“This is turning into a goddamn nightmare!”
Synopsis:
With support from a female doctor (Susan Saint James), a young medic (Dennis Christopher) during the Vietnam War becomes becomes involved with a home for Vietnamese orphans.
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Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
- Character Arc
- Dennis Christopher Films
- Do-Gooders
- Orphans
- Vietnam War
Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this film about “an undisciplined young medic stationed in Saigon” who “learns responsibility when he finds himself helping two Vietnamese nuns run a non-sanctioned, off-base home for war orphans” is “a bit sticky” at times, but “its treatment of the war and its effect on children is unsentimental”, and it possesses an admirable theme: “Real heroes are those who make commitments to help people whose problems make their own seem insignificant.” While Christopher’s character arc is somewhat predictable, this remains a worthy and “sensitive look at a different side of the Vietnam War.”
Redeeming Qualities:
- A refreshing glimpse of Americans and Vietnamese interacting humanely during the war
Must See?
No, though it’s worth checking out if you can find a copy.
Links:
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One thought on “Don’t Cry, It’s Only Thunder (1982)”
First viewing. Not must-see, though I’ll agree that it’s a “sensitive look at a different side of the Vietnam War.” As such, it has a strong sense of atmosphere for the most part, though it’s also occasionally uneven in execution (suggesting a low-budget).
As for the acting… though a stronger actor would have been better in the lead, Christopher generally has a feeling of conviction. Saint James balances things with her sympathetic performance.
It took me quite a long time to come across this film; it appears to be somewhat lost / forgotten.