A Bright Shining Lie

In war as in life, the difference between truth and deception is what a man allows himself to believe.

A Bright Shining Lie — Plot

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.

• Release date
• May 30, 1998
• Runtime
• 118 min
• Genres
• Drama, War, TV Movie
• Director
• Terry George

A Bright Shining Lie — 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