Documentary Trailer: An Unlikely Weapon

An Unlikely Weapon is a documentary directed by Susan Morgan about photographer pulitzer prize awarded photographer Eddie Adams – the man who is famous for taking that haunting black & white photo of a Saigon police chief shooting a vietcong guerrilla point blank. A photograph that was so visually powerful, that it affected the course of history.

In 1968, in 1/500th of a second Eddie Adams photographed a Saigon police chief, General Nygoc Loan, shooting a Vietcong guerrilla point black. Some say that photograph ended the Vietnam war. The photo brought Eddie fame and a Pulitzer, but Eddie was haunted by the man he had vilified. He would say, “Two lives were destroyed that day, the victim’s and the general.” Other’s would say three lives were destroyed. Eddie Adams, like most artists, was tortured by his need for perfection. Nothing he did ever satisfied him. He carved out many careers shooting covers for Life, Time, and even Penthouse. Yet, somehow, he was always pulled back into documenting wars, 13 all together. Finally he hit the wall and couldn’t take it anymore. He began shooting celebrities because “It doesn’t take anything from you.” Eddie was comfortable with kings and coal miners. During his time with Parade magazines he photographed Clint Eastwood, Louis Armstrong, Mother Teresa, and Pope John Paul.

The documentary looks like a pretty interesting insight into the man behind the camera that changed the course of the Vietnam war. The film opens in the US shortly, an Australian release isn’t yet confirmed – but we are keen to see it.

There’s a good article on him over at altpick

We’ve got some of his photos after the jump.

Warning: Some photos are a bit violent and disturbing.

and here is the man himself.

Related posts: