Faith of My Fathers | |
---|---|
Written by | Peter Markle William Bingham |
Directed by | Peter Markle |
Starring | Shawn Hatosy Scott Glenn Erin Cottrell |
Theme music composer | Velton Ray Bunch |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producer | Alan Barnette |
Editor | Scott Boyd |
Running time | 90 minutes |
Release | |
Original network | A&E Network |
Original release | May 30, 2005 |
Faith of My Fathers is a 2005 Americantelevision film, directed by Peter Markle. Based on the 1999 memoir of the same name by United States Senator and former United States NavyaviatorJohn McCain (with Mark Salter), it aired on A&E Network on Memorial Day, May 30, 2005.[1]
So Faith of My Fathers was a campaign book, but it is also something more. I think it is a classic American memoir. It is a book of enormous literary skill, a credit both to McCain and to Salter. “In prison, I fell in love with my country. I had loved her before then, but like most young people, my. Faith of My Fathers is a gripping story of character and courage character passed down from generation to generation by sterling examples of family bonds and devotion to duty; courage that ultimately comes from within, as John McCain learned in the brutal prison camps of North Vietnam. This is a sobering and glorious book that you won't be able to put down.
Filmed in Louisiana,[1]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,[2] interleaved with his memories of growing up in a heritage rich with military service. Shawn Hatosy is cast as John McCain, with Scott Glenn as his father, Admiral Jack McCain. Of the North Vietnamese captors, Chi Moui Lo played the keyman 'Prick' and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa played prison commander 'Cat'.
Plot[edit]
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 a sports team 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 US 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.
Reception[edit]
When initially aired, the movie 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 [and] stark, by-the-numbers account of the horrors POWs endured in Vietnam', while The Washington Post said the film was 'serviceable' but fell short of McCain's 'much more nuanced' memoir.[4]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.'[5]
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The film was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, in categories involving art direction, cinematography, and editing, but did not win any of them.[6] It was also a nominee for the American Society of Cinematographers Awards of 2005.[7] It was released to DVD by Sony Pictures Television[2] on August 30, 2005.[8]
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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ ab'Recently Reviewed: Faith of My Fathers'. Variety. May 30, 2005. Retrieved on November 17, 2006.[dead link]
- ^ ab'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.
- ^ abRessner, Jeffrey; Vogel, Kenneth P. (July 3, 2008). 'McCain's TV biopic, reconsidered'. The Politico. Retrieved January 30, 2009.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^Davis, Marcia (May 30, 2005). ''Faith of My Fathers': In Principle, a Noble Effort'. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2008.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^Stanley, Alessandra (May 30, 2005). 'Like Father, Like Son, Like Patriots'. The New York Times. Retrieved April 16, 2008.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^'Complete list of 2005 primetime Emmy winners'. Associated Press for The Chicago Tribune. September 18, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2008.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^'Film Awards'. SeismicFX. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
- ^'Faith of My Fathers'. Retrieved April 15, 2008.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
External links[edit]
- Faith of My Fathers at IMDb
'Faith of My Fathers' by John McCain with Mark Salter is a memoir that highlights John McCain's ancestry, focusing primarily on his grandfather, father, and on his own life. Not glamorizing their existence, this book is a real account of the triumphs and pitfalls of the military men. It carries the reader through wartime strategies from the First World War through the Vietnam war.
John McCain's grandfather, John Sidney McCain Senior, also known as Slew, came from a long line of military men. The family fought in wars for their country for over 200 years. However, he was the first one to choose the Navy. The rest of his family was part of the Army. Slew's career did not seem very promising at first. His grades at the Naval Academy were very low and he was constantly earning demerits for poor behavior. He served as an engineering officer during World War I and worked his way up the ranks to a point where he commanded all land-based aircraft operations in the South Pacific during the Second World War. Over time, Slew proved to be a brilliant tactician and a powerful leader. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership in the early days of the Guadalcanal Campaign in the Solomon Islands. One of the keys to his success was his abiding faith and respect for those that served under him.
John McCain's father, John Sidney McCain Junior, also known as Jack, began his Navy career following in his father's footsteps. He also had little respect for grades at the Naval Academy and was also constantly getting demerits that threatened his graduation. After his time in the academy, he became very dedicated to his work. John remembered how the Navy consumed almost every one of his father's thoughts and how he worked ceaselessly even on holidays. He and his wife got to know prominent political and military figures as he rose up the chain of leadership. Both Jack and Slew were four-star admirals in the Navy. Jack was Commander in Chief in the Pacific during the Vietnam War when his son became a prisoner of war.
Faith Of My Fathers Book
John McCain, the author of this book, followed the path of his predecessors by almost flunking out of the Academy due to poor academics and far less than exemplary behavior. After the Academy, he became a naval officer but was still more intent on partying then working. After a while the thrill wore off, and he be started to become more focused on his work. Like his ancestors, he was dedicated to being part of military action on behalf of his country and was eager to enlist during the Vietnam War. The first carrier he was on became damaged due to an inferno that claims many lives. John was concerned that this tragic occurrence would keep him back from the action, but he soon had the opportunity to sign up for another mission. During his time on the next carrier, John's plane was shot down and he became a prisoner of war. This novel details his experiences as a prisoner of the Vietnamese as well as lessons he learned during the war and from his forefathers.