User Reviews

I was surprised to really get into this one, not expecting much when I realized how low budget this was, but becoming quite interested as the story of spies in Vietnam taking place in a large city, dealing with Martha Hyer, wife of war correspondent Peter Cushing, getting information for him to use and becoming involved in an affair with handsome army officer John Ronane while dealing with ruthless government officials and top army officer Joseph Cotten. Hyer and Cushing have a young son, Kim Smith, whom she's determined to protect at all costs, but circumstances makes that seem doubtful, especially when she's questioned in a murder.

The film focuses on Hyer and Ronane while Cushing and Cotten have several key scenes each that establishes their place in Hyer and Ronane's lives. There's scenes of espionage, torture (utilizing bamboo shoots in a shocking scene that only implies what's going on), and even a suicide bombing involving a young Vietnam lady. Hyer is quite good, her character very brave when questioned in various incidents even though the viewer can see her struggle to remain in control. This may not be the most action packed or revealing of motives, but in spite of the cheap looking photography is quite different than other Vietnam War movies.

1967's "Some May Live" (aka "In Saigon, Some May Live") was one of the very few movies about the Vietnam War that was actually filmed in Saigon, during the Vietnam War! It's a dandy espionage thriller about U.S. efforts to find who's leaking vital war information to the Commies from MACV (Military Assistance Command -- Vietnam) Headquarters. Nothing overblown and pretentious like "Platoon" or "Full Metal Jacket", just typically great 1960's filmmaking.

Martha Hyer plays a clerk named Kate Meredith at MACV HQ, who seems to have a normal life, married to a distinguished British journalist (Peter Cushing) who's covering the war, caring for her young son... or does it just seem that way? Joseph Cotton is the U.S. Army colonel Hyer works for, who brings in Capt. Elliott Thomas (played by John Ronane) to investigate. Only problem, Capt. Thomas starts falling in love with Kate, and complications ensue. Though Cushing and Cotton got top-billing, Ronane is the real male lead of this movie. He reminds me something of a John Gavin or Tom Tryon, and plays his role well, an American officer torn between his duty and his heart.

The filmmakers do a good job of conveying the spirit of 1967 Saigon, a city trying to go about everyday business, but always with a sinister, dangerous undercurrent. Hyer and Cushing, in a particularly effective scene, are shown conversing nonchalantly, sipping cocktails in their well appointed apartment, while in the background there's the constant flashes of gunfire and muffled explosions of the War taking place on the outskirts of the city. The opening credits feature many travelogue-type scenes of Saigon circa '67, accompanied by a great (and much overlooked) theme song called "Some May Live", effectively sung by Vince Hill. Don't know if this obscure film will ever make it to DVD, but if you can find it, be sure and watch it. A real "time travel" back to the Vietnam War era.