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Faith of My Fathers (film)

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Faith of My Fathers
DVD cover
Genre
Based on
Written by
Directed byPeter Markle
Starring
Music byVelton Ray Bunch
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
ProducerAlan Barnette
CinematographyBill Roe
EditorScott Boyd
Running time90 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkA&E
ReleaseMay 30, 2005 (2005-05-30)

Faith of My Fathers is a 2005 American biographical drama television film directed by Peter Markle and written by Markle and William Bingham, based on the 1999 memoir of the same name by United States Senator and former United States Navy aviator John McCain (with Mark Salter). It aired on A&E on Memorial Day, May 30, 2005.

Filmed in New Orleans, Faith of My Fathers is based on the story of Lieutenant Commander John McCain's experiences as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and a half years during the Vietnam War, interleaved with his memories of growing up in a heritage rich with military service. Shawn Hatosy stars as John McCain, with Scott Glenn as his father, Admiral Jack McCain. Of the North Vietnamese captors, Chi Muoi Lo plays the keyman "Prick" and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa plays prison commander "Cat".

Plot

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John McCain flies his jet from a carrier on a bombing mission over Hanoi, North Vietnam. As a warning buzzer announces incoming missiles, McCain stays with the bomb drop, but is hit by a missile. He lands in the water and is pulled ashore by an angry mob, and taken prisoner. Asked to give information, he gives out the names of the Green Bay Packers rather than of his squadron. In flashbacks, his father tells of how his submarine escaped destruction in World War II, and told him not to worry about his grades, as his father and grandfather "really fooled them" by rising to admiral despite doing poorly in school. In prison, McCain sees other prisoners cruelly tortured, while he sees a couple who appear to have decided to cooperate with the enemy. McCain is given a choice to be released early in recognition that his father is commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, but he refuses, and suffers for it. During a stepped-up bombing campaign, the prisoners sing "Silent Night", after which negotiations result in a release of prisoners and a trip home.

Cast

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Production

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Faith of My Fathers was shot in New Orleans. Filming locations included the former Falstaff Brewery (as the Hanoi Hilton)[1] and Tulane University (as the United States Naval Academy).[2]

Reception

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When initially aired, the film had 3.7 million viewers, and was A&E's highest-rated program in over a year.[3]

Reviews for Faith of My Fathers were mixed, with Variety calling the treatment an "earnest adaptation" and "a stark, by-the-numbers account of the horrors POWs endured in Vietnam",[4] while The Washington Post said the film was "serviceable" but fell short of McCain's "much more nuanced" memoir.[5] The New York Times said the film lacked complexity and texture, but that it was "a respectful, moving view of a veteran's effort to pay respects to his family and fellow P.O.W.'s."[6]

The film was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, in categories involving art direction, cinematography, and editing, but did not win any of them.[7] It was also a nominee for the American Society of Cinematographers Awards of 2005.[8] It was released to DVD by Sony Pictures Television[9] on August 30, 2005.[10]

A DVD of the film was commercially released in June 2008 by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and was also used as a contribution reward by McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Morris, George (August 29, 2018). "St. Tammany veteran shared John McCain's experience as prisoner at infamous 'Hanoi Hilton'". The Advocate. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  2. ^ Blumenstock, Kathy (May 29, 2005). "Film chronicles McCain's years as Vietnam POW". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 14, 2022 – via The Gainesville Sun.
  3. ^ a b Ressner, Jeffrey; Vogel, Kenneth P. (July 3, 2008). "McCain's TV biopic, reconsidered". The Politico. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  4. ^ Lowry, Brian (May 26, 2005). "Faith of My Fathers". Variety. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  5. ^ Davis, Marcia (May 30, 2005). "'Faith of My Fathers': In Principle, a Noble Effort". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  6. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (May 30, 2005). "Like Father, Like Son, Like Patriots". The New York Times. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  7. ^ "Complete list of 2005 primetime Emmy winners". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. September 18, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  8. ^ "Film Awards". SeismicFX. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  9. ^ "Shawn Hatosy And Scott Glenn To Star In ..." (Press release). A&E Network. March 14, 2005. Archived from the original on October 14, 2006. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  10. ^ "Faith of My Fathers". Amazon. 30 August 2005. Retrieved April 15, 2008.
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