Flags of Our Fathers (Very Slight Spoiler)

Arts & Sciences Arts & Entertainment
1

I saw this movie the other day. It was an interesting take, well directed and produced. I liked the message, but felt it’s treatment of its principle subject was more poignantly portrayed by this song by Bob Dylan.

The Ballard of Ira Hayes

Gather round you people and a story I will tell
About a brave young Indian you should remember well
From the tribe of Pima Indians, a proud and a peaceful band
They farmed the Phoenix Valley in Arizona land
Down their ditches for a thousand years the sparkling water rushed
Till their white man stole their water rights and the running water hushed
Now Ira’s folks were hungry and their farms wene crops of weeds
But when war came he volunteers and forgot, the white man’s greed
Call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, he won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian or the marine who went to war
Yes, call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, he won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian or the marine who went to war.

They started up Iwo Jima Hill, 250 men
But only 27 lived to walk back down that hill again
And when the fight was over and the old glory raised
One of the men who held it high was the Indian Ira Hayes
Call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, he won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian or the marine who went to war
Call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, he won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian or the marine who went to war.

Now Ira returned a hero, celebrated throughout the land
He was wined and speeched and honored, everybody shook his hand
But he was just a Pima Indian, no money crops, no chance
And at home nobody cared what Ira had done and the wind did the Indian’s dance
Call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, he won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian or the marine who went to war
Call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, he won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian or the marine who went to war.

And Ira started drinking hard, jail was often his home
They let him raise the flag there and lower it like you’d throw a dog a bone
He died drunk early one morning, alone in the land he had fought to save
Two inches of water in a lonely ditch was the grave for Ira Hayes
Call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, he won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian or the marine who went to war
Yes, call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, he won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian or the marine who went to war.

Yes, call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, but his land is still as dry
And his ghost is lying thirsty in the ditch where Ira died
Call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, he won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian or the marine who went to war
Yes, call him, Drunken Ira Hayes, he won’t answer anymore
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian or the marine who went to war.

2

Thanks for the movie review.

aiiii yoooo…

3

So I’m an ignoramus if I don’t know some obscure details of American history? We’re not all Yanks on Forumosa ya know.

And yeah, thanks for the review. :unamused:

4

I was before I went to see the picture. It wasn’t until I watched it that I was reminded of that song by Bob Dylan. I went home and listened to it and thought it captured something more than the movie did. I freely admit to being an ignoramuse about many things. That is nothing to be ashamed of.

5

I believe the word you are looking for is ill-informed, or ignorant. You can’t be an ignoramus about anything, anymore than you can be a “dog” about something. The word is a noun and means an exceptionally ignorant person, a dunce, a fool. Not knowing a bit of WWII trivia makes me none of those things. Not being pedantic, simpy letting you know that your thread is calling us all fools when I don’t think you want it to.

6

In that case, I’m truly one.

7

No comment. But good change on the title. :wink:

And can you please tell us a little more about the film. It sounds like a good one.

8

Wow!

I’d not heard of it, so I did a Google and watched the Trailer for “Asian release.” You could be forgiven if you thought that was a Japanese movie. I certainly did.

Doh! It is a seperate, but companion movie.

The second trailer for “Letters from Iwo Jima” (the companion film for “Flags”) has just been released.

flagsofourfathers.net/

Ira Hayes would have to go through your head seeing that.

HG

9

I guess I should give some information about the movie.

It is set in modern times and World War Two. The story revolves around the taking of Iwo Jima Island, a small volcanic island not too far from Taiwan, and more specifically a flag raising, which occurred on Iwo Jima hill. The flag raising is significant as a photograph of it was taken and sent around the world to become that iconic photo many will have seen of 5 faceless servicemen seemingly struggling against insurmountable odds to plant the Stars and Stripes. It is a powerful image, no doubt, but the history of it is somewhat ignoble. The story then broadens to include how the three surviving soldiers were used by the military and government to raise war bonds on a whirl wind tour of the States. The soldiers confront what it means to be a hero, especially Ira Hayes. This story is paralleled in modern times by the son (author of the tale) of one of these three men who after his father’s death new nothing about his wartime heroics and learns through his research the story of Flags of Our Fathers and in turn comes to know his father better.

10

Peter La Farge. Performed by Johnny Cash. Covered by Dylan. I want to see this film, though.

11

Creamy crackers! Bark!

12

Townes Van Zandt did a version as well.