The Hanoi Hilton (film)
The Hanoi Hilton is a 1987 Vietnam War film which focuses on the experiences of American prisoners of war who were held in the infamous Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi during the 1960s and 1970s and the story is told from their perspectives. It was directed by Lionel Chetwynd, and stars Michael Moriarty, Ken Wright, and Paul Le Mat.
| The Hanoi Hilton | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Lionel Chetwynd |
| Produced by | Yoram Globus Menahem Golan |
| Written by | Lionel Chetwynd |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Jimmy Webb |
| Cinematography | Mark Irwin |
| Edited by | Penelope Shaw |
| Distributed by | Cannon Film Distributors |
Release date |
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Running time | 125 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English, Vietnamese, French, Spanish |
The film portrays fictional characters, not specific American POWs. It earned less than $1 million in its initial theatrical release,[1] but a Warner Bros. Home Entertainment VHS release gained a cult following, especially among veterans.[1]
A DVD release of the film had been anticipated for some time in 2008, with the package to include a new interview with former POW and 2008 presidential candidate John McCain.[1] However, the film's release was suspended by Warner Bros. due to McCain being the Republican Party nominee.[2][3] The week following the 2008 United States presidential election, Warner Bros. went ahead with the DVD release.[4]
Cast
- Michael Moriarty as LCDR Williamson
- John Edwin Shaw as Mason
- Ken Wright as Kennedy
- Paul Le Mat as Earl Hubman
- David Soul as Maj. Oldham
- Stephen Davies as Capt. Robert Miles
- Lawrence Pressman as Col. Cathcart
- Doug Savant as Ashby
- David Anthony Smith as Gregory
- Jeffrey Jones as Maj. Fischer
- John Vargas as Oliviera
- Rick Fitts as Capt. Turner
- John Diehl as Murphy
- Jesse Dabson as Rasmussen
- Bruce Fairbairn as Shavik
- James Acheson as Cummins
- Aki Aleong as Maj. Ngo Doc
- Gary Guidinger as Raymond
- Mark Kemble as Jesse
Reception
On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 32 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[5]
References
- Michael Cieply (2008-05-29). "McCain's Quiet Cinematic Turn". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
- "unknown". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2008-10-15. Cite uses generic title (help)
- "Poliwood Oct. 24th Oliver Stone's W". Pajamas Media.
- "Out Tuesday on DVD". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- "The Hanoi Hilton (1987) reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
External links