2023-08-25
1 小时 11 分钟Oliver Stone returns to Vietnam with ‘Born on the Fourth of July’—a movie that closes out the ’80s, as well as the Vietnam movie boom. But ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Dead Presidents’ prove that ’90s audiences aren’t ready to leave Vietnam for good. Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘Running on Empty’ (1988), ‘Dogfight’ (1991), and ‘Heaven and Earth’ (1993). Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Bobby Wagner Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hey, everybody.
Here at the Ringer, we're known for our talk shows, but you might not know we also have a whole slate of great narrative podcasts, all of them made for binging.
If you're looking for an unmissable sports history show, you'll love Icons Club.
It's a chronicle of the NBA told through the voices of legendary players whose stories warrant blockbuster movies of their own.
If you're a fan of culture podcasts, check out this Blew up, an investigative story about how social media is inventing an all new level of stardom, one that's not always as glamorous as it looks.
There's also Gamblers, a show about people who make money betting on, well, pretty much anything.
Just don't bet on finding a better podcast about gambling because you won't win.
Thanks for listening.
Ron Kovac was born on the 4th of July in 1946.
He was too young to have witnessed America's triumph in World War II, but as a kid in the 50s, Kovac could relive the war over and over again at a local theater in suburban Long Island.
That's where he and his friends spent hours watching World War II films like Sands of Iwo Jima.
It's about a tight knit band of Marines and their leader, Sergeant John Stryker, a gruff, likable, all American hardass.
You can probably guess who played him, and any man that doesn't want to cooperate, I'll make him wish he hadn't been born.
That's right, John Wayne.
In the film's final moments, his character is killed by enemy fire and troops raise the US Flag as the Marine hymn softly plays.
For years afterward, every time Kovac heard that music, he'd tear up thinking about Wayne's death scene.
War movies like Sands of Iwo Jima would inspire Kovach's love for the military and for his country.
Those feelings grew stronger as he grew older, and in 1964, Kovik signed up for the Marines, a decision that would ultimately bring him to Vietnam.
As Kovik explained in a 2005 panel, he and his fellow Marines were eager to go.
There was a love of country that was sincere and genuine.