A Bright Shining Lie
“In war as in life, the difference between truth and deception is what a man allows himself to believe.”
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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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
Les Mau
Colonel Dinh
Todd Sible
Jesse Vann (19 years old)
Harve Presnell
MACV General
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Terry George
- Screenplay & Story
- Terry George, Neil Sheehan
- Original Score
- Gary Chang
- Original Title
- A Bright Shining Lie
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Vietnamese
- Runtime
- 1h 58m
- Production Studios
- HBO, Labrador Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Terry George
Terry George, Neil Sheehan
Gary Chang
Jack Conroy
Nicholas Beauman
Lois Bonfiglio, Greg Ricketson
Department Leadership Roster
Terry George
Director
Gary Chang
Original Music Composer
Nicholas Beauman
Editor
Jack Conroy
Director of Photography
Greg Ricketson
Producer
Graham "Grace" Walker
Production Design
Joan Bergin
Costume Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Bright Shining Lie.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring A Bright Shining Lie.
Movies
War: Vietnam War
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Bright Shining Lie
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Bright Shining Lie about?
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.
Who directed A Bright Shining Lie?
A Bright Shining Lie was directed by Terry George.
Who stars in A Bright Shining Lie?
The principal cast of A Bright Shining Lie includes Bill Paxton, Amy Madigan, Donal Logue, Robert John Burke, Vivian Wu.
When was A Bright Shining Lie released and how long is it?
A Bright Shining Lie was released in 1998 with a total runtime of 1h 58m.
Who composed the musical score for A Bright Shining Lie?
The original motion picture soundtrack for A Bright Shining Lie was composed by Gary Chang.