The Pentagon Papers (TV 2003)

Defense worker Daniel Ellsberg seeks to publish a series of classified government documents detailing the true nature of America's involvement in the Vietnam War.

Director:

Rod Holcomb

Writer:

Jason Horwitch

Stars:

James Spader, Claire Forlani, Paul Giamatti

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Spader	...	Daniel Ellsberg
Claire Forlani	...	Patricia Marx
Paul Giamatti	...	Anthony Russo
Alan Arkin	...	Harry Rowen
Kenneth Welsh	...	John McNaughon
Maria del Mar	...	Carol Ellsberg
Sean McCann	...	John Mitchell
James Downing	...	H.R. Haldeman
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	John Ehrlichman
Jonas Chernick	...	Neil Sheehan
Amy Price-Francis	...	Jan Butler
Aaron Ashmore	...	Randy Kehler
George R. Robertson	...	Senator Fulbright (as George Robertson)
Robert Seeliger	...	FBI Agent
Roland Rothchild	...	FBI Agent

Storyline

Daniel Ellsberg, a hawkish analyst for the Rand Corporation think-tank and later for the U.S. government, supports the war in Vietnam until two powerful occurrences: the experience, first-hand, of combat and political turmoil in Vietnam, and the discovery of secret Defense Department documents detailing the deliberate fabrication of reasons to initiate and expand the war. Facing a crisis of conscience, Ellsberg becomes convinced that the American people have not been told the truth about the war, its justifications, or its likely outcome. He decides to expose the secret history of the war in hopes that the American public, its eyes opened, will force the government to end the war. In order to do so, he must risk his career and his freedom, perhaps even his life.

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Plot Keywords:

vietnam war | information leak | lingerie slip | anti war | politics | 

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Taglines:

His greatest act of patriotism was an act of treason.

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Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some war images and brief sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Pentagon-ügyirat

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

City Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The exterior of a bar supposedly located in Saigon clearly displays signs written in the Thai language, and some of the signs are from contemporary times, as evidenced by product logos, rather than from 1965.

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Connections

Referenced in Spook (2003)

User Reviews

A traitor? I don't think so.

This real story describes how did Daniel Ellsberg try to stop Vietnam War. He was one of them who thought the victory belongs to USA. But when he was being a inspector in Vietnam, he started to doubt himself. The papers for evaluating the situation of the war for Vietnam from Rand Corporation is totally changed him. I don't know anything about Vietnam War before seeing this movie. And this movie makes me to recall another movie, Fahrenheit 911. Both movies are different in style. One is telling the truth in back, the other one may be a truth, too. One is using serious way, the other one using a humorous way(but we should take it seriously, war is not a funny thing). I think anything has connection with politics, that will be the most terrible thing. Because everybody has a dark side. No one is totally bright!(That is that guy's dark side is having huge bright proportion.) I don't think Daniel Ellsberg is a traitor. If he is, he betrayed to the law which protect people who make wrong decision and don't want to take responsibility.