A look back at how filmmakers handled the Vietnam War, and how they worked with the military—or ignored their recommendations—to get them made:
“In coming to the Pentagon with his plans in May, 1975, Coppola told Public Affairs officials that his initial script would need considerable work, especially the end, which he considered ‘surrealistic.’ While recognizing that the screenplay had considerable problems, the officials forwarded it to the Army with the recommendation that the service should work with the director so that the completed film ‘will be an honest presentation.’
“The Army found little basis to even talk to Coppola, responding that the script was ‘simply a series of some of the worst things, real or imagined, that happened or could have happened during the Vietnam War.’ According to the service, it had little reason to consider extending cooperation ‘in view of the sick humor or satirical philosophy of the film.’ Army officers pointed to several ‘particularly objectionable episodes’ which presented its actions ‘in an unrealistic and unacceptable bad light.’ These included scenes of U.S. soldiers scalping the enemy, a surfing display in the midst of combat, an officer obtaining sexual favors for his men, and later smoking marijuana with them.”
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