Faith of My Fathers (film)

Plot

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 the Green Bay Packers 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 U.S. 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.

Cast

• Shawn Hatosy as John McCain
• Scott Glenn as Jack McCain
• Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Cat
• Joe Chrest as Craner
• Chi Muoi Lo as Prick
• Erin Cottrell as Carol McCain
• Troy Ruptash as Bud Day
• Shea Whigham as Norris Overly
• Brian F. Durkin as Henry Witt
• Nick Gomez as Becker
• Michael Arata as Captain Hart
• Korbi Dean as Roberta McCain

Production

Faith of My Fathers was shot in New Orleans. Filming locations included the former Falstaff Brewery (as the Hanoi Hilton) and Tulane University (as the United States Naval Academy).

Reception

When initially aired, the film had 3.7 million viewers, and was A&E's highest-rated program in over a year.

Reviews for Faith of My Fathers were mixed, with Variety calling the treatment an "earnest adaptation" and "a 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. 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."

The film was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, in categories involving art direction, cinematography, and editing, but did not win any of them. It was also a nominee for the American Society of Cinematographers Awards of 2005. It was released to DVD by Sony Pictures Television on August 30, 2005.

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.

References

References

1. Morris, George. (August 29, 2018). "St. Tammany veteran shared John McCain's experience as prisoner at infamous 'Hanoi Hilton'". [[The Advocate (Louisiana).
2. Blumenstock, Kathy. (May 29, 2005). "Film chronicles McCain's years as Vietnam POW". [[The Washington Post]].
3. (July 3, 2008). "McCain's TV biopic, reconsidered". [[Politico]].
4. Lowry, Brian. (May 26, 2005). "Faith of My Fathers". [[Variety (magazine).
5. (May 30, 2005). "'Faith of My Fathers': In Principle, a Noble Effort". [[The Washington Post]].
6. (May 30, 2005). "Like Father, Like Son, Like Patriots". [[The New York Times]].
7. (September 18, 2005). "Complete list of 2005 primetime Emmy winners". [[Chicago Tribune]].
8. "Film Awards". [[SeismicFX]].
9. (March 14, 2005). "Shawn Hatosy And Scott Glenn To Star In ...". [[A&E Network]].
10. (30 August 2005). "Faith of My Fathers".