A Face of War (1968) User Reviews

Incredible war footage

[Stincil · 9/10 · 14 May 2000]

This gritty B&W early footage of a Marine company is some of the most intense war footage I've ever seen. The sometimes dark and erratic footage conveys the confusion of war far better than the overproduced documentaries that followed.

Following a Marine company into an ambush, complete with hectic radio transmissions calling for medivac, there are scenes showing medics treating sick and wounded Vietnamese civilians and helping a young woman give birth. A great dichotomy.

This was filmed when there was still hope for victory, militarily, as well as in the "hearts and minds" of the civilian population.

The film has a genuine surrealistic quality to it; e.g., a flame throwing tank torching an empty village seems not of this world.

This film is an absolute must for anyone interested in the Vietnam War.

Practically Perfect

[william-paul-beau-gruendler · 9/10 · 2 November 2018]

I was an Army Infantryman in 1971. These 1966 Jirenes are the real deal. The sights and sounds are crudely reproduced on my IHF VHS copy but terribly authentic. Some of the Marines who survived are alive to this day, 2018. Find one and thank him. I wonder if the baby born on camera is still with us at an Age of 52?

I not only saw this documentary but I served with Mike Co. during the filming of it.

[jschindo-1 · 10/10 · 28 September 2001]

This is an exceptionatly well made film about the Vietnam war during 1966, during a time when we as Marines thought we were doing something that was helping the people of Vietnam. We set up on hill ten which was between two villes, Phuli3 and no name village. Phuli3 was very friendly and after the area was secure, which was no easy task, we were allowed to walk there in pairs and get haircuts, buy soft drinks, Vietnamese beer and other creature comforts and play with the kids. The film showed how a few hundred meters would change things drasticly. On other side of the hill was no name village. Going out on a patrol on that side of hill 10 was a different world. The ville its self was loaded with booby traps and more often than not we would have one or two Marines wounded or killed as the Viet Cong would change the locations of the booby traps almost nightly. In the film it showed us relocating the people and leveling it and using a flame throwing tank burning the entire area to the ground. The film makers were a very brave lot as they were right with us during most of the intense fire fights and ambushes. Everyone in Mike Co. had the utmost respect for these unarmed brave men, armed only with their camera and sound equipment. Anyone who would like to see how a Marine rifle company operates would not be dissapointed watching A FACE OF WAR. For the most part it centered around one squad which spent their nights in Phuli3 protecting the people from the VC. There is quite a bit of other action involving the entire company. People who want to see what it was all about before the war became unpopular will see that the Vietnam vets were not a bunch of lowlife drug addicted "baby killers" as we were portrayed by the protesters in the latter years, and why,'til this day, the combat vets of the Army and the Marines suffer from PTSD and other problems coping with every day life.

Daily I Corps Reality for U.S. Marines in Viet Nam

[jem1 · 10/10 · 10 July 2000]

This is the most accurate depiction of what Marines did in Viet Nam on a day to day basis that I have seen. The closest "commercial" dipection of America's involvement in Southeast Asia was, "Platoon". The U.S. Marines Christmas in "A Face of War" was not only surreal but absolutely real. I know, because I was there in 1967.

A real eye opener

[preppy-3 · 10/10 · 20 July 2003]

Back in the early 70s, a local TV station showed this film on a hot summer afternoon totally uncut (I remember being surprised by hearing the swearing). I was very young (about 10 or 11) and knew very little about the Vietnam War. This film showed me exactly what happened out there but it wasn't too depressing. In fact I was surprised and pleased at seeing how the soldiers held up under pressure with attacks from the enemy. At that point in time I had no idea what war was really like--this movie showed me what it was. Also there was a beautiful sequence when they help a Vietnamese woman give birth. The shot of the cheerful, happy soldier holding up the little healthy baby has never left me. A truly great film. Sadly, this is totally forgotten--I think it's 20 times better than "Platoon" or "Deer Hunter"

Amazing

[pka-7 · 10/10 · 24 March 2007]

I believe this is one of the best movies I have seen about Vietnam. A family member of mine is in the movie and I vividly remember watching it with the neighbors, looking to see the family member's face. I like that it's a real picture of what it was like for the soldiers. And although it's just a small part of what they experienced, it's the closest I will probably come to it. Of course I am somewhat biased but I believe anyone who has seen it will agree that this movie is a good picture of reality of war. It's amazing how these guys survived the experience and came home to live life in America after the experiences they had in the jungle.

A real life and harrowing account

[duihou · 10/10 · 13 September 2005]

I've seen this film a few times, but then my dad is the cameraman on it. He was injured whilst the film was made and was totally upset when he later found out that some of the guys he was with were killed, injured or "missing in action".

It follows the real life duties of a platoon of marines in Vietnam in 1966, if memory serves. There are all kinds of action, including those of the ambush variety, mines going off and young soldiers crying for their mothers due to the pain and shock of being injured.

This film works especially well because it IS REAL. Don't expect any swaggering heroes or special effects; they are completely unnecessary. I cannot stress enough, what you see is what actually happened all those years ago.

There's one bit where a sniper fires at the platoon. My dad says this was particularly scary as he'd just done the clapper board thing, setting the scene, when the rounds started pinging around in his direction. The camera was left running on its own whilst everyone dived for cover. The clapper board he was holding ended up with 5-6 rounds in it.

Real footage of the early years of the Viet Nam War

[blackcat-26 · 10/10 · 7 August 2007]

Black and white images of Mike Company 3/7, First Mar Div from 1966 when the M-14 was still in use. This is the most realistic film I've ever seen and it is typical of action in the Chu Lai area at that time. That's because it was real and the film crew remained with Mike Company for three months. I saw this when I returned from Viet Nam in 1968 and was surprised to see such reality and never forgot about this film.

Years later I saw it advertised in a magazine and purchased the video but later on loaned it out to a friend and never got it back. If anyone knows where it is possible to purchase it these days please let me know. I've looked but cannot find it anywhere.

Near the end of the film it shows a village being burned and the peasants being forcibly moved from their fields, animals and ancestral burial grounds. This was definitely not the way to win any hearts and minds. I have to wonder if that scene has anything to do with the film being unavailable.

A Face of War inspired "Apocalypse Now"

[Carts · 10/10 · 24 February 2018]

Francis Ford Coppola and John Milius saw this documentary when at Film school. They intended to produce a Drama in Vietnam during the war, but decided it was too dangerous. Later Coppola made "Apocalypse Now" based on this, and accounts for the "puppy dog" scene, which is in "A Face of War".

It is not available on DVD probably due to its graphic violence and exposing US war crimes, but is viewable on youtube.