The Longest Day Vietnam War

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Unlike the film Sands of Iwo Jima that came out shortly after World War Two, The Longest Day was a film they came out during the early, unfamiliar years of the Vietnam War, but exemplified the heroics of the Allies on D-Day. According to historian Jeanine Basinger, “…the film lacks something that all great films have: the dramatic sense of a great story where audiences become involved with the characters and anticipate the outcome of events. The careful recreation of historical events dwarf the human interaction needed to breathe life into history.” However, Zanuck’s production reinforces these images because it tells a factual story rather than creating another fictionalized portrayal of war. The soldiers who die in the film really did exist, rather than being a fictionalized character made up by the writers. The film would also be chosen as the best motion picture of 1962, by the committee of exception films of the National Board of Review. The Longest Day won this award during the Vietnam War, which most likely helped raise patriotism and military support from the American people, because it wasn’t till 1965(24 …show more content…

The Green Berets airing during the height of the Vietnam War, and being the first film about the Vietnam War, had extremely mixed reviews. Wayne’s goal during the time of hostile media toward the American G.I., was to give credit to the soldiers. He wanted to amend their negative attention and promote a positive one in his film. By adding stars, enhancing the script, receiving limitless financial assistance and support from the Army, Wayne attempts to change the public’s negative opinion of the military, and justify American intervention within Vietnam. However, not all would agree, for instance in a New York Times review, Renata Adler

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