Pentagon Papers: a great film by Steven Spielberg
The film Pentagon documents (The mail in the original version) by Steven Spielberg was released in French cinemas in 2018. The cast includes two of the best contemporary actors: Meryl Streep, who plays Katharine Graham, the first female editorial director of an important American newspaper, the Washington Post, and Tom Hanks, who plays Ben Bradlee, the newspaper’s editor in chief.
The film is based on the true story of the Washington Post’s decision to publish Pentagon documents in 1971. a series of classified reports detailing the underbelly of U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 19667. The film explores the challenges faced by Graham and Bradlee as they faced heavy political and social pressures, illustrating their courage and determination in defending press freedom.
At the box office, Pentagon documents grossed almost $180 million (on a $50 million budget) and did very well in France, as it attracted nearly one and a half million viewers. He was also nominated twice for an Oscar in 2018: best film and best actress (but won neither).
The true story behind the film
The “Pentagon Papers”, officially titled “Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force”, were a series of secret Pentagon documents that were disclosed to the public in 1971 by Daniel Ellsberg, a military analyst and the first launcher in history alert. These documents revealed that the U.S. government systematically lied to the public and Congress about the status and nature of the Vietnam War.demonstrating that the chances of success were considered much lower than what was communicated.
Publication of these documents in the New York Times was initially stopped by a court order, citing national security risks. The Washington Post, under the direction of Katharine Graham and Ben Bradleehe chose to publish despite considerable legal and financial risks, asserting the public’s right to information and freedom of the press.
This decision led to historic legal battlewhich ended in a victory for the newspapers when the US Supreme Court ruled in their favor, ruling that the government had no right to prevent their publication.
The revelation of the Pentagon Papers had a profound impact on public perceptions of the Vietnam War and helped to further erode support for the war effort and highlight the importance of the Vietnam War. government transparency and freedom of the press. This pivotal moment in American history highlights the value and power of information and the essential role of the media in democracy.
Another scandal in sight
At the end of Pentagon documentsa crucial scene connects it to another important historical event in American politics: the Watergate scandal. After the triumph of the Washington Post and the New York Times before the Supreme Court, which affirmed the right of the press to publish the Pentagon Papers despite pressure from the Nixon government, the ending of the film announces another scandal.
At night we see the Watergate building, where thieves, working for the Democratic National Committee, are caught breaking into the Democratic Party offices. This scene announces the beginning of the Watergate scandal that will explode the following year and led to the impeachment proceedings and then resignation of President Nixon in 1974.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
