Product Details

• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: R2 Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: October 26, 2004
• Run Time: 541 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00030ANYU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,612 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Originally broadcast on NBC, the 9 complete hour-long shows included in this set feature Hope’s classic comedy stand-up and wonderfully entertaining sketches and musical performances with celebrity guests including Racquel Welch, Phyllis Diller, Neil Armstrong, Jim Nabors, Lola Falana and many more. While providing quality entertainment for the troops and to families across the nation, these specials also documented the history of one of the most turbulent times in America. Each show is narrated by Hope and includes information about his ambitious tours through Thailand, Taiwan and Guam as well as touching interviews with the soldiers he met along the way.

Hope’s holiday salute to the troops became an instant favorite with television audiences. The 1965 special won an Emmy Award® and the special from 1970 is still ranked among the 15 highest-rated television programs to date. Bob Hope will always be remembered for his dedication to the armed forces. Back in 1941 he began the custom of traveling the world to uplift the spirit of American troops stationed over seas. This custom became tradition the Christmas of ‘48 when Bob, with wife Dolores, flew to Europe to entertain Americans involved with the Berlin airlift.

Always at the top of his game on the road, his devotion endured through the sixties and seventies, when American Troops were deployed to Vietnam. This 3-disc set captures Hope’s most memorable moments as he performed for the troops from 1964 - 1972.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great gift for anyone who saw one of these shows, November 9, 2004

By 

A reader (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bob Hope - The Vietnam Years (1964-1972) (DVD)

I caught a glimpse of Bob Hope's 1967 TV show on a set in the transient terminal at Cam Rahn Bay. I thought that I was in one of the audience close up shots and I've wondered since then if indeed it was me. A small mystery to carry through life. So, I bought this DVD and--question answered last night--it wasn't me.

But it was a treat to see the 1967 show and especially Raquel Welch again. She was gorgeous (and still is).

A lot of the humor was corny, and seems even more so now. But I remember sitting down by myself after catching the show in person at the air base in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, and just feeling good. That feeling didn't return watching the show again, but the memory of it did and with it a feeling of gratitude to Hope and everyone who traveled with him.

There are shows in this set from Korea, Germany and other places far from southeast Asia. But none of the people in any of the audiences shows signs of regarding themselves as pitiful victims, which might surprise people who only know about the war or service to country from the media and what they are told in school. Particularly noteworthy is what is revealed by the audience wideshots in Vietnam: the number of young black Americans in Vietnam was not disproportionate, including in combat outfits like the First Infantry Division.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something is missing but the shows are GREAT!, September 1, 2008

By 

Henri Bronsgeest (Nevada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bob Hope - The Vietnam Years (1964-1972) (DVD)

These shows are great! Bob was a wonderful entertainer. I saw the show at Clark AFB. I hope that someone will gather the other shows from 1948 on and put those out.

I cannot understand why someone would rate these 1 star just because there is a problem with a disc. You should be reviewing the show, not a production problem. A product problem gets resolved by getting a replacement, this does not affect the content which is what people want to read about.

SOMETHING IS MISSING - I do note that even though the shows should be 90 minutes, they are actually closer to 70. The musical numbers from the guest stars have been removed among other things. I presume they could not get clearance for the performances. Too bad. It would have been nice to get the complete shows.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Vietnam Veteran's review., August 29, 2009

By 

Thomas J. O'Keeffe "TOK" (Ridgefield, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bob Hope - The Vietnam Years (1964-1972) (DVD)

As a Vietnam Veteran; I happily recommend this DVD collection to anyone who was there, or has an interest in either Vietnam or Bob Hope. Bob Hope was one of those rare individuals who was able to entertain without being too "edgy", too offensive, or too political.