Product Details

• Actors: Denise Perrier, Denise Cooper, Bob Pierse, Carol Middlemiss, Jack Bone
• Directors: Mara Wallis
• Format: NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: CustomFlix
• DVD Release Date: January 30, 2003
• Run Time: 53 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00073J2EK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,309 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Wallis went to Vietnam in 1967 to entertain and spend the next three years performing for the troops. She also promoted herself and other, lesser-known acts, folks who hitched rides to remote firebases and outposts, often at great personal risk, to boost the morale of and bring a touch of home to the ordinary G.I. This is the story of Wallis s band, among others. It is also a trip back in time for anyone who really understands the meaning of We gotta get out of this place, the de facto anthem of the regular soldiers, sailors, and marines who found themselves in Southeast Asia. This award-winning video expertly blends performer interviews with archival film and photos to show the Vietnam experience from a unique point of view. The sound, editing, and cinematography are excellent. This is a fitting tribute to the entertainers who made themselves part of life In Country and who have received little or no recognition. Very highly recommended. ---Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH - Library Journal

Death never bought a ticket to any of the shows that Australian entertainers did for the troops during the Vietnam war. But he crashed the party more than once. That's just one of the many tangibles you'll find in Mara Wallis' documentary Entertaining Vietnam, which focuses on Australian performers who went places where Bob Hope and Twiggy wouldn't be caught... --The Santa Fe New Mexican: No Name Stars in War Torn Times by Robert Nott

Compelling... top notch documentary... --VVA Veteran

Product Description

Many of the entertainers who toured the Vietnam war were well known...most of them weren't. Filmmaker Mara Wallis belonged to the latter group for over 2 years and returns to the intensity of the times to tell their compelling stories in the documentary Entertaining Vietnam. The entertainers we meet returned repeatedly to Vietnam, hitching rides from base to base to perform at remote outposts...there were casualties amongst their ranks. Interweaving rare archival footage and interviews with veteran performers, Entertaining Vietnam reveals new insight into a tumultuous time by taking us to a time and place only a few really experienced.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great documentary, March 20, 2007

By 

Jerry Autry (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Entertaining Vietnam (DVD)

Entertaining Vietnam. A really terrific documentary. I see lots of documentaries and this is as good as most and better than most. And, it is such a compelling subject, things/issues I never thought about. There are stories within the video that are adventures themselves. For instance, I felt really bad about one of the entertainers who was killed by friendly fire. You must watch the interview to "get it." The interview of one of the band members who witnessed the event, was mesmerising. Basically, a soldier who had gone "over the top" and, meant to kill another soldier, missed and killed the entertainer. What a story! Sad.

This documentary deserves wide coverage. Vietnam vets will love it. I personally would buy it just for the music. So much more, however. It should have a wide audience. Also, I felt badly that the entertainers did not get more support from the military. This is awful. Apparently the entertainers don't feel this way but I do. Some commander should have been making sure these valuable military assets were protected, transported and anything else needed. We let them down. It is obvious to me that the entertainers' commitment to the troops in bringing them a portion of home deserves recognition. And, this documentary gives well deserved and long overdue recognition to them. For this, I say, HooAhhhhhhhh!!

I love the way the film maker has put the video together, right to the point of the running credits. A great job. And, thanks more than I can possibly convey for bringing a portion of home to the Vietnam warrior and also for putting together this wonderful documentary.

We are now in a war that is Vietnam revisited. It is Iraqnam. Caring Americans need to see Entertaining Vietnam to understand the psyche of how history repeats itself. In addition to personal viewing, Entertaining Vietnam would make a great addition to a college course and I'm personally buying an additional copy for a college Prof. friend. I hope others will do the same.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a story that's never been told!, March 6, 2005

By 

Ceci (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Entertaining Vietnam (DVD)

This is a slice of history never before explored. We've all heard about the USO, but not about the countless young women and men who entertained the troops in Vietnam independently. Great investigative work with several major scoops, and on top of it all, it's entertaining!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Vietnam war documentary, March 5, 2005

By 

Joe Torres (NM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Entertaining Vietnam (DVD)

I was surprised by this film. Really moves along and is gripping in parts. Its a look at the war that I've never seen before. Forget Bob Hope, these guys really saw some action in the war!