''Friendly Fire'' is an American

television movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

first broadcast on the ABC network on April 22, 1979. Watched that night by an estimated 64 million people,Brown, Les
"ABC's 'Friendly Fire' Drew 64 Million."
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', April 25, 1979, p. C22. Archived fro
the original.
/ref> ''Friendly Fire'' went on to win four

Emmy awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

, including Outstanding Drama Special."1978–1979 Emmy Awards."
''infoplease.com'', updated February 11, 2017. Accessed December 27, 2020. Archived fro

/ref> The film was directed by David Greene. The movie tells the real-life story of Peg Mullen (played by

Carol Burnett Carol Creighton Burnett (born April 26, 1933) is an American comedian, actress, singer and writer. Burnett has played dramatic and comedic roles on stage and screen. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Carol Burnett, nu ...

),Gamarekian, Barbara
"Why Carol Burnett Made 'Friendly Fire'."
''

'', April 21, 1979, p. 15. Archived fro
the original.
/ref> a woman from rural

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

who with her husband works against government obstacles to uncover the actual details and facts about the death of their son Michael, an

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

infantry soldier killed by "

friendly fire In military terminology, friendly fire or fratricide is an attack by belligerent or neutral forces on friendly troops while attempting to attack enemy or hostile targets. Examples include misidentifying the target as hostile, cross-fire while ...

" in February 1970 during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

. Her husband Gene, a

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

veteran, is played by

Ned Beatty Ned Thomas Beatty (July 6, 1937 – June 13, 2021) was an American actor. In a career that spanned five decades, he appeared in more than 160 film and television roles. Throughout his career, Beatty gained a reputation for being "the busiest ac ...

. Sergeant Mullen was drafted in September 1968 after he graduated from college and sent to

South Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam (RVN; , VNCH), was a country in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975. It first garnered Diplomatic recognition, international recognition in 1949 as the State of Vietnam within the ...

(Republic of Vietnam) assigned to the 198th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (Americal Division) in September 1969. He was listed as a non-battle casualty after being accidentally killed with another soldier from an exploding Army artillery shell burst fragment, while Mullen and most of his platoon were asleep at night on their hilltop position; the government did not report publicly the number of non-battle deaths or their names on its weekly casualty lists during the war. ''Friendly Fire'' is adapted by

Fay Kanin Fay Kanin (née Mitchell; May 9, 1917March 27, 2013) was an American screenwriter, playwright and producer. Kanin was president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1979 to 1983. Biography Born Fay Mitchell in New York City t ...

from C. D. B. Bryan's 1976 book of the same name. The book was adapted from a series of ''

New Yorker New Yorker may refer to: * A resident of New York: ** A resident of New York City and its suburbs *** List of people from New York City ** A resident of the New York (state), State of New York *** Demographics of New York (state) * ''The New Yor ...

'' magazine articles Bryan had written about the Mullens and their ordeal."Peg Mullen (1917- ): Papers, 1968-2003."
Iowa Women's Archives, University of Iowa Libraries. Archived fro
the original
on October 20, 2008. Accessed November 25, 2008.

Cast

as Peg Mullen *

as Gene Mullen *

Sam Waterston Samuel Atkinson Waterston (born November 15, 1940) is an American actor. Waterston is known for his work in theater, television, and film. He has received numerous accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actor ...

as C. D. B. Bryan * Dennis Erdman as Michael E. Mullen *

Timothy Hutton Timothy Hutton (born August 16, 1960) is an American actor and film director. He is the List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Youngest winners 4, youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which he ...

as John Mullen * Fanny Spiess as Mary Mullen * Sherry Hursey as Patricia Mullen * Michael Flanagan as Father Shimon * Hilly Hicks as Willis Huddleston * William Jordan as Col. Byron Schindler * Vernon Weddle as Col. Georgi * Jack Rader as Sgt. Fitzgerald * Robert Wahler as Alan Hulting * David Keith as Leroy Hamilton

References

External links

*
''New York Times'' overview of ''Friendly Fire''
{{David Greene 1979 television films 1979 films American Broadcasting Company original films American television films Vietnam War films Films scored by Leonard Rosenman Films directed by David Greene Films set in the 1970s Films set in Iowa Peabody Award–winning broadcasts

Cast

See also

References

External links