Dear America - Letters Home from Vietnam (1987)

100% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
88% of users liked it
(1,490 ratings)

Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam was first telecast April 3, 1988, over the HBO cable service. Based on the book of the same name, the program is devoted to poignant recitations of letters to and from American participants of the Vietnam war. The letters are heard over images culled from news… More Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam was first telecast April 3, 1988, over the HBO cable service. Based on the book of the same name, the program is devoted to poignant recitations of letters to and from American participants of the Vietnam war. The letters are heard over images culled from news footage, home movies and still photography, with contemporary music added to put things in the proper historical context. The 2-hour film, featuring readings from various well-known actors (see cast list), was a co-production involving Bill Couturie, a previous Emmy winner for Vietnam Requiem, and the Vietnam Veterans Ensemble Theatre Company. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Bill Couturié
Genres: Documentary, Television, Special Interest

On DVD: Nov 1, 2005

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
Mr. Couturie, the director, and his associates have done a first-rate job.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
What Couturie and his researchers have done is amazing.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
The first film about Vietnam to come to us free of bias, free of rhetoric.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
The missives get you where you live.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The structure of this Vietnam War docu is not particularly interesting, but the contents are.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Laudable though the intentions may be, there's something a little hollow about this all-star oral history of the Vietnam War.
, Time Out
An intensely moving and disturbing experience.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Adds immeasurably to the growing stockpile of testaments about this tragic war.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
When it comes to war, listen to the soldiers.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Cast

            Tom Berenger as Co-narrator

            Ellen Burstyn as Narrator

            J. Kenneth Campbell
            
            Richard Chaves
            
            Josh Cruze
            
            Willem Dafoe as Narrator

            Robert De Niro as Co-narrator

            Brian Dennehy
            
            Kevin Dillon as Narrator

            Matt Dillon as Narrator

            Robert Downey Jr.
            
            Michael J. Fox as Narrator

            Mark Harmon
            
            John Heard
            
            Harvey Keitel
            
            Elizabeth McGovern
            
            Judd Nelson
            
            Sean Penn as Narrator

            Randy Quaid
            
            Tim Quill
            
            Eric Roberts
            
            Howard E. Rollins Jr. as Narrator

            John Savage
            
            Raphael Sbarge
            
            Martin Sheen as Narrator

            Tucker Smallwood
            
            Roger Steffens
            
            Kathleen Turner as Narrator

            Tico Wells
            
            Robin Williams as Narrator
See full cast

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