A Bright Shining Lie

Overview

Something in his past keeps career Army man John Paul Vann from advancing past colonel. He views being sent to Vietnam as part of the US military advisory force a stepping stone to promotion. However, he disagrees vocally (and on the record) with the way the war is being run and is forced to leave the military. Returning to Vietnam as a civilian working with the Army, he comes to despise some South Vietnamese officers while he takes charge of some of the U.S. forces and continues his liaisons with Vietnamese women.

Cast

Bill Paxton

John Paul Vann

Amy Madigan

Mary Jane Vann

Donal Logue

Steven Burnett

Robert John Burke

Frank Drummond

Vivian Wu

Lee

Ed Lauter

General Weyand

Kurtwood Smith

General Westmoreland

Eric Bogosian

Doug Elders

James Rebhorn

Ambassador

N/A

Les Mau

Colonel Dinh

Todd Sible

Jesse Vann (19 years old)

Harve Presnell

MACV General