Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War

On DVD...finally!
I've owned and treasured an incomplete VHS set of this marvelous series since the late 80's, and now I know where part of my tax refund is going. This fascinating documentary series from the late 70's walks a very fine line between scholarship and pure entertainment. Although the delivery is decidedly dry, representing well the less sensationalistic Cronkite-era jounalistic dignity, this very long series never ceases to inform and absorb you. Viewers who have come of age in the CNN/Oliver Stone era may have a tough time NOT being told who the villians are, but man oh man is it a blessed relief for sentient humans. Vietnam:The ten thousand day war, is as close to agenda-free as you will ever see these days. The roles and experiences of the 3 Presidential administrations, the Vietminh, and the anti-war demonstrators are studied in minute detail, never betraying for a moment any editorial slant at all. The day-long running time allows for an exhaustive look at all aspects of the conflict...

Long Out-Of-Print, This Vietnam Series Reissue And Re-Master Is Essential Documentary Filmmaking
"Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War" is one of the essential documentary series of our time. I know it's fashionable to be critical of this presentation through modern eyes, but this series was invaluable in developing the television landscape of its day. Made in 1980, this presentation won the National Education Award for Best Documentary and is often cited as one of the more definitive works to attempt to explain America's twenty year commitment in Vietnam. It has been out of print for so long, however, that it has become virtually impossible to share and/or revisit the series if you did not own the release from 2000. As of today, sellers on this site are asking $500 (that's the lowest price) for that DVD release in a new condition. So, I'm glad we've finally got an updated release courtesy of Time Life and Star Vista.

This 26 part series was produced in Canada and was later condensed to 13 hour long episodes for its syndication broadcast in the United States in 1981...

The Truth About Vietnam
Produced at a time when the public's conception of the war was at an impass, Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War was not only a document of one of the darkest chapters in American History, but an indictment of war as a whole.

This unflinching documentary will take places you never thought you'd see. The jungles, the cities, the back roads, the fields, even the mountains of what was once an idyllic paradise, all are the backdrop for a journey of horror. Combining news, military, and independent documentary footage, we are transported through the entire spectrum of the conflict. We see it all, from the end of French Occupation, through the arrival of military "advosors", Tet, and the fall of Saigon. You'll even examine the war at home.

If you are still questioning why this tiny country in southeast asia was so crucial to our country's history, make this the first and last documentary you watch on the subject. You'll never be the same again.

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