Product Details

• Actors: Glenn Close, Judy Davis, Jan Rubes, Wendy Makkena, Susan Barnes
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: November 9, 1999
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0767823923
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,662 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Glenn Close won an Emmy for her portrayal of Margarethe Cammermeyer in this 1995 made-for-television film. An army medical officer in line for a career promotion during the first Bush Administration, but suddenly faced discharge proceedings after admitting to being a lesbian, the real-life Cammermeyer became a focus of national attention on the issue of gays in the military. This sensitive production focuses on Cammermeyer's decision to fight institutional bigotry and the way her family and that of her longtime partner, Diane Divelbess (Judy Davis, who also won an Emmy), rally to support these good people. The script by Alison Cross captures the sad irony of doing everything right--serving one's country, taking care of the people in one's life--yet still being treated like a pariah for entirely irrational reasons. A bit of dismissible controversy arose about a discreet kiss between the principals, but for the most part this film is designed to win over the hearts and minds of a broad audience with its sheer humanity. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Conduct Unbecoming... not, April 23, 2002

By 

Steven Cain (Temporal Quantum Pocket) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Serving in Silence: Margarethe Cammermeyer [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It is to the US Military's everlasting shame that they saw fit to persecute and expel a true decorated American war hero. War hero? Well what would you call an Army Nurse (24th Evac., Long Binh) who worked tirelessly to save the lives of teenage soldiers in an insanely busy surgical unit, where the word "Incoming" could mean more than the next influx of wounded.

The movie understatedly captures how Cammermeyer (Bronze Star)and her nursing staff, and their Red Cross sisters (the Red Cross women still have no Vet status) risked their lives on a daily basis, never knowing when the next mortar round or 122mm rocket would slam into their Evac hospitals or MUSTs, or as with the 6th Convalescent Center at Cam Ranh Bay, when the VC sappers might attack directly.

As a reality check, the first member of the Army Nurse Corps to be killed by direct enemy action was 1 / L Sharon Ann Lane, who died when a Russsian-made 8 inch diameter rocket struck Ward 4 of the 312th Evac at Chu Lai.

8 Army Nurses died in Vietnam.

That a true blue American woman, like Cammermeyer, who had given so much to so many should be driven out of the service that she loved because of something so pathetic as her orientation is perhaps the greatest indictment of a system that is full of double standards.

Close and Davis were simply magnificent, and the only way in which this movie goes out to shock is by accurately telling this true tale of unimaginable injustice. The only obscenity lay in the outcome of the hearings.

There have always been (...) in the military. Always. And there always will be. I was not one of them. I just don't like it when the bad guys win.

There's a special place in Heaven for the women who served in Nam. All 15,000 of them. Vets every one.

Courage knows no race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.

Col. Cammermeyer is presently researching a Don't Ask, Don't Tell project. Best of luck ma'am.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars serving in silence: the Margarethe Cammermeyer Story, September 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Serving in Silence: Margarethe Cammermeyer [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Having been in a similar situation, I know how it goes. The story rings true only for the military officers...enlisted on the other hand go thru alot more turmoil and harrassment. Glenn
Close did a wonderful job on this, as she always does.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Story, June 27, 2001

By 

CriminalJusticeteacherdotcom "CJTeacher" (TN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Serving in Silence: Margarethe Cammermeyer [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Ms. Close IS Grethe in this movie - she does an excellent job of portraying her! I still cry when I see this movie. Thank you, Grethe, Ms. Close, Ms. Streisand, and everyone who came together to tell this story. Please educate yourself and others. Education is the key which unlocks closed minds.