the American soldiers. The films aimed to depict the war's horrors and the psychological toll it took on the soldiers. However, as time passed and the new century began, interest in Vietnam War movies waned, and Hollywood shifted its focus to World War II. The success of movies like Saving Private Ryan in the late 1990s revitalized the World War II genre, and subsequent films about World War II received more attention and acclaim compared to Vietnam War movies. The cultural and historical context, along with the audience's desire for different narratives, influenced Hollywood's preference for World War II stories over Vietnam War narratives.
The Incomplete Vietnamese Perspective in Vietnam War Movies
Vietnam War movies, despite their intentions, often overlooked the perspective of the Vietnamese people themselves. Many films were largely made by and focused on American white men and reduced Vietnamese characters to nameless soldiers or sex objects. These movies, however well-intentioned, provided only a fraction of the larger story of the Vietnam War. To understand the war in its entirety, comprehensive books or firsthand accounts from those who experienced it firsthand, like Lately Hayslip, who wrote the memoir 'When Heaven and Earth Changed Places,' are necessary. While Vietnam War movies couldn't capture the full picture of the war, they did provide insight into the struggles and experiences of American soldiers and individuals affected by the war.
Oliver Stone returns to Vietnam with ‘Born on the Fourth of July’—a movie that closes out the ’80s, as well as the Vietnam movie boom. But ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Dead Presidents’ prove that ’90s audiences aren’t ready to leave Vietnam for good.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘Running on Empty’ (1988), ‘Dogfight’ (1991), and ‘Heaven and Earth’ (1993).
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.
