Hearts & Minds (1974)

93% of critics liked it
(30 reviews)
83% of users liked it
(368 ratings)

The title of this documentary was inspired by the mantra recited by those in charge of the Vietnam War: "In order to win the war, we must win the hearts and minds of the people." The failure to achieve this, coupled with the disastrous no-win policies of the higher-ups, is the nucleus of this film,… More The title of this documentary was inspired by the mantra recited by those in charge of the Vietnam War: "In order to win the war, we must win the hearts and minds of the people." The failure to achieve this, coupled with the disastrous no-win policies of the higher-ups, is the nucleus of this film, put together by director Peter Davis in the same manner as Marcel Ophuls' The Sorrow and the Pity. Like the Ophuls film, Davis juxtaposes news footage of the Vietnam war with interviews conducted with its observers and participants, interspersing vignettes of the fatuous comments made by the generals and politicians. The film was briefly withdrawn from distribution when Walter Rostow, one-time advisor to President Johnson, insisted that his reputation had been damaged and demanded that the two minutes featuring Rostow on-camera be deleted. More controversy arose when Hearts and Minds won the Best Documentary Oscar, whereupon the Academy issued a statement--read during the awards ceremony by Frank Sinatra--that it did not condone or advocate the volatile statements made by the producers during their acceptance speech. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Peter Davis
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Mar 20, 2009 Wide
Studio: Rainbow Films

Critic Reviews

Jim Ridley, Village Voice
Not only the definitive American documentary about the war in Vietnam but a landmark political action.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Hearts and Minds is a tough film but it is no mere rehash of sad events. It is always aware of the primacy of man when man's given even half a chance.
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
A reminder of how the best documentaries can resonate years after their release.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
We're bludgeoned by the point of view, we don't like the feeling of manipulation we get. Yet there are scenes here of incredible power, even for a nation which watched this war on television every evening.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
It's one of the best documentaries ever made, a superb film about the thoughts and feelings of the era, the whole festering, spirited animus of it.
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
Davis's film seems as much a prosecution of the present as it is of the recent past; only the names and geographies have been changed.
Michael Abernethy, PopMatters
The urgency of Hearts and Minds, its anger and its articulation, its insistence that effects of war be visible, and its cogent analysis of connections among politics, media, and the military, all seem apt lessons for today.
Armond White, New York Press
Davis' visual argument overwhelms rationality.This was the beginning of Red/Blue antagonism -- turning benighted patriotism against an opponent's humanity.
Dan Lybarger, eFilmCritic.com
It's Michael Moore's favorite documentary. See it anyway.
Louis Proyect, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The definitive Vietnam War documentary and arguably the greatest political documentary ever made.
Phil Hall, Film Threat
Quite simply, one of the greatest non-fiction films ever made.
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine
Hearts and Minds is an essay told in a voice of thinly controlled moral outrage, which sometimes dribbles over into seething hate.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A definitive anti-war documentary which won an Academy Award in 1974 and has been restored for release in theaters.
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Ahead of the pack, filmmaker Peter Davis illustrates the human toll on 'victor' and 'vanquished.'
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Even after three and a half decades this film still will be controversial and still has a real impact.
Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
If you were ultimately disappointed by the agitprop entertainment of Fahrenheit 9/11, then check out its older, wiser brother to see how a real documentary is made.
Colin Kennedy, Empire Magazine
Still shocking, still powerful, still prudent. What is it they say about the more things change?
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Se na época de seu lançamento este importante filme serviu como denúncia das atrocidades norte-americanas no Vietnã, hoje funciona como triste constatação de que nada mudou.
Jack Garner, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
It is a carefully structured yet highly emotional argument against the war in Vietnam.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Hearts and Minds" is a documentary about the Vietnam war, made slightly after the United States removed its forces from the country and a year before the fall of Saigon. It is an effectively searing attack on the war starting with the fallacies of… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Hearts and Minds" is a documentary about the Vietnam war, made slightly after the United States removed its forces from the country and a year before the fall of Saigon. It is an effectively searing attack on the war starting with the fallacies of rabid anti-communism which was a disguise for imperalistic hubris in aiding the French, thus missing the opportunity to aid Ho Chi Minh after World War II when it had the chance. After that, it was a downhill ride to the racism of the combat troops towards the Vietnamese people. [/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Hearts and Minds" is a very informative documentary, even though I was very familiar with most of the talking heads.(For example, I was familiar with what Clark Clifford, Daniel Ellsberg and William Westmoreland had to say but had not seen footage of the great senator, J. William Fulbright before.) Where this documentary separates itself from others is the unforgettable imagery of the ground-level view of the war. The movie talks to Vietnamese civilians who are not often heard from.(And compare their views to those of the American bomber pilots...) [/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]One last thought: compare "Communism" and "Vietnam" to "Terrorism" and "Iraq."[/font]
Jeffrey M

Hearts and Minds is a powerful indictment against the Vietnam War. The editing, though often manipulative, seamlessly weaves actual footage with interviews, giving the film a firm narrative and definite political stance. Itâ(TM)s not objective, but itâ(TM)s certainly persuasive and… More
Hearts and Minds is a powerful indictment against the Vietnam War. The editing, though often manipulative, seamlessly weaves actual footage with interviews, giving the film a firm narrative and definite political stance. Itâ(TM)s not objective, but itâ(TM)s certainly persuasive and leaves an impression on you, even almost 40 years after the release of the film and the senseless war.

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