Do We Get To Win This Time is a reported look at how Hollywood has depicted and defined the Vietnam War, and how those films still resonate today, both culturally and politically. This podcast will chronicle many of the infamous movies that feature the Vietnam War, spanning from films made during the conflict to those produced decades later. Every episode features interviews with key filmmakers, experts, and veterans as Brian grapples with what each of these movies tells us about the most divisive conflict in our country’s history and America’s perception of it.
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
23 Aug 2023
7. Ain’t War Hell? | Do We Get to Win This Time?
In the late ’80s, a new wave of big-studio hits like ‘Full Metal Jacket’ and ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ introduces young moviegoers to Vietnam—and helps turn the war into an unlikely pop-culture phenomenon.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘Hamburger Hill’ (1987) and ‘Casualties of War’ (1989).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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
21 Aug 2023
6. I Am Reality | Do We Get to Win This Time?
Oliver Stone’s harrowing and heartbreaking Vietnam drama ‘Platoon’ becomes a worldwide phenomenon in 1986—and signals the beginning of the Vietnam movie boom.
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
18 Aug 2023
5. Nothing Is Over | Do We Get to Win This Time?
In the early 1980s, as America is grappling with the fallout of Vietnam, a troubled big-screen vet named John Rambo launches an unlikely movie franchise—and leads a wave of make-believe soldiers who are ready to fight the war all over again.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘First Blood’ (1982), ‘Uncommon Valor’ (1983), ‘Missing in Action’ (1984), and ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ (1985).
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
16 Aug 2023
4. Little by Little, We Went Insane | Do We Get to Win This Time?
‘Apocalypse Now’ closes out the 1970s with the most ambitious Vietnam movie yet: a big-budget spectacle that will bring moviegoers closer than ever to the madness of war—and nearly push director Francis Ford Coppola over the edge.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘Who’ll Stop the Rain’ (1978), ‘The Boys in Company C’ (1978), ‘Go Tell the Spartans’ (1978), and ‘Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse’ (1991).
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
14 Aug 2023
3. What a Strange Country | Do We Get to Win This Time?
In the late ’70s, ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘Coming Home’ offer two very different visions of Vietnam—and become unexpected hits. Together, they’d bring the war to the mainstream—and to the Oscars.
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
11 Aug 2023
2. I Just Don’t Talk About It | Do We Get to Win This Time?
It’s the mid-’70s, and Hollywood is still scared of Vietnam. But a series of dark and wildly entertaining B movies brings the war to the big screen, with explosive results.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘M*A*S*H’ (1970), ‘Soldier Blue’ (1970), ‘Brotherhood of Death’ (1976), ‘Taxi Driver’ (1976), and ‘Rolling Thunder’ (1977).
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
8 Aug 2023
1. Give ’Em Hell | Do We Get to Win This Time?
In the late-’60s, John Wayne stars in the first hit Vietnam movie: his controversial blockbuster ‘The Green Berets.’ And the piercing documentary ‘Hearts and Minds’ leads to an Oscar-night meltdown in 1975.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘In the Year of the Pig’ (1969) and ‘Winter Soldier’ (1972).
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
8 Aug 2023
Prologue | Do We Get to Win This Time?
‘The Deer Hunter.’ ‘Apocalypse Now.’ ‘First Blood.’ ‘Platoon.’ They’re among the hit films dealing with the Vietnam War—a conflict that divided moviegoers and inspired filmmakers. For decades, Hollywood released countless films about the war and its fallout—from action flicks to combat tales to sweeping dramas.
Through exclusive new interviews, ‘Do We Get to Win This Time?’ chronicles the making of Hollywood’s most ambitious and controversial Vietnam movies. Along the way, we also learn how these films reflected and shaped moviegoers’ feelings toward the war—and toward each other.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
15 ratings
Contact Do We Get To Win This Time?
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
