★ 4 / 10
Hỏa Lò Prison started its use as a
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Hỏa Lò Prison started its use as a political prison used by French colonists in French Indochina before the North Vietnamese used it for jailing U.S. P.O.W.s…
Hỏa Lò Prison started its use as a political prison used by French colonists in French Indochina before the North Vietnamese used it for jailing U.S. P.O.W.s during the Vietnam War. So while Cannon may have made at least five Vietnam P.O.W. movies that I can name off the top of my head, this is the first serious one they filmed.
Directed and written by Lionel Chetwynd, this film shows a decade in the life of LCDR Williamson (Michael Moriarty, one of my favorite actors) who watches men come, go and die inside the prison camp.
There's Hubman (Paul Le Mat), a solder recalled to fight after serving in Korea who just wants to get home. Major Fischer (Jeffrey Jones in a rare heroic role) faces death with spiritual strength. Colonel Cathcart (Lawrence Pressman) tries to keep order in the face of chaos. But the only thing the men have is each other to lean on.
In no way is this an easy watch. It was made with the participation of real prisoners of war. While it failed at the box office, it remained popular amongst soldiers and those who have been in this situation.
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★ 8 / 10
This film only scored 47% from the public
SICKS6SIX S
this film only scored 47% from the public, I rate it at about 75%, It sums up what it must have been like quite well, its a low budget film and that shows at…
this film only scored 47% from the public, I rate it at about 75%, It sums up what it must have been like quite well, its a low budget film and that shows at times, but the Hilton looks like the dog s**t it was, check out google photos of the Hanoi Hilton, it was rotten with green slimy mould everywhere, the food infested with maggots and woodlice, what wasn't shown was the level of brainwashing used on the GIs & airmen, injected with drugs, LSD in there food, kept in total darkness for weeks at a time, loud Chinese music none stop, playing them films of back home showing the student protests against the war etc,Kent state shootings, it was a huge part of their captivity but it isn't explored nearly enough in this film, some of the captives were held for ten years in which time America changed so much it was unrecognisable when they got home, the hippy movement was happening, JFK & BK assasanated, civil rights, watts riots, rock music, man on the moon all happened and they knew nothing bout any of it, but this film is a reasoamable attempt at telling people what some of what they ewnt through was like, the prison scenes are sugar coated somewhat unlike, lets say the Deer Hunter, its a watchable film,
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48%
AUDIENCE
· 250 ratings
6.1/10
1.3K
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Waiting for the movie on Napalm victims...