Friendly Fire (TV 1979)

When they try to learn how how their son died in Vietnam, the Mullens meet lies and evasion on all sides.

Director:

David Greene

Writers:

C.D.B. Bryan (book), Fay Kanin

Stars:

Carol Burnett, Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Carol Burnett	...	Peg Mullen
Ned Beatty	...	Gene Mullen
Sam Waterston	...	C.D. Bryan
Dennis Erdman	...	Michael E. Mullen
Timothy Hutton	...	John Mullen
Fanny Spiess	...	Mary Mullen
Sherry Hursey	...	Patricia Mullen
Michael Flanagan	...	Father Shimon
Hilly Hicks	...	Willis Huddleston
William Jordan	...	Col. Byron Schindler
Vernon Weddle	...	Col. Georgi
Jack Rader	...	Sgt. Fitzgerald
Robert Wahler	...	Alan Hulting
David Keith	...	Leroy Hamilton
Bernard Behrens	...	Dietrich

Storyline

In March 1970, a U.S. Army officer arrived at the Iowa farm of Peg and Gene Mullen and informed them that their son Michael had been killed in Vietnam by "friendly fire." Their determined attempts to learn more about the circumstances of their son's death are the subject of this true account film.

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Plot Keywords:

vietnam | friendly fire | iowa | loss of son | bureaucracy | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Bala Traiçoeira

Filming Locations:

Stockton, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Marble Arch Productions, Martin Starger Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

147 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

C.D.B. Bryan, 73, whose 1976 book 'Friendly Fire' that this television movie was based on, died at his Connecticut home on Dec. 15, 2009.

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Connections

Featured in American Masters: Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character (2007)

User Reviews

The Mullens become annoying after awhile.

The longer this made for TV movie went on the more I began to look at the Mullens as annoying. Carol Burnett is a fine actress and comedian but this role seemed a bit out of place for her even though her performance did have me taking sides against her character Peg Mullen. American service men have tragically been killed by friendly fire in all wars but this Mother and Father just about want to start a revolution about it. Ned Beatty did stand out in his role.