The Vietnam War (TV series)
| The Vietnam War | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Documentary |
| Written by | Geoffrey C. Ward |
| Directed by | Ken Burns and Lynn Novick |
| Narrated by | Peter Coyote |
| Composers | Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross |
| Country of origin | United States, France |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Cinematography | Buddy Squires |
| Editors | Tricia Reidy Paul Barnes Erik Ewers Craig Mellish |
| Running time | 1080 mins (18 hours) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Public Broadcasting Service |
| Release | September 17, 2017 |
The Vietnam War is a 10-part, 18-hour documentary television series by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick about the Vietnam War.[1][2][3] The documentary premiered on the Public Broadcasting Service on September 17, 2017.
Production
The series cost around $30 million and took more than 10 years to make.[4] It was produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, who had previously collaborated on The War (2007), Baseball: The Tenth Inning (2010) and Prohibition (2011). The production companies were Burns' Florentine Films and WETA-TV in Washington.
The series features interviews with 79 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war or opposed it as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the North and the South."[5] Deliberate attention was taken to avoid "historians or other expert talking heads" and "onscreen interviews with polarizing boldfaced names like John Kerry, John McCain, Henry Kissinger and Jane Fonda." Instead, interviews were intended to provide a ground-up view of the War from the perspective of everyday people who lived through it. [4] Episode 3 features an interview with retired UPI reporter Joseph L. Galloway, who was awarded a Bronze Star with "V" device for assisting with the wounded in the Battle of Ia Drang. [6] Others interviewed included Vincent Okamoto and Tim O'Brien, author of The Things They Carried.
The researchers for the film also accessed more than 24,000 photographs and examined 1,500 hours of archival footage. [4] Within the 18 hours of documentary, there are scenes covering 25 battles, 10 of which are detailed set-piece battle scenes documenting the action from multiple perspectives. [7] The script for the show was written entirely by Geoffrey Ward and the narration was performed by Peter Coyote.
Episodes
| No. | Episode | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Déjà Vu" (1858 – 1961) | September 17, 2017 | |
|
After a century of French occupation, Vietnam emerges independent but divided into North and South. | |||
| 2 | "Riding the Tiger" (1961 – 1963) | September 18, 2017 | |
|
As a communist insurgency gains strength, President Kennedy wrestles with American involvement in South Vietnam. | |||
| 3 | "The River Styx" (January 1964 – December 1965) | September 19, 2017 | |
|
With South Vietnam near collapse, President Johnson begins bombing the North and sends US troops to the South. | |||
| 4 | "Resolve" (January 1966 – June 1967) | September 20, 2017 | |
|
US soldiers discover Vietnam is unlike their fathers’ war, while the antiwar movement grows. | |||
| 5 | "This Is What We Do" (July 1967 – December 1967) | September 21, 2017 | |
|
Johnson escalates the war while promising the American public that victory is in sight. | |||
| 6 | "Things Fall Apart" (January 1968 – July 1968) | September 24, 2017 | |
|
Shaken by the Tet Offensive, assassinations and unrest, America seems to be coming apart. | |||
| 7 | "The Veneer of Civilization" (June 1968 – May 1969) | September 25, 2017 | |
|
After chaos roils the Democratic Convention, Richard Nixon, promising peace, narrowly wins the presidency. | |||
| 8 | "The History of the World" (April 1969 – May 1970) | September 26, 2017 | |
|
Nixon withdraws US troops but when he sends forces into Cambodia the antiwar movement reignites. | |||
| 9 | "A Disrespectful Loyalty" (May 1970 – March 1973) | September 27, 2017 | |
|
South Vietnam fights on its own as Nixon and Kissinger find a way out for America. American POWs return. | |||
| 10 | "The Weight of Memory" (March 1973 – Onward) | September 28, 2017 | |
|
Saigon falls and the war ends. Americans and Vietnamese from all sides search for reconciliation. | |||
Reception
Critical reception
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the series an approval rating of 97% based on 30 reviews and a weighted average score of 9.5/10. The site's critical consensus states, "The Vietnam War revisits a dark chapter in American history with patience, grace, and a refreshing -- and sobering -- perspective informed by those who fought."[8] Review aggregator Metacritic gave the series a normalized score of 90 out of 100 based on 18 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[9]
Washington Post opinion writer George Will noted that the series is "an example of how to calmly assess episodes fraught with passion and sorrow." He continues: "The combat films are extraordinary; the recollections and reflections of combatants and others on both sides are even more so, featuring photos of them then and interviews with many of them now." He concludes his column by declaring the series a "masterpiece".[10]
Soundtrack
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, current members of the band Nine Inch Nails, were tasked to score the series, and provide both original music and a compilation soundtrack of popular songs.
Episode overview
- Episode 1 includes Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall", T-Bone Walker's "Mean Old World", and Rosemary Clooney's "Come On-A In My House". The Dylan song is reprised over the closing credits.
- Episode 2 includes Miles Davis' "So What", Bill Doggett's "Honky Tonk (Part 1)", Woody Guthrie's "Dirty Overalls", The Ventures' "Walk, Don't Run", and Ben E. King's "Stand By Me". Sam Cooke's recording of "Mean Old World" (the same song performed by T-Bone Walker in the first episode) plays over the end credits.
- Episode 3 includes Bob Dylan's "With God On Our Side", Buffy Saint-Marie's "Universal Soldier", Johnnie Wright's "Hello Vietnam", Phil Ochs' "I Ain't Marchin' Anymore", The Animals' "It's My Life", The Rolling Stones' "Play With Fire", Donovan's "The War Drags On", Johnny Cash's "Big River", Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction", Burl Ives' "Little Drummer Boy", and over the closing credits, "Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds.
- Episode 4 includes The Staple Singers' "Masters of War", Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally", Doub Wamble's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall", Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning", Pete Seeger's "The Willing Conscript", Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence", Donovan's "Sunshine Superman", Bob Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings", Simon & Garfunkel's "I Am A Rock", The Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", Wayne Shorter "Footprints", Bob Dylan's "Talking World War III Blues", The Ventures' "Wild Child", Bob Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings" and Genesis's "Ravine". Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" played over the closing credits.
- Episode 5 includes Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?", The Spencer Davis Group's "I'm a Man", Cream's "Strange Brew", Pete Seeger's "Waist Deep In The Big Muddy", and, over the closing credits, the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black".
- Episode 6 includes Big Brother and the Holding Company's "Summertime", Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile", Vanilla Fudge's "You Keep Me Hangin' On", The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows", Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit", Eddie Harris's "Live Right Now" and, over the closing credits, Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale".
- Episode 7
- Episode 8
- Episode 9
- Episode 10
Original score album
The score includes original compositions and reworked pieces from Nine Inch Nails songs and their award-winning scores for The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.[11] In addition, supplemental new music was arranged and performed by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble, and also by David Cieri and Doug Wamble. The CD was released on September 15, 2017.[11]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Less Likely" | 6:20 |
| 2. | "Four Enclosed Walls" | 5:34 |
| 3. | "The Forever Rain" | 5:01 |
| 4. | "Remnants" | 4:57 |
| 5. | "Other Ways To Get To The Same Place" | 8:06 |
| 6. | "Torn Polaroid" | 5:15 |
| 7. | "Before Dawn" | 2:44 |
| 8. | "What Comes Back" | 7:36 |
| 9. | "Justified Response" | 3:49 |
| 10. | "Counting Ticks" | 5:28 |
| Total length: | 54:50 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A World Away" | 6:12 |
| 2. | "The Right Things" | 8:52 |
| 3. | "Passing The Point" | 4:25 |
| 4. | "Strangers In Lockstep" | 4:57 |
| 5. | "Before And After Faith" | 6:24 |
| 6. | "The Same Dream" | 4:17 |
| 7. | "Haunted" | 5:20 |
| Total length: | 40:27 | |
Soundtrack album
The PBS website describes the series as featuring "more than 120 iconic popular songs that define the era",[12] including songs by then contemporary artists. Of these, 38 songs were selected for the series' soundtrack album, which was released on September 15, 2017.[11]
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" | Bob Dylan | 6:52 |
| 2. | "Hello Vietnam" | Johnnie Wright | 3:05 |
| 3. | " It's My Life" | The Animals | 3:09 |
| 4. | "Eve Of Destruction" | Barry McGuire | 3:35 |
| 5. | "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)" | The Byrds | 3:49 |
| 6. | "Masters of War" | The Staple Singers | 4:38 |
| 7. | "Mustang Sally" | Wilson Pickett | 3:01 |
| 8. | "Smokestack Lightning" | Howlin' Wolf | 3:08 |
| 9. | "Backlash Blues" | Nina Simone | 2:28 |
| 10. | "The Sound of Silence" | Simon & Garfunkel | 3:05 |
| 11. | "One Too Many Mornings" | Bob Dylan | 2:37 |
| 12. | "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" | The Temptations | 2:36 |
| 13. | "Are You Experienced?" | Jimi Hendrix | 4:15 |
| 14. | "I'm A Man" | Spencer Davis Group | 2:56 |
| 15. | "Green Onions" | Booker T & The MG's | 2:56 |
| 16. | "Strange Brew" | Cream | 2:46 |
| 17. | "Waist Deep In The Big Muddy" | Pete Seeger | 2:55 |
| 18. | "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" | Procol Harum | 4:08 |
| 19. | "The Lord Is In This Place" | Fairport Convention | 1:58 |
| 20. | "For What It's Worth" | Buffalo Springfield | 2:33 |
| Total length: | 66:30 | ||
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" | Bob Dylan | 3:37 |
| 2. | "Piece Of My Heart" | Janis Joplin | 4:13 |
| 3. | "Magic Carpet Ride" | Steppenwolf | 4:31 |
| 4. | "Tell The Truth" | Otis Redding | 3:11 |
| 5. | "The Letter" | The Box Tops | 1:52 |
| 6. | "Bad Moon Rising" | Creedence Clearwater Revival | 2:21 |
| 7. | "Soul Sacrifice" | Santana | 6:37 |
| 8. | "Okie From Muskogee" | Merle Haggard | 2:42 |
| 9. | "The Thrill Is Gone" | B.B. King | 4:02 |
| 10. | "Psychedelic Shack" | The Temptations | 3:50 |
| 11. | "Ohio" | Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young | 3:03 |
| 12. | "Get Together" | The Youngbloods | 4:39 |
| 13. | "Gimme Shelter" | The Rolling Stones | 4:30 |
| 14. | "Tail Dragger" | Link Wray | 4:49 |
| 15. | "America The Beautiful" | Ray Charles | 3:35 |
| 16. | "What's Going On" | Marvin Gaye | 3:52 |
| 17. | "Bridge Over Troubled Water" | Simon & Garfunkel | 4:53 |
| 18. | "Let It Be" | The Beatles | 3:50 |
| Total length: | 70:07 | ||
Home media
The Vietnam War became available on Blu-Ray and DVD on September 19, 2017 from PBS Distribution. Extras include a 45-minute preview program, two segments on the lives of two of the program’s participants and deleted scenes.[13] The series is also available for digital download.
Book
Accompanying the series is a 640-page companion book, entitled The Vietnam War: An Intimate History, by Geoffrey Ward and Ken Burns. Containing an introduction by Burns and Novick, it was published by Burns’ long-time publisher, Alfred A. Knopf,[13] and released on September 5, 2017.[14]
References
- ^ "THE VIETNAM WAR, A New Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, to Air Fall 2017 on PBS | PBS About". THE VIETNAM WAR, A New Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, to Air Fall 2017 on PBS | PBS About. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
- ^ Ken Burns on the legacy of the Vietnam War, retrieved 2017-05-11
- ^ "Ken Burns returns to PBS with 'Vietnam War'". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
- ^ a b c Schuessler, Jennifer (2017-09-01). "Ken Burns and Lynn Novick Tackle the Vietnam War". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
- ^ Watch Full Episodes Online of The Vietnam War | Broadcast Version on PBS, retrieved 2017-09-18
- ^ 'The Vietnam War Episode 3' preview, PBS Tuesday, PBS, Ken Burns, September 19, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ Schuessler, Jennifer (2017-09-01). "Shot by Shot: Building a Scene in Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's Vietnam Epic". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
- ^ "The Vietnam War: Miniseries". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ "The Vietnam War: Season 1". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ Will, George (September 15, 2017). "'The Vietnam War' is a masterpiece — and a model for assessing our history". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross detail their score to Ken Burns' new Vietnam War documentary". Consequence of Sound. 2017-08-20. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
- ^ "About The Music | The Vietnam War". About The Music | The Vietnam War. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
- ^ a b "Two Soundtracks Announced For Ken Burns 'The Vietnam War' Doc". uDiscoverMusic. 2017-08-18. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
- ^ The Vietnam War by Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns | PenguinRandomHouse.com.