Coming Home

This 1978 movie won Oscars for both Jon Voight and Jane Fonda. A Hal Ashby film in the era when great Vietnam movies were being made constantly this movie was one of the strongest.

The movie focuses on Captain Bob Hyde and his wife Sally, played by Jane Fonda and Bruce Dern. What was quite amusing was seeing Bruce Dern, hearing his voice, and picturing him as Bill's father in Big Love.

Jon Voight plays Luke Martin, a paraplegic Vietnam Veteran at the Veterans hospital at which Sally volunteers. Sally as the movie begins had been a typical Conservative Military wife. Her husband Bob is about to be sent to Vietnam, a move he, as a career man, feels is just part of his progression. Sally, now living alone, volunteers at the military hospital.

At the hospital Luke is a frustrated, angry, patient. Sally and he realize that they were classmates in high school. As they spend more time together it becomes apparent that an attraction is present. Sally wants to improve the conditions at the hospital. She is rebuked by the society minded members of the volunteer committee.

When Luke is released he and Sally spend more time together. As a relationship develops they fall in love. Still, both agree, that the relationship will end when Sally's husband returns.

Sally's husband Captain Hyde though returns early from Vietnam, he is suffering from post traumatic stress and is not able to connect with his wife. When he is informed by military intelligence that his wife has been having an affair with an anti war radical he is shaken to the core.

An uncomfortable confrontation occurs. The ending of the movie can be interpreted in a couple of different ways. For instance both my wife and I felt that it symbolized two different things.

Voight, who in these times is perhaps best known as one of the lone Conservatives in Hollywood, the father on Angelina Jolie, and for fans of Seinfeld as the owner of a car that George Costanza covets, gives an incredible performance. It is easy to forget that with this and his iconic performance in Midnight Cowboy that Voight was a well regarded, well respected actor.

Fonda as well is Oscar worthy. The irony of her playing a Conservative Vietnam era Military wife cannot be overlooked, and her performance as the conflicted woman in love with two men is never melodramatic, always serious and believable. Fonda, because, of all the various controversies that have surrounded her at times, is also easily forgotten as the strong actress that she was.

I had this movie on my list of movies to see for along time. It takes awhile to develop, one wonders what all the fuss is about for a few minutes, but the scenes when Captain Hyde returns home and the three deal with their love triangle are very strong and different from what might be expected.

Added to the Vietnam canon of Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, and Platoon, Coming Home is a deserved member of this classic group.