History

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War is a ten-part, 18-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. In an immersive 360-degree narrative, Burns and Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never before been told on film. The Vietnam War features testimony from nearly 100 witnesses.

The Weight of Memory (Explicit Language Version)

1h 51m

While the Watergate scandal rivets Americans’ attention and forces President Nixon to resign, the Vietnamese continue to savage one another in a brutal civil war. When hundreds of thousands of North Vietnamese troops pour into the south, Saigon descends rapidly into chaos and collapses. For the next 40 years, Americans and Vietnamese from all sides search for healing and reconciliation.

Episodes

  • The Weight of Memory (Explicit Language Version): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Weight of Memory (Explicit Language Version)

    S1 E30 - 1h 51m

    While the Watergate scandal rivets Americans’ attention and forces President Nixon to resign, the Vietnamese continue to savage one another in a brutal civil war. When hundreds of thousands of North Vietnamese troops pour into the south, Saigon descends rapidly into chaos and collapses. For the next 40 years, Americans and Vietnamese from all sides search for healing and reconciliation.

  • The Weight of Memory (Vietnamese Subtitles): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Weight of Memory (Vietnamese Subtitles)

    S1 E20 - 1h 50m

    While the Watergate scandal rivets Americans’ attention and forces President Nixon to resign, the Vietnamese continue to savage one another in a brutal civil war. When hundreds of thousands of North Vietnamese troops pour into the south, Saigon descends rapidly into chaos and collapses. For the next 40 years, Americans and Vietnamese from all sides search for healing and reconciliation.

  • The Weight of Memory (March 1973-Onward): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Weight of Memory (March 1973-Onward)

    S1 E10 - 1h 50m

    While the Watergate scandal rivets Americans’ attention and forces President Nixon to resign, the Vietnamese continue to savage one another in a brutal civil war. When hundreds of thousands of North Vietnamese troops pour into the south, Saigon descends rapidly into chaos and collapses. For the next 40 years, Americans and Vietnamese from all sides search for healing and reconciliation.

  • A Disrespectful Loyalty (Explicit Language Version): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Disrespectful Loyalty (Explicit Language Version)

    S1 E29 - 1h 53m

    South Vietnamese forces fighting on their own in Laos suffer a terrible defeat. Massive U.S. airpower makes the difference in halting an unprecedented North Vietnamese offensive. After being re-elected in a landslide, Nixon announces Hanoi has agreed to a peace deal. American prisoners of war will finally come home – to a bitterly divided country.

  • A Disrespectful Loyalty (Vietnamese Subtitles): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Disrespectful Loyalty (Vietnamese Subtitles)

    S1 E19 - 1h 52m

    South Vietnamese forces fighting on their own in Laos suffer a terrible defeat. Massive U.S. airpower makes the difference in halting an unprecedented North Vietnamese offensive. After being re-elected in a landslide, Nixon announces Hanoi has agreed to a peace deal. American prisoners of war will finally come home – to a bitterly divided country.

  • A Disrespectful Loyalty (May 1970-March 1973): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Disrespectful Loyalty (May 1970-March 1973)

    S1 E9 - 1h 52m

    South Vietnamese forces fighting on their own in Laos suffer a terrible defeat. Massive U.S. airpower makes the difference in halting an unprecedented North Vietnamese offensive. After being re-elected in a landslide, Nixon announces Hanoi has agreed to a peace deal. American prisoners of war will finally come home – to a bitterly divided country.

  • The History of the World (Explicit Language Version): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The History of the World (Explicit Language Version)

    S1 E28 - 1h 52m

    With morale plummeting in Vietnam, President Nixon begins withdrawing American troops. As news breaks of an unthinkable massacre committed by American soldiers, the public debates the rectitude of the war, while an incursion into Cambodia reignites antiwar protests with tragic consequences.

  • The History of the World (Vietnamese Subtitles): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The History of the World (Vietnamese Subtitles)

    S1 E18 - 1h 51m

    With morale plummeting in Vietnam, President Nixon begins withdrawing American troops. As news breaks of an unthinkable massacre committed by American soldiers, the public debates the rectitude of the war, while an incursion into Cambodia reignites antiwar protests with tragic consequences.

  • The History of the World (April 1969-May 1970): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The History of the World (April 1969-May 1970)

    S1 E8 - 1h 52m

    With morale plummeting in Vietnam, President Nixon begins withdrawing American troops. As news breaks of an unthinkable massacre committed by American soldiers, the public debates the rectitude of the war, while an incursion into Cambodia reignites antiwar protests with tragic consequences.

  • The Veneer of Civilization (Explicit Language Version): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Veneer of Civilization (Explicit Language Version)

    S1 E27 - 1h 51m

    Public support for the war declines, and American men of draft age face difficult decisions and wrenching moral choices. After police battle with demonstrators in the streets of Chicago, Richard Nixon wins the presidency, promising law and order at home and peace overseas. In Vietnam, the war goes on and soldiers on all sides witness terrible savagery and unflinching courage.

  • The Veneer of Civilization (Vietnamese Subtitles): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Veneer of Civilization (Vietnamese Subtitles)

    S1 E17 - 1h 50m

    Public support for the war declines, and American men of draft age face difficult decisions and wrenching moral choices. After police battle with demonstrators in the streets of Chicago, Richard Nixon wins the presidency, promising law and order at home and peace overseas. In Vietnam, the war goes on and soldiers on all sides witness terrible savagery and unflinching courage.

  • The Veneer of Civilization (June 1968-May 1969): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Veneer of Civilization (June 1968-May 1969)

    S1 E7 - 1h 50m

    Public support for the war declines, and American men of draft age face difficult decisions and wrenching moral choices. After police battle with demonstrators in the streets of Chicago, Richard Nixon wins the presidency, promising law and order at home and peace overseas. In Vietnam, the war goes on and soldiers on all sides witness terrible savagery and unflinching courage.

Extras + Features

  • How Am I Doing This? | First Look: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How Am I Doing This? | First Look

    S1 - 30s

    A GI talks about his fear of land mines, and the courage it took just to walk in Vietnam. One of many perspectives on The Vietnam War: An Epic Event from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. #VietnamWarPBS

  • Not Since The Civil War | First Look: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Not Since The Civil War | First Look

    S1 - 30s

    A GI recalls how the Vietnam War divided American society. One of many perspectives on The Vietnam War: An Epic Event from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. #VietnamWarPBS

  • Christmas Bombing: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Christmas Bombing

    S1 - 1m 59s

    President Nixon authorizes U.S. forces to launch airstrikes on North Vietnam in December, 1972. #VietnamWarPBS

  • Finishing School: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Finishing School

    S1 E5 - 1m 1s

    A Marine contends that a dark side of human nature may be in us and that we are capable of tremendous violence.

  • Extended Look: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Extended Look

    S1 - 2m

    Ken Burns & Lynn Novick tell the story behind their most ambitious film to date.

  • The Fear Went Away | First Look: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Fear Went Away | First Look

    S1 - 30s

    A navy pilot describes being shot down on his first combat mission. One of many perspectives in The Vietnam War: An Epic Event from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. #VietnamWarPBS

  • Expanding the Draft | First Look: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Expanding the Draft | First Look

    S1 - 30s

    With the Vietnam War ramping up, college students begin to worry about the draft. One of many perspectives in The Vietnam War: An Epic Event from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. #VietnamWarPBS

  • Vietnamese vs. Vietnamese | First Look: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Vietnamese vs. Vietnamese | First Look

    S1 - 30s

    A N. Vietnamese soldier laments how the war pitted Vietnamese against each other. One of many perspectives in The Vietnam War: An Epic Event from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. #VietnamWarPBS.

  • Cowards or Heroes? | First Look: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Cowards or Heroes? | First Look

    S1 - 30s

    To escape a war they didn't believe in, some draftees went to Canada. One of many perspectives in The Vietnam War: An Epic Event from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. #VietnamWarPBS

  • Combat is an Enormous High | First Look: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Combat is an Enormous High | First Look

    S1 - 30s

    A soldier describes the enormous high and enormous cost of being in combat. One of many perspectives in The Vietnam War: An Epic Event from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. #VietnamWarPBS

Schedule

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