Faith of My Fathers (2005)

The story of John McCain's experience as a Vietnam War POW. Based on the memoir of the same title.

Director:

Peter Markle

Writers:

Peter Markle (teleplay), William Bingham (teleplay)

Stars:

Shawn Hatosy, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Joe Chrest

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shawn Hatosy	...	John McCain
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa	...	Cat
Joe Chrest	...	Craner
Chi Muoi Lo	...	Prick
Troy Ruptash	...	Bud Day
Shea Whigham	...	Norris Overly
Jason Alan Smith	...	Charles larson
Scott Glenn	...	Jack McCain
Brian F. Durkin	...	Henry Witt
Michael Arata	...	Captain Hart
Nick Gomez	...	Becker
Douglas M. Griffin	...	Sailor
Brian Bossetta	...	Hanging POW
Robert Heath Hickman	...	Doug McCain
J.D. Evermore	...	Commander James Latimer

Storyline

John McCain is a poor student, except at wrestling, but toughs it out in Annapolis at the US Naval Academy with the goal of becoming a career naval officer like his father and grandfather, who were both admirals. Love at first sight leads to a marriage and children with Carole. During the Vietnam War, he's shot down and captured by the Vietcong, who torture American POWs. He resists years of torture and misery, only breaking once due to his busted limbs, and eventually returning home after five and one half years in captivity.

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Plot Keywords:

vietnam | vietnam war | torture | john mccain | u.s. naval academy | 

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Taglines:

John McCain's father gave him the courage to be a soldier. Five years as a POW gave him the courage to be a hero.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense depiction of wartime imprisonment and brief sexual content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

I istoria tou John McCain

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&E Television Networks,Alan Barnette Productions,L.I.F.T. Production

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jack McCain is played by Scott Glenn. In the film Game Change (2012), John McCain is played by Ed Harris. Glenn and Harris appeared together in The Right Stuff (1983), and have both played Sheriff Alan Pangborn in Castle Rock (2018) and Needful Things (1993).

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Goofs

Carol McCain suffered a near fatal car accident during John's captivity that rendered her unable to walk without crutches, and deformed from her surgery. Though Carol's accident is mentioned in the book, the movie ignores it completely, so when Carol and John reunite she is in perfect physical condition. They're even shown dancing together.

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Soundtracks

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Written by Doug Ingle
Performed by Iron Butterfly

User Reviews

Well done made-for-TV movie

FAITH OF MY FATHERS tells the true story of John McCain's military service, capture, and imprisonment in Vietnam during the Vietnam war. Nearly all of this made-for-TV movie is shot with a hand-held camera bringing the drama in close and making it personal. The pacing is fine, although the commercial breaks tended to disrupt more than average. The acting was the highlight of this production. The unknown actor playing John McCain really captures his essence. About the only thing that did not work in FAITH OF MY FATHERS was the shower peeping scene. It was out of place and did not advance the story.

Interestingly, the conflict in FAITH OF MY FATHER -- Vietnam communists captors versus the American prisoners of war -- no longer holds water as Vietnam today is mostly known as being Asia's new shining tourist destination. All of the torture inflicted upon John McCain and his fellow servicemen was ultimately for naught. The heroic resistance of the American prisoners was also pointless.

As John McCain may run for President again, the war crimes depicted in FAITH OF MY FATHER connects to today's Iraqi prisoner abuse. Would a President John McCain, a torture victim of the Vietnam War, approve of the proxy torture and trained rape canines currently used against today's Iraqi war prisoners?

FAITH OF MY FATHER is a fitting companion piece to 1987's HANOI HILTON -- another drama focusing on the daily suffering, torture, and brutal treatment the American P.O.W.s in North Vietnam's Hoa Lo Prison. If I am not mistaken, John McCain was a technical adviser to HANOI HILTON. Very interesting.