Faith Of My Fathers Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
John McCain's father gave him the courage to be a soldier. Five years as a POW gave him the courage to be a hero.
The story of John McCain's experience as a Vietnam War POW. Base on the memoir of the same title.
| Thomas Madell | Army General |
| Gary Michael Smith | Naval Commander |
| Michael Arata | Captain Hart |
| Dale Beasley | News Reporter |
| Tony Bentley | Grey madden |
| Brian Bossetta | Hanging POW |
| William Burns | Prisoner/singer |
| Jude Cambise | Prisoner Of War |
| Joe Chrest | Craner |
| Louis Dupuy | Parent |
| Brian F. Durkin | Henry Witt |
| J.D. Evermore | Commander James Latimer |
| Jeff Galpin | Colonel |
| Scott Glenn | Jack McCain |
| Nick Gomez | Becker |
6.60 out of 10 (157 votes)
Visitor Reviews
The story about true Heroes
posted on 09 Aug 2009John McCain is a hero, along with all those who served our nation during the Vietnam war. I appreciate the fact that someone wanted to make a movie about the courage and strength of the POWs. There were some interesting and thought provoking scenes to be sure. But I wish there had been more attention to detail since they were dealing with a true story. The casting and directing were good, except for the main role. The actor who portrayed John McCain was not given much to work with.. mainly facial expressions when in pain or worried, and some smart aleck remarks now and then to liven the character up. The biggest problem was that he looked and acted like a kid amongst all the older, strong men in the camp. John McCain was 31 at the time, not 20, and certainly not clueless. If you haven't read the book by the same title you will find the movie inspiring and will greatly admire the men who endured such hardships and returned with honor. This is just one of those cases where it's an excellent movie, but it's quite frustrating if you know the real story (truth is definitely better than fiction here). I really appreciate the intent, but wish they would have followed the book more closely... that would have rated 5 stars plus.
A Story about Heroism!
posted on 03 Jul 2009United States Senator and Presidential Candidate John McCain's story about his five and half years in Vietnamese prison camp as a prisoner of war is told here. Most of the cast members are not well-known but they all play very well in this ensemble. The movie does it's best to show the brutality of war and the humanity that sometimes comes within. The actor who plays John McCain as the wounded soldier does a brilliant job in portraying him as a complex but likable fellow. The story offers a background regarding his complex relationship with John's father, a high ranking military man and the family's military history. We only see mother, Roberta, and hear her reaction that her son may not be coming home when his plane is shot at down. The same scene for his wife and the mother of his three children is also shown. We also see how he met his first wife, Carol. The five and half-years is well-documented as painful, violent, and inhumane at times but it built character in John to protect his squadron as well as remain behind rather than go home sooner than later. He couldn't bear to leave his men who became his friends behind. This movie is about politics but about a man's battle to survive with broken limbs but not a broken heart.
An Excellent Story ....but
posted on 17 Mar 2009This movie covers the period time Sen. John McCain spent as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam war. For those of you who enjoyed this movie but have not read the book I would strongly encourage you to do so.For those of you who have read the book and felt a little unsatisfied with the movie, I feel the same. Unless I missed it they left out Hanoi Jane's visit to the camp which is totally unacceptable. Also, McCain's theft of another persons washrag was not part of the movie.I'm glad a movie was made from this great book, but as is often the case, the movie is substantially inferior to the book.
Faith of My Fathers
posted on 24 Oct 2008This movie appeals to those viewers who are either military or related to a military member.It is a story of what people endure at the hands of the enemy, regardless who that enemy is (reverse roles and you have the Iraqi prison scandal).War is not sterile or "cool." The anger, frustration and hopelessness of those involved in its day to day actions is well expressed in this film. One commentator found fault with the Admiral's (Glenn's father) lack of emotion. As a seasoned military man, emotions are things which the professional soldier puts on hold until the issue at hand is resolved.This story is NOT a warm and fuzzy. McCain endured for years what most people in the US could not endure for one week. We are quick to jump on the depiction of the events and criticize the story but those of us who HAVE served this country in times of conflict can only say that were the shoe on MY foot, would I have the temerity and fortitude to endure this torment? McCain, unlike the present Commander-In-Chief, IS a war hero and this film does justice to him, the US Military and the Code of Honor that upholds our military traditions.
Not bad.
posted on 20 Sep 2008I expected more for an A&E production, and I found the budget lacking. After watching other A&E productions, I found the producers cut a few corners with the high standards of previous A&E movies sets. Faith of my fathers has an excellent message about character, and going the extra mile. I find with my studies, work and my sick wife the movie is inspirational. It shames me into not feeling sorry for myself. The story is lacking in spots. I have never read the book, but I bet it is a long one. When you compress a long book into a hour and a half the viewer only gets a glimpse of the event. I love the part with grandpa and when John talks to his father and the reply is that John left nothing behind. God bless him and his character. I have no idea what I would do in such a situation. I give it a 6 out of 10. The movie left me looking for more. I think I will read the book after finishing one of my majors.
John McCain is a HERO!
posted on 15 Sep 2008I had seen this movie on tv a while back but wanted to see it again and have the movie for my own. It shows John McCain as a true hero. This movie was not only entertaining but history that all should see as to what our men went through in the Viet Nam War. A movie worth watching more than once and to be handed down in the family.
Well done made-for-TV movie
posted on 21 Aug 2008FAITH OF MY FATHERS tells the true story of John McCain's military service, capture, and imprisonment in Vietnam during the Vietnam war. Nearly all of this made-for-TV movie is shot with a hand-held camera bringing the drama in close and making it personal. The pacing is fine, although the commercial breaks tended to disrupt more than average. The acting was the highlight of this production. The unknown actor playing John McCain really captures his essence. About the only thing that did not work in FAITH OF MY FATHERS was the shower peeping scene. It was out of place and did not advance the story.Interestingly, the conflict in FAITH OF MY FATHER -- Vietnam communists captors versus the American prisoners of war -- no longer holds water as Vietnam today is mostly known as being Asia's new shining tourist destination. All of the torture inflicted upon John McCain and his fellow servicemen was ultimately for naught. The heroic resistance of the American prisoners was also pointless. As John McCain may run for President again, the war crimes depicted in FAITH OF MY FATHER connects to today's Iraqi prisoner abuse. Would a President John McCain, a torture victim of the Vietnam War, approve of the proxy torture and trained rape canines currently used against today's Iraqi war prisoners? FAITH OF MY FATHER is a fitting companion piece to 1987's HANOI HILTON -- another drama focusing on the daily suffering, torture, and brutal treatment the American P.O.W.s in North Vietnam's Hoa Lo Prison. If I am not mistaken, John McCain was a technical adviser to HANOI HILTON. Very interesting.
Faith of My Fathers-John McCain-Man for All Seasons ***
posted on 22 Jul 2008Faithful biography depicting the life of Sen. John McCain as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.Coming from a strict military family, McCain is able to weather the storm on confinement and brutality of the North Vietnamese during the conflict.A weak student at the academy, McCain is backed up by his father, a very good performance by Scott Glenn. Glenn portrays a totally dedicated military official who doesn't even shake an eyelid when he informed that his son has been captured.The torture chambers and the torture inflicted on McCain and others is well shown.McCain is definitely pictured as a hero in this film. He refused to be released if it meant having to participate in North Vietnamese propaganda.A very good story dealing with military honor, call to duty and undying patriotism by our men and women in uniform.
5 for inspiration, 3 for lack of detail, 4 overall
posted on 01 Mar 2008I was feeling depressed about the future of the USA and took the afternoon off, using this movie as a break. It really inspired me. See my review of the book for all the detail that this movie fails to provide. Bottom line is that the movie does NOT do justice to McCain's captivity and honor in captivity, but for a DVD it is absolutely great and there is nothing about it that I really want to criticize. They probably could not get Henry Kissinger to dye his hair or wear a wig, the most significant thing left out of this film is that Kissinger was offered a chance to take McCain back with him, and turned it down, as he should have. Duty, Honor, Country is not just for Army officers, but for all of us. However, at this terrible time in our country's history, the movie also reminded me of the dishonor to their oaths to the Constitution that our senior generals displayed in failing to resign and protest publicly when their sound advice was ignored in the run up to the war on a web of lies from the White House, and a compliant Congress. The dishonor of the Pentagon and the White House put people like John McCain into captivity, and today the same dishonor is killing thousands of Iraqis as well as US troops who strive to "do their duty."
The bottom line is clear: if the public does not do ITS duty in protesting illegal wars and lies in place of intelligence, then we dishonor the Constitution and we dishonor the brave men and women who risk everything for their country. Shame on us, and God Bless the individuals in the Armed Forces.
On McCain, only he can come to terms with what I believe was his knowing abandonement of 1500 POWs known to be in Viet-Nam and being held for ransom. See the following three books for documented background:
Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed its Own POWs in Vietnam
An Enormous Crime: The Definitive Account of American POWs Abandoned in Southeast Asia
Is Anybody Listening?: A True Story About POW/MIAs In The Vietnam War
Not "the Deer Hunter" but pretty good overall
posted on 25 Jun 2007I read the other review for this movie on this page, and I wonder if the author and I saw the same movie.
I agree that "Faith of My Fathers" did not show the full horror of what McCain went through. But it showed enough (McCain in agony from injuries that he suffered ejecting from his plane, McCain getting the hell beaten out of him by his captors, McCain getting brutally tortured). Remember, this was a made-for-TV movie, so there were limits on what could be shown (both for ratings and not to turn people's stomachs).
My quibbles are that at 90 minutes, the movie was indeed too short. There was no reference to McCain's narrow escape from a terrible fire onboard the aircraft carrier that he served on. McCain's life after his release from captivity is also missing (the movie could have been a miniseries).
"Faith of my Fathers" may not be as wrenching as "the Deer Hunter," but it's still a good movie and made me admire McCain all the more.
I liked the movie, however..........
posted on 24 Jun 2007I wasn't surprised but yet surprised by the treatment that Senator McCain received during his 5 yrs as POW. I thought the movie was rather moving in the fact on how the military can prepare ones own mentality to "hold on" to survival and to fight that of brainwashing tactics. I was surprised however to question why the Vietnamese just didn't shoot him and the rest of the POW's......why didn't he leave when given a chance? I believe that there should have been more movies out like this shortly after they ended "the conflict" to show the American people more in-depth of the treatment of our herons. With this said, it would of, I believe, been more opened, understanding and welcoming arms reached out to our herons coming home. I thank everyone of them every day in prayer :-)
lot of beatings, no plot
posted on 27 Jan 2007Basically a 2-hour film showing McCain getting abused as a POW. I learned nothing about McCain from this except that he was horribly abused. Even how or whether he stood up to it was deliberately left unclear. Or maybe I dozed off in the middle and missed it.What's left out was his reaction, his growth, what he thought about during his time, and what he did when he got out that made him enter politics. In other words, the movie was totally lacking in merit. I gotta figure that McCain's book (on which the movie is based) had to provide all this detail but the producers had no interest in that aspect.As for Scott Glenn, I cannot understand how he agreed to this role. There was no meat here for him to sink his teeth into. Anyone can play the role of a father that never shows his emotion. But the opportunity to go into his inner conflict between being a major leader of the Vietnam conflict and his son's confinement was dealt with in less than 1 minute of the film.Acting from other players was similarly disappointing. For example, there was no in-depth struggle by the actors playing the soldiers who confessed for fear of more torture.What a disappointment.
Faith of My Fathers: Unrealistic Portrayal of Vietnam
posted on 08 Jan 2007Arizona Senator John McCain enjoys his present day life as an influential member of the congress, leading debates on important issues and influencing legislation. He often gets into conflicts over some of his stands, but none of these can compare to the conflict McCain experienced back in the late 1960's and early 1970's. It was during this time that McCain spent several years as a Vietnam prisoner of war. This event is the subject of this movie, which is based on McCain's book of the same name.
In this film, McCain is portrayed briefly during his teenage years but the majority of the movie's time is spent either in Vietnam (inside the prison) or at McCain's military school, the U.S. Naval Academy. The movie begins by showing McCain (who is played by actor Shawn Hatosy) operating a fighter plane over Vietnam. He is shot down and has to parachute to safety; landing in water where some local Vietnamese come to his rescue and then promptly turn him over to the proper authorities. The film then alternates back and forth between scenes in the prison and flashbacks to scenes in the Naval Academy.
There is some violence in this film, but it is nothing compared to what was actually experienced. And herein lies the main problem I have with this film. The director made this movie in a very toned- down fashion so that it would be mild enough to get past the censors and be shown on television. In order to accomplish this, he had to eliminate scenes of brutal violence; profanity; and tough talk. Because of this, the movie seems very unrealistic. If you have read McCain's book by the same name, then you know that the conditions and the treatment McCain and others like him endured were horrifying. None of this comes through in this movie. It comes across as a little rough and unpleasant, but nowhere near the awful, inhumane experience that it really was.
Another problem I have with this film (which stems from the first problem) is the attitude of actor Shawn Hatosy and others who play the POW's. Hatosy's McCain character seems very bland, and rarely does he voice any concern over the nightmare he is living through. You can tell he and the others are not happy, but about the only dialogue you get is when McCain and another prisoner talk through the walls, between cells, by placing a cup to the wall. There is no intelligent dialogue, discussion of escape, feelings about the war or the captors, or anything else. This, again, makes the film seem a little unrealistic.
This movie is 90 minutes in length and it needed to be another half hour (or more) longer to give the McCain story the attention and respect it deserves. McCain's story, as told in his book, would make for a great, dramatic, and powerful Hollywood motion picture about the atrocities of war. But the way it is presented in this film, his experience seems more like a bad day on the job than the horrifying experience that it really was.
McCain, and the viewing public, deserved better.
A Television Movie about the Horror of War!
posted on 04 Oct 2006Based on the memoir of the same name, this story is the familiar one about United States Senator John McCain who survives a prison camp in Vietnam during his tour of duty.
The actors are somewhat unknown but familiar. The film was produced by Arts & Entertainment network which is probably why the tone of the violence was toned down in retrospect and some might say not enough.
I can't imagine what really happened to John McCain during his time there. I have not read his book but I do imagine that it was far more worse than the film portrays to be.
I think in all that the film does it's best despite probably a limited budget and a cast including an actor, Shawn Hatosy, who does a remarkable job in bringing to light about a man who is both complicated and likable.
The scenes in the prison camp were probably toned down immensely as if not to turn us off from the movie.
As a granddaughter of a POW during World War II, I can't imagine the horrors of the camps. For John McCain, he was offered amnesty and freedom long before he was actually released.
This film shows how his character was already defined by his family make-up, his first marriage, and his relationship with his military father.
Anybody else would have longed to escape such nightmarish conditions but JOhn would rather lie than give up his men or break the honor code even if it meant torture and killing.
This film can and should be shown to everybody in schools and the book should be read as well.
A Most Moving, Heart Wrenching Movie.
posted on 17 Sep 2006This story is a great tribute to those who withstood the horror of being a prisoner of war not only during the Vietnam War, but any conflict. I knew of Senator McCain's story at the time for I was 21 years old when he was released, but did not know the whole story until now. The young man who portrays McCain, Shawn Hatosy, is riveting, he catches every emotion the senator must have gone through during those five years. You can see the touching relationship he had with his career-navy father was the strength he drew from in the years he was imprisoned. It makes you think....how can another human be so utterly unfeeling to another human to think nothing of inflicting such torture and pain. I know the recent photos of our own military inflicting horrible torture upon others makes me see that any human can be inhuman, that it doesn't matter who you are or what country you were brought up in. But that is no excuse and you can see that in this story of how one man stood high and above his captors and never lost his respect for himself or the other prisoners there with him. God bless John McCain.
This is Courage
posted on 21 Aug 2006While not the highest quality of movie ever made, this movie does a tremendous service in highlighting the integrity and character of John McCain. Whether or not you agree with him politically, this is a movie that should be should be seen by every American that is voting this fall. This tells the story of McCain's naval service with much of the focus on his time in a North Vietnamese POW camp. McCain deserves our respect and honor for the service he has provided to this country, regardless of whether he gets your vote.
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excellent story about character
posted on 14 Aug 2009"Faith of My Fathers" tells the tale of Senator John McCain's survival as a POW in Vietnam under the harshest of circumstances. His arms and one leg broken in his shoot-down over Hanoi, McCain is stabbed, denied adequate medical treatment and eventually left for dead by his captors, saved only when two other American POWs, Bud Day (who later received the Medal of Honor for his heroism as a POW) and Norris Overly become his cellmates and minister to his injuries.McCain is later faced with a greater moral dilemma when the Vietnamese offer to release him just as his father, an admiral, is about to assume command of all the US forces in Vietnam. McCain sees it for the propaganda ploy that it is and refuses early release even though his injuries warranted him accepting it. He sticks it out for three more years before returning with honor.Despite some of the comments by others, I found Scott Glenn's performance as Admiral McCain quite good. Admiral McCain is a war hero himself and he has to balance his role as a father with his role as a military leader. Invariably Admiral McCain sacrifices his personal concerns for his son's safety in favor of his responsibility for all of the Americans in Vietnam. His sense of honor is as stout as his son's. Admiral McCain seeks no privileges for himself or his son despite his son's harrowing ordeal.The Obama camp can only hope that his movie, first broadcast in 2005, isn't run again and again during the on-going election in 2008. Nothing in Obama's life story begins to even compare to the heroism and character that McCain demonstrated in his life and which is depicted in this movie. People should watch it to get insight into this man who may become President.