The book shows how films can be used as teaching tools about the Vietnam War. But it is also an independent account of the war and the most important films that deal with it. Even for many people who experienced the Vietnam War first-hand, memories of this conflict are often shaped by popular films that deal with it: The Quiet American, The Green Berets, The Deer Hunter, Coming Home, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now, to name but a few. Vietnam War on Film examines how the war is portrayed in ten iconic films that depict the war not through documentary footage but through dramatisation and narrative. The book includes an introduction to the history of the war and a timeline of events, followed by ten chapters, each focusing on a specific Vietnam War film. The chapters provide a uniquely detailed historical context for the films, compare their portrayal of events with historical records, and evaluate how well or poorly these films reflect the truth and have shaped public memory and discourse about the war. A concluding section of Resources includes a comprehensive annotated bibliography of print and electronic sources to aid students, teachers, and scholars in further research.
