Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E HOME VIDEO
• DVD Release Date: April 8, 2008
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000ZDQI9E
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,067 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

No one suspected that playboy Congressman Charlie Wilson and his partner Gust Avrakotos--an aggressive CIA agent nicknamed Dr. Dirty --would mastermind the covert arming of the Afghan Mujahideen in what became the largest and most successful campaign in CIA history.

THE TRUE STORY OF CHARLIE WILSON profiles this unorthodox alliance, and chronicles the epic journey the two men undertook to guarantee the success of their freedom fighters. Now, THE HISTORY CHANNEL examines the unforeseen and far-reaching effects of the CIA s efforts to assist the Afghan rebels in the fight against the Soviet Union--namely, the Afghan uprising against the West. Revealing the full story behind the Hollywood blockbuster Charlie Wilson s War, THE TRUE STORY OF CHARLIE WILSON penetrates the inner-workings of the CIA to uncover the men and the designs that have returned to haunt America today.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes James Bond look like a third grader. May 4, 2008

By Stephen Milovich

Amazon Verified Purchase

I had never heard of this documentary until I first viewed it on THE HISTORY CHANNEL. Initially I thought it was some "action adventure" fiction type. It did not take long to figure out this was a real event that changed the history of the world: was responsible for kicking the Soviets out of Afghanistan and led to the demise of the Soviet Union.

What is so amazing is that one "on the wild side" U.S. senator and one "shunned/rouge" CIA agent was responsible for all of this. They did not just sit behind some desk either! They were on their own. Of course that is until near the very end when the CIA wanted some of the glory too.

This is a documentary you do not want to miss! The Hollywood version, "Charlie Wilson's War" staring Tom Hanks is; I'm sure a good movie but in no way can portray the real life events of of Charlie Wilson and CIA agent Gust Avrakotos.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The True Story of Charlie Wilson May 11, 2008

By Jeffrey L. Dorrell

I am a lawyer and actually knew Charlie Wilson from his first term in Congress--he appointed me an intern in his Washington office in 1974. I used a 4-minute clip from this movie of his explaining how he got into politics (a neighbor poisoned Charlie's dog when he was 13, and he skillfully organized constituents to vote the guy out of office by 16 votes) in a guest lecture I gave to a college government class on local politics. It was a big hit with the students. The movie is much more interesting than the Hollywood film starring Tom Hanks (even though Hanks does a great job) because it shows the real people and events, not actors and graphics.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The real Charlie Wilson in his own words May 25, 2008

By Jeedgr

Amazon Verified Purchase

If you want to meet the real Charlie Wilson and the real exchanges that took place as he forstered the Afgan effort to drive the Russians out of of Afganistan, then you'll want to see the History Channels "True Story". It involves so much detail about how things get done in Washington and in Congress that if your like me you'll watch it over and over. This is no movie made up by Hollywood, but, except for some parts, it puts together documentary scenes with the protagonist himself, Congressman Charlie Wilson, telling story, how he got Congress to fund the weapons and supplies to the Afgans, how he made visits to the right world leaders to help instigate it, and without a lot of publicity.

One scene that the History Channel had that unfortunately did not get onto the DVD is the finale of the Russians, as they were leaving Afghanistan across freedom bridge, requested that Charlie show up in military uniform. Charlie thought the Russians were going to shoot him since he was not at that moment a civilian, but they wanted to salute the man who pulled off uniting a people who drove them out.

Unfortunately also, we never got hear Charlies views and efforts to overcome the Pakistani's who never could be trusted in the beginning and are doing everything they can today to support the middle-east terrorists following the Bin Laden cult, and of course to continue to be one of the 80 or so despot governments that now run the UN.