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Vietnam Veteran = Psychopath? (According to Paul Schrader)

posted 6 years ago by johnmiller (3355)
2 replies | jump to latest

Both here and in "Rolling Thunder" (1977) which he wrote, a Vietnam Veteran becomes either a psychopath or an outright psychotic.

In "Rolling Thunder," Schrader became outraged when the veteran, played by William Devane, was changed when the movie was shot. Schrader had written Devane's character as racist, and that he got off when killing the Mexicans he does in the film. But, these elements were not shot by the director, which led to Schrader's outrage.

So, it certainly makes one think that Schrader sees Vietnam Veterans as violent, racist, or even psychotic. What do you folks think?

[–] wrlord (1081) 4 years ago

Wasn't just him. Don't forget First Blood. Yes, in the 70s, Vietnam veterans were largely regarded and psychopaths and schizos.

[–] liscarkat (16522) 4 years ago

And today veterans are regarded as fragile and damaged, needing continual reminding of their heroic status and special protective social environments. Before Vietnam, almost all of the middle-aged and older men around were WWI or WWII veterans, but they just got on with their lives and were treated the same as anyone else, neither spit upon nor handled with velvet gloves. It was a rational middle ground that should be brought back.