Hearts and Minds (1975)

About Hearts and Minds

'Hearts and Minds' is a documentary about the Vietnam War. The film examines America's involvement in the campaign and its lasting impact on the country's society and culture. It attempts to give voice to various perspectives by featuring charismatic interviews of a plethora of individuals associated with the war, conveying the myriad of complexities of the war era.

Making / Production

Directed by Peter Davis and produced by Bert Schneider and Henry Jaglom, the movie was released in 1975. It was completed over a period of three years with a budget of close to a million dollars. The production was critically noted for its confronting and often controversial presentation of the war.

Actors

• George C. Scott - The actor contributes as the narrator, conscientiously instilling an impartial tone throughout the documentary.
• Clark Clifford - Plays himself, reflecting on his term as Defense Secretary and his role during the war.
• Daniel Ellsberg - Offers his perspective of someone involved directly in the government alongside his experiences at the Pentagon during the war.
• Ngo Vinh Long - A survivor of the My Lai massacre, he adds the human dimension to the story, highlighting the painful effects of war on communities.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title 'Hearts and Minds' is derived from a quote by President Lyndon B. Johnson: "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live out there."
• In spite of its critical acclaim, the movie was temporarily withdrawn from circulation due to a legal issue with one of the interviews.

Awards

'Hearts and Minds' won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1975. The announcement of the win was controversial, with a protestor interrupting the acceptance speech at the Oscars.

Quotes

• "I wonder how the foreign policies of the United States would look if we wiped out the national boundaries of the world, at least in our minds, and thought of all children everywhere as our own." - Daniel Ellsberg
• "Here is a respected newsman, CBS's Walter Kronkite, telling America that this war is lost." - Narrator

Music, Soundtrack

• The film uses source material from the actual war era to enhance the documentary’s authenticity and emotive power. The music comprises a mix of well-known 60s protest songs and somber piano melodies.