It's nice to see chubby-faced Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio finally getting a chance to sink his teeth into a meaty adult role - although he still looks scarcely old enough to be out of short trousers! In this gripping movie, he's a 19-year-old Marine captured by the Viet Cong in 1965 and subjected to 14 years of terrible mental and physical torture. But his ordeal continues when he finally gets home - he's branded a traitor by the American people. Martin Sheen has a strong supporting role as a Special Forces Adviser who takes the youngster under his wing in his first POW camp. With scenes of electro-shock torture, beatings and Russian roulette, this is a tough film by TV movie standards.

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