I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Purely Joyful Movie!

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Too bad some previous raters weren't privy to classified documents on this case. As a S.F. combat vet I know this case more than I'd like to. It's easy to wave the flag and condemn someone psychologically beaten who does things under duress for fear of (further) beatings or worse. He was no way like Jane (POS) Fonda. I was in that war & I support all vets in whatever billet they occupied. Even the presiding judge called the court martial a "long-reaching conspiracy." Bottom line is, we forgot him, he snuck a note to a neutral countries diplomat and when we were forced to take him back what better way to sweep our duplicity under the rug than to make him complicit with the enemy. More than ample anecdotal evidence exists to prove his story. As unpleasant as it may be to patriots, this is a sad case of a HS dropout suffering years at the hands of barbarians and returning home to (surprise) a country that had not supported the troops as in recent wars and the last thing it needed was someone proving he, along with hundreds more (as stated in numerous military, government & diplomatic witness testimony) were left to rot. So...make him the villain. Beat that drum loud & long enough & everyone will think the emperor has clothes on! Remember this: No matter how thin you slice it, there's ALWAYS two sides! I have seen the other side. It is so distasteful, I understand why our government chose to cut this guy lose to save face. They would open a can of worms that would rival Pandora's box. But...that's our government.....

There are many rumours and untruths spread by those who wish to hide the truth about that happened between POWs in Vietnam. It is likely that Bobbt Garwood was a scapegoat, to try to discredit his stories of dishonourable actions by American POWs. This is supported by independent information sites (try http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/g/g047.htm for further details). This is made all the more the case when one considers that he was the only person so charged. I think that this is a well-executed film and probably more truthful than other films of the genre. The people commenting on here probably condemned other classic films such as Platoon, Full Metal Jacket and Hamburger Hill. Just because the White House or Pentagon says it is true, does not make it so.

I read above at the other comments and notice all the scorn and contempt everyone throws on this movie. I saw it but remember very, very little. I would like to see it again with more of an unbiased eye. I mention also that I served 8 years in the Army during the Persian Gulf War and was honorably discharged. I see many of the comments portray Mr. Garwood as a traitor. I read the book written by him released after he came back to the states in 1979 and never have really known what happened over there. He has made mention of the fact that he was not the last to leave over there so are we to assume that there are still others being held? I would like to find this again to see and will hold off expressing any opinion concerning Garwood because I don't have a real accurate way of knowing what he did experience. torture? brain washing? or crossing over? We will never really know, but I hold no malice towards this man.

This movie is a true example of Hollywood liberalism and cowardice! Look at the facts, they didn't even release it from the shelf for almost two years after The Persian Gulf War because they knew that the American public would not fall for its lies and deceptions. I am a Sergeant in the Army with almost seventeen years of military experience on active duty and in the National Guard. I served in Operation Desert Storm and have read widely on military history. Trust me, Bobby Garwood was nothing but a Benedict Arnold who should have been put in front of a military firing squad! No I take that back he didn't even deserve that honor! I have read several accounts of Vietnam POWs and all of them told the truth about this man. The Jane Fonda crowd tried to make him out like a martyr instead of the traitor he was. His fellow prisoners called him "the white Gook". He wore a VC uniform and helped torture and lock them up like the enemy did. Upon his release in 1979, the USMC court martialled Garwood and dishonorably discharged him. He deserved worse for what he did. I cannot believe that this film was even made, that they had the balls to make it in light of the facts about this stinking American traitor.