A Day in Vietnam
A Day in Vietnam
A US government-sponsored propaganda film attempting to explain why its intervening presence in the Vietnam conflict was politically vital. Narrated by actor Jack Webb. United States Marine Corps.
A Day in Vietnam
MSs of anti-war protestors marching outside the White House (placards saying "Meet with Viet Cong"; they also burning clothing), intercut with MSs of wounded and fatigued U.S. Marine soldiers in Vietnam (includes CUs of soldiers cradling Vietnamese babies seemingly suffering from napalm burns). Titles. Aerials of rural and urban South Vietnam. MS of an operations officer of the 3rd Marine Amphibious in Da Nang; he talks about their then-current operations, utilizing a tactical zoning map of Vietnam showing the 17th Parallel dividing North and South and the three corps divisions; "Our Marines. They're the finest."
A Day in Vietnam
MSs of American soldiers (Marines) sitting at an encampment, eating rations, drinking water, smoking cigarettes, cleaning rifles and small artillery, washing socks, generally relaxing before moving on. Great MSs of soldiers wading through a rice paddy irrigation canal, then marching through the elephant grass of the jungle. CU of a Viet Cong nailboard booby trap being uncovered in the jungle. CU of a VC land mine. CU of a pungi stick booby trap being uncovered. MS of Marine using land mine detector on road. MSs of soldiers inspecting the papers of Vietnamese men as they pass through a village. MSs of soldiers with captured Viet Cong guerillas.
A Day in Vietnam
TLS of Marine UH-34D helicopter landing, soldiers exiting. LS/MSs of soldiers wading through rice paddy, engaging in battle; MS medic bandaging arm of wounded soldier in rice paddy; MS Caucasian officer on field phone, radioing for air support. TLS of a US Marine soldier walking away from a burning village hut. MSs Marines and ARVN patrolling village. MS/CUs of Vietnamese villagers at work, cutting vegetables, carrying water, etc; eventually the marines happen along, who end up tending to wounds of local children. MSs marines working with local popular force, inspecting weapons, on jungle and river patrols. MS/TLSs of civic-minded marines helping South Vietnamese villagers with construction... okay, no adults are present, just a mess of local children eager to lend a smile, a hand and a hoe for the funny glass prism capturing their image at 24 fps. MSs of a marine lathering and shampooing a Vietnamese boy. MS marines taking temperature of local man at medical shelter.
A Day in Vietnam
TLSs of U.S. patrol boats (riverboats) sailing on river; MSs of marines talking, working out tactical maneuvers with ARVN soldiers. Great LS of a junk boat (sampan) sailing on the ocean, the late afternoon sun striking the water with a serene vengeance; MSs of the junk being boarded by U.S. and ARVN soldiers, inspected for contraband intended for Viet Cong forces.
A Day in Vietnam
LS of an American aircraft carrier sailing off coast of Vietnam. MSs men loading Douglas A-4 Sky hawk jet fighters with bombs, missile and ammunition bandoliers. Excellent montage of numerous A-4 Skyhawk jet fighter planes taking off from carrier. TLS of a rescue helicopter taking off from carrier; MS/TLSs of a "swimmer" being lowered from a rescue helicopter in order to save a downed pilot stranded on a rocky inlet; successful rescue effort. MSs aboard a naval destroyer as navy men load large shell ammunition into ship artillery; LSs of the guns firing on the coastline, providing cover fire. LSs of an amphibious task force carrier (a LPH, collectively known as a special landing force) sailing in the ocean; TLSs of Marine UH-34D helicopters on deck; MSs of Marines soldiers boarding choppers; TLS Marine helicopters taking off, later landing; MSs Marines deploying from choppers for jungle. TLSs beach assault group wading through shallow waters from pontoons.
A Day in Vietnam
Excellent MSs of U.S. marines patrolling through the jungle, through rivers and ravines and marshlands. MS/CUs marines engaged in jungle combat: rifle and machine gun fire; waiting in trench for aerial support. TLSs of pilots racing for their F-4 jet fighters, boarding them, taking off, in flight. MS and low angle CU of a marine talking on a field telephone, looking into the sky. LS/TLSs of the fighters strafing the hot zone area with bombs and missiles. CU of a smoking hot M-60 machine gun; MSs marines in trench, firing M-60, another marine feeding it ammo. MSs of navy corpsmen tending to wounded marines on front (Caucasian medics bandaging African-American soldiers); MSs marine loading wounded onto rescue helicopter; MSs of medics working on a wounded man aboard a Red Cross cruiser. MSs of medics looking through microscopes, making chemical compounds aboard ship. TLS Red Cross emblem on steamstack of cruiser.
A Day in Vietnam
MCU of a golden crucifix (cross) and a communion chalice on a crude altar out in the field. MS's of penitent marines at service, bowing their heads and listening to a chaplain making prayer. Panning TLS of Marines walking about battlefield after fight, bodies of fallen comrades scattered about. TLSs of marines carrying a body bag onto a helicopter that has a face painted onto cone (aircraft art). Low angle shot of helicopter taking off.
A Day in Vietnam
Grainy MSs of marines and sailors-- with tattoo on arm-- writing letters to home; audio of their "writings" accompanying the occasionally still-framed image (note: these writings are ridiculously slanted musings written by the producers themselves). Film closes with excellent montage of U.S. marines and sailors eating rations, marching, shaving, washing clothes in river, piloting naval ships, talking on field phones, playing with local children, praying, tending to wounded, at mass, fording rivers while on patrol, and so on; audio of glowingly patriotic VO by Jack Webb.