A Rumor of War

• Director: Richard T. Heffron
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: War
• Movie Type: War Drama, Docudrama
• Themes: Military Life
• Main Cast: Brad Davis, Brian Dennehy
• Release Year: 1980
• Country: US
• Run Time: 195 minutes

Plot

The 2-part TV movie Rumor of War was based on the 1977 memoirs of Vietnam veteran Philip Caputo. Brad Davis stars as Caputo, who during the mid-1960s was a Marine lieutenant. In battle after battle, Caputo performs his duties admirably, even when questioning the wisdom of America's Vietnam involvement. As both the war and the body count escalate, Caputo suffers a nervous breakdown. A Rumor of War bears an inevitable resemblance to the much-earlier antiwar epic All Quiet on the Western Front, right down to the presence of a father-figure combat sergeant (Brian Dennehy). Its few cliches aside, the film is a powerful indictment of the brutalization and depersonalization of America's Vietnam forces. A Rumor of War premiered on September 24 and 25, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Richard Bradford - Rupert; Jeff Daniels; Brad Davis - Phil Caputo; Brian Dennehy - Coleman; Laurence Fishburne; Steve Forrest - Atherton; John Friedrich - Pascarella; Stacy Keach - Major Ball; Christopher Mitchum; Michael O'Keefe - Cohen; Dan Shor; Keith Carradine - McCloy; Perry Lang - Woodward

Credit

Richard T. Heffron - Director, Charles Gross - Composer (Music Score), Stevan Larner - Cinematographer, Jorge Stahl Jr. - Cinematographer, David Manson - Producer, John Sacret Young - Screenwriter, Phillip Caputo - Book Author

Similar Movies

All Quiet on the Western Front; Born on the Fourth of July; The Boys in Company C; Coming Home; Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam; The Deer Hunter; Hamburger Hill; Platoon