In Love and War (1987) is a Vietnam war-based thriller/drama television film starring James Woods and Jane Alexander. It was directed by Paul Aaron. The film is based on the true story of James Stockdale and Sybil Stockdale. James Stockdale, a highest-ranking naval officer, was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, whilst Sybil Stockdale became a co-founder, and then later served as the national coordinator of the National League of Families, a nonprofit organization that worked on behalf of American Vietnam-era Missing in Action and Prisoner of War Families. The film's screenplay was written by Carol Schreder, who was also one of the film's producers. The screenplay was based on the book In Love and War: The Story of a Family's Ordeal and Sacrifice During the Vietnam Years, which was written by James and Sybil Stockdale themselves.
The film's production companies were Carol Schneider Productions and Tisch/Avnet Productions Inc.
Plot
In Love and War is an account of US Navy Commander James Stockdale's eight year imprisonment in North Vietnam as a prisoner of war. During his confinement in sub-human living conditions within such camps as the infamous "Hanoi Hilton", Stockdale, amongst other American prisoners, led a resistance group against the North Vietnamese, facing torture, isolation, and starvation in attempts to break their wills. Meanwhile, back in America, Stockdale's wife, Sybil, begins working with other POW wives to try to get information on their husbands and to inform the world on their treatment.
Cast
James Woods as James Stockdale
Jane Alexander as Sybil Stockdale
Concetta Tomei as Doyen Salsig
Richard McKenzie as Boroughs
James Pax as Rabbit
Haing S. Ngor as Major Bui
Jon Cedar as Bud Salsig
Sally Klein as Allison Decker
Stephen Dorff as Stan Stockdale (age 9) Lillian Lehman as News Anchorwoman Lou Fant as Sidney Bailey Leo Geter as Mike Haggerty Raymond Ma as Pig Eye Steven Vincent Leigh as Big Ugh James Lashly as Chaplain George Milan - Averell Harriman Christopher Michael Moore - Intelligence Brad Finefrock - Sid Stockdale (age 10) Christian Hoff - Sid Stockdale (age 18) Jamie McEnnan - Stan Stockdale (age 6) Christian Jacobs - Jimmy Stockdale (age 14) Matt Graber - Taylor Stockdale (age 10) John Posey - Pasquarelli
Background
The film stars James Woods as James B. 'Jim' Stockdale and Jane Alexander as Sybil Stockdale. Others in the film include Concetta Tomei as Doyen Salsig, Haing S. Ngor as Major Bui, Jon Cedar as Bud Salsig and Jon Cedar as Bud Salsig.
Reportedly, the film's original broadcast had 45 million viewers.
The film was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1988, for James Woods under the category "Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV".
In the Stockdale's own book In Love and War: The Story of a Family's Ordeal and Sacrifice During the Vietnam Years, a 1990 Naval Institute Press updated edition featured a quote each from Woods and Alexander on the book and the Stockdale's story. Woods was quoted "Heroes are hard to come by these days. When they exist there are those who inspire us with their quiet fortitude. Jim and Sybil do both." Alexander was quoted "One of the finest stories of a true marriage ever told."Release The film first aired on March 16, 1987, on the National Broadcasting Company Network. It was released in America on VHS via Vidmark Entertainment, and in 1992 via StarMaker Entertainment, Inc. Lions Gate Home Entertainment released a VHS version on May 17, 1993. It was also released on Laserdisc. The only American DVD release was on November 16, 2009, via FremantleMedia. In the UK it was released on DVD twice; on 11 August 2003 via Consolidated and on 11 September 2006 via Boulevard Entertainment Ltd.
In Germany, the film's Cinema VHS release was re-titled P.O.W. - Prisoner of War. The film was also released on VHS in the Netherlands via Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) in 2000, and the company released a DVD version in 2007. Globo Vídeo released the film on VHS in Brazil. The film made its first showing in Greece on Aquarius TV in 2001.
Critical reception
Sandra Brennan of Allmovie gave the film two and a half out of five stars.