Critic Shelf
Home
Discover
Sign in
Your rating
Tap a star, half steps count

An Unlikely Weapon

1/500th of a second to get the shot...a lifetime to forget it.
Apr 10, 2009 · 1h 25m
No ratings yet

PLOT

In 1968, in 1/500th of a second Eddie Adams photographed a Saigon police chief, General Nguyen Nyoc Loan, shooting a Vietcong guerilla point blank. Some say that photograph ended the Vietnam War. The photo brought Eddie fame and a Pulitzer, but Eddie was haunted by the man he had vilified. He would say "Two lives were destroyed that day, the victim's and the general's." Others would say three lives were destroyed. Eddie Adams, like most artists, was tortured by his need for perfection. Nothing he did ever satisfied him. He carved out many careers shooting covers for Life, Time, and even Penthouse. Yes somehow, he was always pulled back into documenting wars, 13 all together. Finally he hit the wall and couldn't take it anywmore. He began shooting celebrities because 'It doesn't take anything from you.' Eddie was comfortable with kings and coal miners. During his time with Parade Magazine he photographed Clint Eastwood, Louis Armstrong, Mother Theresa, and Pope John Paul II.

REVIEWS

View reviews

DETAILS

Status
Released
Original language
EN
Budget
—
Revenue
—
Country
US

SIMILAR TITLES

On Sugar Workers' Quarters
1971
North Country
2005
Sur les Gratte-Ciel de New York
2014
That Lovely Girl
2014
Step Up
2006
Lords of Dogtown
2005
Critic Shelf
Rate what you watch, show it on shelves, and compare taste with anyone. Film and TV data from TMDB.
ACCOUNT
Sign in
Create account
Delete account
COMPANY
About
Contact
Privacy
Terms
This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.
© 2026 Critic Shelf
WATCH · RATE · COMPARE