Introduction to the Enemy

Last updated

Introduction to the Enemy
IntroToTheEnemy1974 news.jpg
Newspaper announcement, April 1975
Directed by Haskell Wexler
Starring Jane Fonda
Tom Hayden
Distributed by Indochina Peace Campaign
Release date
  • November 1974 (1974-11)
Running time
60 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Introduction to the Enemy is a 1974 American documentary film about Vietnam, filmed and directed by Haskell Wexler. Shot in the spring of 1974 and released before the end of the year, the film examines the human costs of the Vietnam War. The camera follows American actress Jane Fonda and her husband Tom Hayden, already known in their home country for antiwar activism, as they make inquiries regarding the war's effects and legacy among Vietnamese people from all walks of life.

Contents

Plot and style

The film presents the experiences of Fonda, Hayden, and their infant son Troy as they traveled throughout Vietnam in the spring of 1974 – after U.S. military involvement had largely ended but before the ultimate end of the war. Their journey goes from the capital city Hanoi in the North through the demilitarized zone down to Quang Tri province in the South. [1] The trip was deemed "a tour in support of the Vietnamese people", [2] and the film was intended to show the universality of human lives among "the enemy" in the Vietnam War. [1] [3]

The film largely avoids dramatic details of war and politics and instead focuses more on the day-to-day lives of average people. Fonda and Hayden visit farmers, doctors, artists, soldiers, trade unionists, and even fellow actors and filmmakers in a Hanoi movie studio. One of the key points that it attempts to express is that the Vietnamese people did not hold American people in contempt as a result of the decade-long Vietnam War, always distinguishing between people and their governments. [4] Fonda described the message of the film as one of peace and unity. She noted that, while American involvement in Vietnam had officially ended in 1973, the film helped to raise much-needed awareness of American culpability and the ongoing struggle of the Vietnamese. [5]

Critics noted its gentle and unhurried style: Nora Sayre described it as a "quiet, moving film", [1] while Molly Haskell praised it as endearingly modest in its approach, "a tiny jewel of a film". [3] Fonda herself calls the film "slow-moving" but intentionally so, mimicking as it does the traditional pace of daily life in Vietnam. [6]

Still, at least one scene breaks the languidity with a shock. An undetected landmine exploded during production, killing a nearby man offscreen as cameras rolled. [1] [3] Wexler captured Fonda's horrified reaction, and this was left in the final cut. [7] She later described the moment as possibly the most powerful in the entire film, remarking with irony: "How many times as an actress I was paid to cry...." [7]

Production and distribution

Introduction to the Enemy was the first release of Fonda's newly founded production company, the Indochina Peace Campaign (later rebranded as IPC Films). [8] Cinematography was by Wexler with assistance by Pham Viet Tung. [1] Film editing was handled by Christine Burill and Bill Yahraus. [9]

The film was released to select theaters in November 1974. [1] [2] Fonda and Hayden went on an accompanying lecture tour, speaking at screenings throughout the U.S. and beyond. [10] [11] As a commercial release, it was a box office failure, [8] but an expected one. Beyond its limited release, it was frequently donated to antiwar groups and shown free of charge. In interviews, Fonda spoke of the imperative to spread the message of the film. [7]

Reception and legacy

Writing in The New York Times, Nora Sayre called the film "pensive and moving" [1] but others were less admiring. The Times' own associate editor, Walter Goodman, labeled the film as "Communist propaganda", and complained acidly that it plays upon sentimentality by constantly veering among shots of "beautiful children, bombed-out-towns, beautiful children, workers making bicycles... and beautiful children". [12] An editorial in a Louisiana newspaper called it "an unabashed publicist's job" for the North Vietnamese. [12] The Hollywood trade journal Variety simply dismissed it as an example of the filmmakers' self-dramatization and radical chic (and even scornfully remarked upon Fonda's "incongruously dippy smile"). [2]

Molly Haskell wrote a highly positive review, with particular approval for how "Wexler's cinematography beautifully captures the twin landscapes of destruction and rebirth". [3] The film is emblematic of Wexler's personal brand of leftist politics as displayed in his other works, from the 1971 documentary Interviews with My Lai Veterans to the 1978 big-budget drama Coming Home (also starring Fonda). [13] Nonetheless, after his death in 2015, Wexler's obituaries generally gave only minimal descriptions of Introduction, and at least one major newspaper described it simply as "notorious". [14]

From her involvement with the film (and with radical politics in general), Fonda suffered some repercussions, but she defiantly described them only as "a loss of cynicism, and a loss of irrelevance." [15] Her professional career continued to move briskly forward. She starred in the Hollywood-made comedy Fun with Dick & Jane , a box office success in 1977, and went on to a lengthy body of work. [16] Hayden went on to serve in the California State Assembly and Senate. He and Fonda divorced in 1989. [2]

The film was shown at the 2015 Vienna International Film Festival, [9] and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on March 7, 2016.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Fonda</span> American actress and activist (born 1937)

Jane Seymour Fonda is an American actress and activist. Recognized as a film icon, Fonda is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the AFI Life Achievement Award, the Honorary Palme d'Or, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

<i>Coming Home</i> (1978 film) 1978 film by Hal Ashby

Coming Home is a 1978 American romantic war drama film directed by Hal Ashby from a screenplay written by Waldo Salt and Robert C. Jones with story by Nancy Dowd. It stars Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, Bruce Dern, Penelope Milford, Robert Carradine and Robert Ginty. The film's narrative follows a perplexed woman, her Marine husband and a paraplegic Vietnam War veteran with whom she develops a romantic relationship, while her husband is deployed in Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Kovic</span> American activist and writer (born 1946)

Ronald Lawrence Kovic is an American anti-war activist, writer, and United States Marine Corps sergeant who was wounded and paralyzed in the Vietnam War. His 1976 memoir Born on the Fourth of July was made into the Academy Award–winning 1989 film directed by Oliver Stone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Hayden</span> American activist (1939–2016)

Thomas Emmet Hayden was an American social and political activist, author, and politician. Hayden was best known for his role as an anti-war, civil rights, and intellectual activist in the 1960s, authoring the Port Huron Statement and standing trial in the Chicago Seven case.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War</span> 1964–1973 anti-war movement

Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War began with demonstrations in 1965 against the escalating role of the United States in the Vietnam War and grew into a broad social movement over the ensuing several years. This movement informed and helped shape the vigorous and polarizing debate, primarily in the United States, during the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s on how to end the Vietnam War.

Troy Garity is an American actor. He is known for his role as Isaac in the Barbershop film series and as Barry Winchell in the television movie Soldier's Girl (2003), where he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film. He also had recurring roles in the series Boss (2011–2012) and Ballers (2015–2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haskell Wexler</span> American filmmaker

Haskell Wexler, ASC was an American cinematographer, film producer, and director. Wexler was judged to be one of film history's ten most influential cinematographers in a survey of the members of the International Cinematographers Guild. He won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography twice, in 1966 and 1976, out of five nominations. In his obituary in The New York Times, Wexler is described as being "renowned as one of the most inventive cinematographers in Hollywood."

Underground is a 1976 documentary film about the Weathermen, founded as a militant faction of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), who fought to overthrow the U.S. government during the 1960s and 1970s. The film consists of interviews with members of the group after they went underground and footage of the anti-war and civil rights protests of the time. It was directed by Emile de Antonio, Haskell Wexler, and Mary Lampson, later subpoenaed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in an attempt to confiscate the film footage in order to gain information that would help them arrest the Weathermen.

<i>FTA Show</i> 1971 political vaudeville antiwar show

The FTA Show, a play on the common troop expression "Fuck The Army", was a 1971 anti-Vietnam War road show for GIs designed as a response to Bob Hope's patriotic and pro-war USO tour. The idea was first conceived by Howard Levy, an ex-US Army doctor who had just been released from 26 months in Fort Leavenworth military prison for refusing orders to train Green Beret medics on their way to the Vietnam War. Levy convinced actress Jane Fonda who recruited a number of actors, entertainers, musicians and others, including the actors Donald Sutherland, Peter Boyle, Garry Goodrow and Michael Alaimo, comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory and soul and R&B singer Swamp Dogg. Alan Myerson, of San Francisco improv comedy group The Committee, agreed to direct, while cartoonist and author Jules Feiffer and playwrights Barbara Garson and Herb Gardner wrote songs and skits for the show. Fred Gardner, the originator of the antiwar GI Coffeehouse movement, became the Tour's "stage manager and liaison to the coffeehouse staffs." At various times other actors, writers, musicians, comedians and entertainers were involved. The United States Servicemen's Fund (USSF), with Dr. Levy as one of its principal organizers, became the official sponsor of the tour. The anti-Vietnam War USSF promoted free speech within the US military, funded and supported independent GI newspapers and coffeehouses, and worked to defend the legal rights of GIs. Sponsorship was later taken over by a group called the Entertainment Industry for Peace & Justice (EIPJ).

<i>Sir! No Sir!</i> 2005 film about anti-Vietnam War soldiers and sailors

Sir! No Sir! is a 2005 documentary by Displaced Films about the anti-war movement within the ranks of the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. The film was produced, directed, and written by David Zeiger. The film had a theatrical run in 80 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada in 2006, and was broadcast worldwide on Sundance Channel, Discovery Channel, BBC, ARTE France, ABC Australia, SBC Spain, ZDF Germany, YLE Finland, RT, and several others.

The abbreviation or acronym RITA stands for "Resistance Inside the Army", "Resister Inside the Army", or "Resist! Inside the Army".

<i>A Dolls House</i> (1973 Losey film) 1973 British film

A Doll's House is a 1973 drama film directed by Joseph Losey, based on the 1879 play A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen. It stars Jane Fonda in the role of Nora Helmer and David Warner as her domineering husband, Torvald.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerry–Fonda 2004 election photo controversy</span>

During the 2004 presidential election campaign an image was released that showed John Kerry and Jane Fonda speaking together at an anti-Vietnam War protest. The image turned out to be a politically motivated forgery, intended to link Kerry with Fonda, whom some consider a traitor after her controversial visit to Hanoi during the Vietnam War.

<i>F.T.A.</i> Documentary about the 1971 anti-Vietnam War FTA Show

F.T.A. is a 1972 American documentary film starring Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland and directed by Francine Parker, which follows a 1971 anti-Vietnam War road show for GI's, the FTA Show, as it stops in Hawaii, The Philippines, Okinawa, and Japan. It includes highlights from the show, behind the scenes footage, local performers from the countries visited, and interviews and conversations with GIs "as they discuss what they saw in battle, their anger with the military bureaucracy, and their opposition to America's presence in Indochina." Called by Fonda "a spit and a prayer production" it was far from a big budget Hollywood movie, or even a well-funded documentary. While the movie "is raw," it "underscores how infectious the movement of the 60s and 70s was", and chronicles both the Tour itself as well as the soldiers who came to see it and "the local talent of organizers, labor unions and artist/activists" in the countries visited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Zimmerman (activist)</span> American political consultant and author

Bill Zimmerman is an American political consultant and author who was an anti-war activist during the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G.I. coffeehouses</span> Antiwar coffeehouses near U.S. military bases during and after the Vietnam War

GI coffeehouses were coffeehouses set up as part of the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War era as a method of fostering antiwar and anti-military sentiment within the U.S. military. They were mainly organized by civilian antiwar activists, though many GIs participated in establishing them as well. They were created in numerous cities and towns near U.S. military bases throughout the U.S as well as Germany and Japan. Due to the normal high turnover rate of GIs at military bases plus the military's response which often involved transfer, discharge and demotion, not to mention the hostility of the pro-military towns where many coffeehouses were located, most of them were short-lived, but a few survived for several years and "contributed to some of the GI movement's most significant actions". The first GI coffeehouse of the Vietnam era was set up in January 1968 and the last closed in 1974. There have been a few additional coffeehouses created during the U.S. led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

<i>Waging Peace in Vietnam</i> 2019 book edited by Ron Carver, David Cortright and Barbara Doherty

Waging Peace in Vietnam: U.S. Soldiers and Veterans Who Opposed the War is a non-fiction book edited by Ron Carver, David Cortright, and Barbara Doherty. It was published in September 2019 by New Village Press and is distributed by New York University Press. In March 2023 a Vietnamese language edition of the book was launched at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campaign for Economic Democracy</span>

Campaign for Economic Democracy (CED) was a California-based political action committee founded by activist and politician Tom Hayden along with his wife, actress and activist Jane Fonda. The CED was formed to promote New Left issues such as rent control, reduction of water pollution, investing in solar power and fighting against nuclear power, advocating labor rights, women's rights and various anti-war initiatives. The CED helped Hayden shift his radical left image more to the center, to reduce opposition and allow him to win his political campaigns. At the same time, pressure from the CED was intended to move the Democratic Party to the left. The CED successfully passed rent control laws in 1979 in Santa Monica, and they backed the 1986 California Proposition 65 to reduce toxins discharged into public water sources.

The Indochina Peace campaign (IPC) was an antiwar organization founded in 1972 by Tom Hayden and Jane Fonda primarily to advocate for Congressional action to end American involvement in the Vietnam War and, following the March 1973 withdrawal of U.S. ground troops, to end funding for the South Vietnam military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Servicemen's Fund</span> American anti-war support organization

The United States Servicemen's Fund (USSF) was a support organization for soldier and sailor resistance to the Vietnam War and the U.S. military that was founded in late 1968 and continued through 1973. It was an "umbrella agency" that funded GI underground newspapers and GI Coffeehouses, as well as providing logistical support for the GI antiwar movement ranging from antiwar films and speakers to legal assistance and staff. USSF described itself as supporting a GI defined movement "to work for an end to the Viet Nam war" and "to eradicate the indoctrination and oppression that they see so clearly every day."

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sayre, Nora (November 15, 1974). "Vietnam Lesson:'Introduction to Enemy' From Jane Fonda". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Streible, p. 407.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Haskell, Molly (November 7, 1974). "Introduction to Jane & the Enemy". The Village Voice . New York. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  4. ↑ McIsaac, 11 mins.
  5. ↑ McIsaac, 58 mins.
  6. ↑ McIsaac, 16 mins.
  7. 1 2 3 Bladen, Barbara (January 21, 1975). "Jane Fonda Continues Career with a Purpose". The San Mateo Times. San Mateo, CA. Retrieved January 29, 2016– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. 1 2 Ross, p. 247.
  9. 1 2 "Introduction to the Enemy". Viennale.at. Vienna International Film Festival. 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  10. ↑ Staff (January 9, 1975). "Fonda Speaks to Newsmen". Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, ID. AP. Retrieved February 1, 2016– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. ↑ Staff (December 2, 1974). "Jane Fonda Protests". Lebanon Daily News. Lebanon, PA. UPI. Retrieved February 1, 2016– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. 1 2 Editorial staff (May 12, 1975). "Propaganda, Cheap Shots". The Monroe News-Star. Monroe, LA. Retrieved January 30, 2016– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  13. ↑ Bergan, Ronald (December 27, 2015). "Haskell Wexler obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  14. ↑ Pendreigh, Brian (January 1, 2016). "Haskell Wexler, cinematographer". The Herald. Glasgow. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016– via HighBeam Research.
  15. ↑ McIsaac, 31 mins.
  16. ↑ Siskel, Gene (June 19, 1976). "Jane Fonda, Working Actress: Eye for Burnt Pots, Politics". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, CA. Retrieved January 29, 2016– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.