The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan
Encyclopedia
The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan is a 2010 documentary film
directed by Henry Corra
, which follows Michael Nolan on the search for his brother McKinley Nolan, a U.S. Army Private who vanished during the Vietnam War
.
The circumstances of McKinley's disappearance were mysterious, and his status and whereabouts became classified U.S. military information to which the Nolan family was denied access. Retired Lt. Dan Smith returned 40 years later to the U.S. from Tay Ninh
, Vietnam having encountered a nameless American man whom he later photo-identified as McKinley Nolan.
The search for McKinley is a deeply personal journey for his brother Michael and includes groundbreaking footage and interviews of former Khmer Rouge
and Viet Cong members.
officially claims he was radicalized and “went native", joined the Viet Cong, and was later murdered by the Khmer Rouge
. In 2006, retired US Army Lt. Dan Smith, revisiting the battlefields of his youth, may have encountered McKinley, alive. So begins a journey into the heart of darkness.
The film follows the Nolan family from the cotton belt of Texas, to the battlegrounds of Vietnam, to the killing fields of Cambodia and unfolds as a mysterious fever dream filled with doubt, longing and the will to believe. Nolan's ghost starts out seeming like a nostalgic vision that we want to capture. But, like a will-o-the-wisp or a banshee, he calls us deeper and deeper into the jungle, and into impossible liaisons with Vietcong and Khmer Rouge. The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan is a mystery, but it’s also, more profoundly, a haunting meditation on war, memory, and love.
In the 40 years since McKinley's disappearance, U.S. government cooperation with the Nolan family in their search had been extremely limited. When the filmmakers attempted to gain access to areas in Vietnam and Cambodia where McKinley Nolan was rumored to be, they were denied access on all fronts by the U.S., Vietnamese, and Cambodian governments. Through the efforts of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
, the crew and the Nolan family were able to secure travel visas and permission for entry, as well as access to military records regarding McKinley Nolan.
Actor and activist Danny Glover
and Joslyn Barnes of Louverture Films joined the project as Executive Producers. Together with Richard Linnett, Lt. Dan Smith, and several interpreters, the team collected groundbreaking evidence regarding the Khmer Rouge and Viet Cong in their search for McKinley Nolan.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed by Henry Corra
Henry Corra
Henry John Corra is an American documentary filmmaker and commercial director.-Background: is a New York City based documentary filmmaker best known for his highly acclaimed films , , , , the Emmy nominated , the and...
, which follows Michael Nolan on the search for his brother McKinley Nolan, a U.S. Army Private who vanished during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
The circumstances of McKinley's disappearance were mysterious, and his status and whereabouts became classified U.S. military information to which the Nolan family was denied access. Retired Lt. Dan Smith returned 40 years later to the U.S. from Tay Ninh
Tay Ninh
Tây Ninh is a town in southwestern Vietnam. It is the capital of Tay Ninh province, which encompasses the town and much of the surrounding farmland....
, Vietnam having encountered a nameless American man whom he later photo-identified as McKinley Nolan.
The search for McKinley is a deeply personal journey for his brother Michael and includes groundbreaking footage and interviews of former Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
and Viet Cong members.
Synopsis
Private McKinley Nolan deserted his 1st Infantry Division unit on 9 November 1967. Some say he was captured, some say he was a traitor, some even say he was an American operative. The U.S. ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officially claims he was radicalized and “went native", joined the Viet Cong, and was later murdered by the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
. In 2006, retired US Army Lt. Dan Smith, revisiting the battlefields of his youth, may have encountered McKinley, alive. So begins a journey into the heart of darkness.
The film follows the Nolan family from the cotton belt of Texas, to the battlegrounds of Vietnam, to the killing fields of Cambodia and unfolds as a mysterious fever dream filled with doubt, longing and the will to believe. Nolan's ghost starts out seeming like a nostalgic vision that we want to capture. But, like a will-o-the-wisp or a banshee, he calls us deeper and deeper into the jungle, and into impossible liaisons with Vietcong and Khmer Rouge. The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan is a mystery, but it’s also, more profoundly, a haunting meditation on war, memory, and love.
Cast
- Michael Nolan: McKinley Nolan's brother
- Mary Nolan: McKinley Nolan's wife
- Frank Wagner
- Richard Linnett: Journalist researching McKinley's story
- Lt. Dan Smith: Vietnam Veteran
- Roger Nolan: McKinley Nolan's son
- R.L. Brown: Mary Nolan's brother
- Robert Lee Brown Sr.: Mary Nolan's Father
- Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee: Assisted the Nolans
- Thach Quang: McKinley Nolan's adopted son
- Ms. Hoa
- Mr. and Mrs. Cong
- Benjamin David Reich: Interpreter
- Cham Sone: Former Khmer Rouge guard
- Nguyen Van Tinh
- Dang Thuan Hoa
- Nguyen Van Thien
- Nguyen Van Tuoi
- Dao Sy To
- Tit Ream
- Thol Koung
- Ung Chun
- Ou Seng Heang
- Ta Sonn
- Sarah Thomas: Interpreter
- Denny Danielson
Production
Production began in 2006 after the story was brought to director Henry Corra by Journalist Richard Linnet, who had been following the case for 12 years. Captivated by the Nolans' longing to find McKinley, Corra traveled to Texas to meet them. The timing was perfect, as retired Lt. Dan Smith was scheduling his first meeting with the Nolan family with the news that he saw McKinley Nolan alive.In the 40 years since McKinley's disappearance, U.S. government cooperation with the Nolan family in their search had been extremely limited. When the filmmakers attempted to gain access to areas in Vietnam and Cambodia where McKinley Nolan was rumored to be, they were denied access on all fronts by the U.S., Vietnamese, and Cambodian governments. Through the efforts of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
Sheila Jackson Lee
Sheila Jackson Lee is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1995. The district includes most of inner-city Houston. She is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life and education:...
, the crew and the Nolan family were able to secure travel visas and permission for entry, as well as access to military records regarding McKinley Nolan.
Actor and activist Danny Glover
Danny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
and Joslyn Barnes of Louverture Films joined the project as Executive Producers. Together with Richard Linnett, Lt. Dan Smith, and several interpreters, the team collected groundbreaking evidence regarding the Khmer Rouge and Viet Cong in their search for McKinley Nolan.
See also
- Henry CorraHenry CorraHenry John Corra is an American documentary filmmaker and commercial director.-Background: is a New York City based documentary filmmaker best known for his highly acclaimed films , , , , the Emmy nominated , the and...
- Danny GloverDanny GloverDanny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
- Sheila Jackson LeeSheila Jackson LeeSheila Jackson Lee is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1995. The district includes most of inner-city Houston. She is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life and education:...
- Khmer RougeKhmer RougeThe Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
- Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...