The Anderson Platoon

The Anderson Platoon is a seminal 1967 documentary film directed by Pierre Schoendoerffer. The film stars Joseph B. Anderson, a commanding officer of the United States Army during the Vietnam War, and features narration by Hollywood film star Stuart Whitman. It provides an intimate portrayal of a platoon during the then-ongoing conflict, crafting a stark and groundbreaking reflection of the realities of war.

The film follows Lieutenant Joseph B. Anderson, who at the time was leading The Anderson Platoon - 33rd of the 1st Battalion - during his six-month tour of duty in Vietnam. Schoendoerffer, an experienced war correspondent, captured the daily life, the grueling routines, and the vivid, visceral action of the platoon. There are no staged scenes or scripted dialogues; every moment is candid, making its raw impact on the viewer even more powerful. The men are followed during ambushes, morale-breaking rainfall, fatal firefights, and the long stretches of waiting that define their lives in the jungles of Vietnam.

Anderson himself is presented as a compelling and complex character. An African American from a working-class background, he commands a predominantly white infantry platoon, and the film doesn't shy away from exploring the racial dynamics of the group. He is both a compassionate leader and a formidable military presence, guiding his men through danger with determination and grit while also showing empathy for their fears and struggles.

Interwoven within the footage of combat and camaraderie are interviews with the men of the platoon. They reveal their thoughts, hopes, and fears to Schoendoerffer's camera, discussing everything from racial tensions within the military, their perceptions of the Vietnamese people, and their thoughts on the war itself. Their candid responses, varying from disillusionment to determination, provide a spine for a documentary that stays firmly focused on the human element amidst the chaos of war.

Stuart Whitman's evocative narration offers additional context and perspective. As a seasoned film star, he brings the calm, measured reflection that contrasts sharply – indeed, dramatically - with the intense and chaotic visuals of war. His voice-over interventions serve to enhance the intimate feeling of daily life in the platoon, giving audiences a clearer understanding of the Vietnam War's brutalities and complexities.

Music is also a key component. The soundtrack mixes popular rock-n-roll tracks of the time with traditional Vietnamese music, underlining the alienation felt by the young American soldiers so far from home and immersed in such a different culture. It punctuates the tension, distress and surrealism of life on the frontlines of a deeply controversial war.

The Anderson Platoon emerges as a documentary that captures the grim realities of war unabashedly while humanizing the soldiers plunged into it. It's an authentic, profoundly moving, and undeniably complex portrayal of the Vietnam War and its impact on the young men drafted to fight in it.

This 1967 film, with its potent blend of stark visuals, music of the period, and raw soldiers' testimony, manages to transport viewers back into a particular time and place in our history. Winning the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 1968, acclaimed for its combination of unflinching realism with deep compassion for its subjects, The Anderson Platoon remains a striking and significant piece of cinema. It is as much a showcase of extraordinary filmmaking as it is a powerful record of the realities of warfare.