“Captivating, unforgettable, and not to be missed.”
–The Los Angeles Times
“It is an innovative, inspired, and brave gamble of a show…Grade A.”
–People Magazine
“Clearly exceptional television.”
–The Washington Post
SAND DUNES AND SCALPELS, SURFBOARDS AND SHRAPNEL,
BLUE SEA AND RED BLOOD, R&R AND CPR…
THIS OCTOBER, RETURN TO TELEVISION’S FAVORITE BEACH WITH A SPECIALLY-PRICED DVD SET OF A GROUNDBREAKING TV SERIES SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE
VIETNAM WAR
CHINA BEACH: THE COMPLETE SERIES
Available EXCLUSIVELY at Walmart on October 8,
This 19-Disc Set ($64.95srp) Features All 62 Complete Episodes from the Golden Globe®-Winning Series and More Than Five Hours of Bonus Programming, Including Audio Commentaries, Exclusive Interviews, Highlights from the 25th Anniversary Reunion and More!
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
From the moment CHINA BEACH debuted in 1988, with its iconic opening credits set to the Supremes’ “Reflections” as its theme song, it was hailed as groundbreaking television. In an era of testosterone-driven war movies, the series, created by award-winning journalist and Vietnam vet William Broyles Jr. and John Sacret Young, delivered the Vietnam war from a unique perspective: that of the women, military personnel and civilians who were present during the conflict.
Part EVAC hospital, part USO entertainment center, China Beach, also known as the 510th Evacuation Hospital and R&R center, was an outpost of craziness and compassion that captured an extraordinary group of characters — US Army doctors and nurses, officers, soldiers, Red Cross volunteers and civilian personnel — in a unique, exotic place where so many things came together: horror and laughter, heroism and sacrifice. Many episodes and story lines were based on real-life stories of those who served, stories brought to rich life by a supremely talented ensemble cast featuring many actors beginning to make their marks on the industry, including Dana Delany (First Lieutenant/Captain Nurse Colleen McMurphy), Marg Helgenberger (K.C. Koloski), Michael Boatman (SP4 Sam Beckett), Robert Picardo (Captain Dr. Dick Richard) and Ricki Lake (Holly Pelegrino). The other side of the camera boasted such accomplished talents as multiple Emmy Award®-nominee Writer/Director/Executive Producer John Sacret Young and producer John Wells, who would go on to executive produce “ER” and “The West Wing.”
Additionally, one of the hallmarks of the series was the use of music — iconic, emotional music from the ’60s and ’70s featuring everyone from Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, to Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder and dozens of other popular performers – and Time Life spent over a year clearing the rights to hundreds of musical copyrights, so that the DVD collection would be released with nearly all of the original classic rock and soul music songs from the original broadcasts. The 300+ songs featured throughout the series include “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, “Nowhere to Run” by Martha and the Vandellas, “Baby, I Need Your Loving” by the Four Tops, “My Girl” by the Temptations, “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown, “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” by Manfred Mann, “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison,”Piece of My Heart” by Big Brother & the Holding Company, “I Got You Babe” by Sonny & Cher, and the iconic theme “Reflections” by Diana Ross & the Supremes.
A critically-acclaimed fan favorite during its four year run (1988-1992), the highly touted show and its cast were the recipients of numerous industry accolades and awards including one Golden Globe® for Best Drama (1990), two Best Actress Emmy® Awards for Dana Delany (1989, 1992), a Best Supporting Actress award for Marg Helgenberger (1990), a People’s Choice Award for “Favorite New Dramatic TV Program” (1989), a prestigious Peabody Award, a Humanitas prize, a Writers Guild award, and 29 Emmy® Award nominations in total.
BONUS FEATURES
Episode commentaries
Exclusive interviews
Behind-the-scenes featurettes INCLUDING highlights from the 25th anniversary cast reunion PLUS deleted scenes AND a gag reel!
