Theme Song: Contemplative guitars and some violins.
Interesting Dated References: Americans caring about other countries.
Social Context: Green Eyes deals with orphans fathered by American G.I.’s during the Vietnam War.
Summary: Veteran Lloyd Dubeck (Paul Winfield, Mike’s Murder) returns home and finds America unwilling to reintegrate veterans into society. Disillusioned and unable to find work, he returns to Vietnam to look for the child he fathered while recuperating there.
After visiting several orphanages, he becomes engrossed in the lives of the children and begins teaching. Dubeck’s search for his green-eyed child and the mother takes him through various encounters with townsfolk and Margaret Sheen, a well-intentioned orphanage manager.
Winfield is affecting in his performance, and there’s genuinely disturbing footage from within the orphanages. There’s also wild footage of garbage-lined streets and children scavenging.
But then things take a rushed turn as Dubeck suddenly realizes that the random street hustler kid, Trung, who has been coming around, is his actual son. Or maybe it’s meant metaphorically? I don’t know, and it all happens so fast that any emotional impact is lost. Assuming it was trimmed for length as it was made for television.
Worth Mentioning:
– According to IMDb, this was shot in the Philippines. As noted, the orphanage footage involves hundreds of children running around in old-looking buildings. The settings are generally very gritty and provide a good substitute for post-war Vietnam.
– Jonathan Goldsmith, of “The Most Interesting Man in the World” fame, plays the role of Noel, one of Dubeck’s army buddies hiding from life in Vietnam.
Poster and Box Art: I could not find a print ad promoting the television debut. The home video release box is not very good.
