Search - Hearts & Minds [Criterion Collection] on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1974 DVD Release: 06/25/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 52 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 28 Genres: History, Military & War, Politics & Government, Social Issues

The title of this documentary was inspired by the mantra recited by those in charge of the Vietnam War: "In order to win the war, we must win the hearts and minds of the people." The failure to achieve this, coupled with the disastrous no-win policies of the higher-ups, is the nucleus of this film, put together by director Peter Davis in the same manner as Marcel Ophuls' The Sorrow and the Pity. Like the Ophuls film, Davis juxtaposes news footage of the Vietnam war with interviews conducted with its observers and participants, interspersing vignettes of the fatuous comments made by the generals and politicians. The film was briefly withdrawn from distribution when Walter Rostow, one-time advisor to President Johnson, insisted that his reputation had been damaged and demanded that the two minutes featuring Rostow on-camera be deleted. More controversy arose when Hearts and Minds won the Best Documentary Oscar, whereupon the Academy issued a statement--read during the awards ceremony by Frank Sinatra--that it did not condone or advocate the volatile statements made by the producers during their acceptance speech. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

One of the first successful documentaries to take a clear eyed look at the United States' involvement in the Vietnam war, Hearts % Minds comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by director Peter Davis, and a booklet containing numerous historical essays about Vietnam. Criterion has once again put together a spectacular package for an important motion picture. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide