A Rumor of War (miniseries)

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A Rumor of War
GenreBiography
Drama
War
Based on Philip Caputo
Written by John Sacret Young
Directed by Richard T. Heffron
Starring Brad Davis
Keith Carradine
Michael O'Keefe
Brian Dennehy
Stacy Keach
Theme music composer Charles Gross
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersRichard Berg
Charles W. Fries
Producers David Manson
Allan Marcil (associate producer)
Production locations Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California
Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California
Churubusco Studios, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
Cinematography Stevan Larner
Jorge Stahl Jr.
EditorsMichael Eliot
Scott C. Eyler
Thomas Fries
Running time191 min.
Production companies Charles Fries Productions
Dick Berg-Stonehenge Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 24, 1980 (1980-09-24)

A Rumor of War is a 1980 television miniseries, based on the 1977 autobiography by Philip Caputo about his service in the United States Marine Corps in the early years of American involvement in the Vietnam War. It was one of the earliest serious US works of television or film drama to be based on US combat experience in Southeast Asia.

Contents

The miniseries was filmed at Camp Pendleton and Churubusco Studios, Mexico with a cast featuring Brad Davis, Keith Carradine, Brian Dennehy, Richard Bradford, Michael O'Keefe, Stacy Keach, Lane Smith and Christopher Mitchum. The producers could not find enough Sikorsky HUS-1 helicopters so used UH-1 Huey helicopters instead.

Synopsis

This riveting film recounts Philip Caputo's journal of his combat experiences in Indochina during the Vietnam War and follows his transformation from an idealistic, patriotic, college graduate, to proud, enthusiastic, US Marine lieutenant, to battle-hardened, embittered war veteran. [1]

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References

  1. Panorama newspaper; Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Highlights; 16/05/1988; Page 16