
FRESH STUFF DAILY
Seacoast New Hampshire
& South Coast Maine
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
|
|
| |
|
|
|
fc4
viagra sale viagra online without prescription cialis or viagra where to buy fenfluramine vicodine viagra from canadian online prescritions viagra canada pharmacy where to buy fenfluramine cialis daily united pharmacy buy cialis online viagra without prescription canadian cialis cialis online 25mg canadian pharmacy cheap prescription free viagra cialia or viagro buying viagra viagra online without prescription buy clomid canadian pharmacy support team b uy viagra online no prescription generic propecia cialis on line vigara viagra for sale get viagra cheap prescription free viagra propecia without prescription propecia without prescription
0
|
Go Tell the Spartans is Vietnam Classic
|
|
|
|
Written by Daniel Ford
|
|
NH FILM
Thirty years ago the first major American film about the Vietnam War hit the theatres, or at least a few. Go Tell the Spartans stars Burt Lancaster in what some now call the most realistic movie ever made on the subject. A bitter pill for many, the film was adapted from a novel by Seacoast NH writer Daniel Ford who experienced the early days of the undeclared war first hand.
NH Author Helped Launch Vietnam Film Genre
MORE ON Daniel Ford's Flying Tigers
Daniel Ford should be proud. Three decades after it appeared in 1978, Go Tell the Spartans is being praised by online reviewers who were not even born during the Vietnam War. Despite a low budget and a set that looks like the TV series MASH, viewers can still sense the authenticity at the heart of the story.
Drawn from Ford’s own experience as a war correspondent for The Nation, it has become the "overlooked anti-war classic" that kicked off a genre in January of 1978. Quickly dwarfed by Vietnam blockbusters like Platoon, The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now, Coming Home and Rambo – Spartans appears, in retrospect, as perhaps the most honest and powerful depiction of the unpopular war, and of war itself.
Unlike its flashy Hollywood peers, Go Tell the Spartans offers a gritty story of a failed mission in 1964 when America was still acting only as "military advisor" to Vietnamese forces. For those who still find the war confusing, Spartans clarifies how we got into this quagmire, and like the war in Iraq, demonstrates why the hubris and lack of intelligence by our national leaders made a bad situation worse. Although French forces had been defeated there in the 1950s, American leaders assumed their superior skill and higher purpose would easily wipe out Communist forces.
The film was based on Ford’s novel Incident at Muc Wa that appeared in 1967 while the Vietnam war was still in its infancy. It was, in hindsight, a warning not heeded. Although the novel did not catch fire, it was optioned as a film. But the film option, like the war itself, dragged on year after year. Imagined as a $7 million movie, according to author Ford, it was either too expensive or too risky for the major movie studios. Paul Newman, Richard Holden and Robert Mitchum were among the stars considered for the lead role. It finally got made when Burt Lancaster, then 65 years old, agreed to star at a bargain rate. When the film ran short of cash ($1.5 million budgeted) during its 31-day shooting schedule, Lancaster bailed out the project with his own money.

Although scaled way down and shot on a tiny lot in California, the completed film was a critical success, though not a box office winner. Since then, release on VHS and now DVD has made it a "cult classic" and has created a wider audience and a wider appreciation for this powerful and prophetic view of the war.
Daniel Ford attended the University of New Hampshire, served in the US Army (1956-57) and still lives in Durham, NH. He loves to fly small planes, has written a number of fiction and nonfiction books including the recently re-released Flying Tigers. His work regularly appears in the Wall Street Journal. His web site, the Warbird’s Forum, is packed with fascinating details on his books – and much more. --- JDR
OUTSIDE LINKS OF INTEREST
Dan Ford Warbird Web Site
Spartans on Wikipedia
Spartans on Internet Movie Database
Dan Ford blog on Amazon.com
|
Please visit these SeacoastNH.com ad partners.
Portsmouth Herald
|
Portsmouth Herald Latest Headlines
|
| Portsmouth Herald News from SeacoastOnline.com |
-
UNH hockey powers past Terriers
DURHAM — The play of the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team special teams looked, well, special, Friday night against Boston University.
-
NFL's premier corner Revis mans up on Moss again
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Darrelle Revis has heard enough about his last matchup with Randy Moss. The New York Jets cornerback just wants to move on to the next one.
-
Father-son coaches creating legacy with Winnacunnet football
HAMPTON — If nothing else, Winnacunnet High School has proven that two Steve Magris are better than one when it comes to coaching football.
-
Bergeron wins it for B's in OT
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Patrice Bergeron scored with 47 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.
-
Emotional home finale for UNH football
DURHAM — One year ago this week, University of New Hampshire strong safety Terrence Klein intercepted two late passes to preserve a snowy 28-24 win at Maine, more proof that...
-
Carter, Magic drop Celtics
BOSTON — Vince Carter scored 26 points, Rashard Lewis had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics 83-78 on Friday night.
-
Portsmouth says stimulus jobs overstated by White House
PORTSMOUTH — While federal stimulus dollars flowing into the city may help both causes and the economy, at least one local project echoes concerns expressed nationwide about the accuracy of...
-
Joseph Popluhar
TAMPA, Fla. — Mr. Joseph Popluhar, 71, of Tampa, formerly of Portsmouth, N.H., beloved husband of Marjorie (Hunt) Popluhar, died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, in Florida.
-
Turkey Trot 5K in Portsmouth on Thanksgiving morning
PORTSMOUTH — Thanksgiving is one of the most charitable times of the year. If you're in the giving mood, why not get a little exercise, too?
-
Marshwood Middle School parents told 58 of 60 kids accepted unknown Facebook friend
ELIOT, Maine — Marshwood Middle School parents were shocked to learn from Internet expert Jayne Hitchcock Thursday evening that 58 of 60 middle school honors students accepted her as a...
-
Newington tax rate drops, but selectman chides state lawmakers
NEWINGTON — Town taxpayers will pay a lower tax rate for 2009, but the chairman of the Board of Selectmen announced the good news with some concerns for state politicians.
-
Memorial Bridge re-opens
PORTSMOUTH — The Memorial Bridge reopened ahead of schedule on Friday following a month of repairs that forced motorists to seek alternative routes between the city and Kittery, Maine.
-
Bakers bustling for Sunday's pie festival
GREENLAND — Judy Alix laughed excitedly. "Thirty made, only 470 more to go!" she exclaimed.
-
3-car crash on Woodbury Ave.
PORTSMOUTH — A three-car, chain-reaction crash snarled lunch hour traffic Friday on Woodbury Avenue and sent a Maine man to Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
-
Thumbs up to preservation, determination
Thumbs up to the heirs of Mary McIntire Davis for selling a 239-acre parcel of salt marsh and forest along the York River to the York Land Trust ,and to...
-
John R. Genthner
HAMPTON FALLS — John Richard Genthner, born Jan. 28, 1943, in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, died peacefully Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, after a long illness. He was surrounded by...
-
Runner's Alley helps racer achieve her goals
I would like to thank Janine and the staff at Runner's Alley for their great work in this community. Their contribution, enthusiasm and encouragement are a shining example of what...
-
New Generation raises $10,000 with golf tourney
The New Generation Golf tournament was held at Breakfast Hill Golf Club. With the help of all those who supported it, we made more than $10,000.
-
Memorial is a N.H. bridge; Herald must act to save it
Sitting a couple of hundred miles up the Maine coast, there isn't anyone who knows or cares about our bridge. They've got their own big-time problems that aren't getting fixed.
-
Robert F. Pucciarelli
WELLS, Maine — Robert Francis "Bob" Pucciarelli, 83, of Wells, formerly of Medway, Mass., died early Thursday morning, Nov. 19, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
| Saturday, November 21, 2009 |
|
|
|