SIR, NO SIR! THE GI REVOLT
David Zeiger, USA, 2005 BBC Two: Tuesday 27 June 2006 11.20pm-12.40am
The story of how active-duty American GIs, in their thousands, created a massive, unprecedented movement against the war in Vietnam that could not be stopped. Watch a preview clip of the film
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Nick Fraser
Storyville Series Editor
Our second film in Storyville's small season about the Vietnam War describes the largely forgotten role played in America's withdrawal by protests (and, indeed, mutinies) within the US army.
By 1971, as this skilfully made film shows, discontent was widely reported by the network news. Activists created newspapers, organised protests - and, most conspicuously, went to see Jane Fonda perform in the vicinity of various military bases.
From our present-day perspective, what comes through most clearly is the passionate patriotism of most of these GIs hostile to the war. They loved America but they just didn't see why they should be in Vietnam.
Another important feature of the film is the sheer quality of 1970s American reporting. It is heartbreaking to compare the literacy and scrupulousness of journalists of that time with the more slipshod practices often found now.
