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Desert One

Play trailer 2:29 Poster for Desert One 2020 1h 47m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Filmmaker Barbara Kopple examines a failed U.S. military operation to rescue hostages in Tehran, Iran, in 1980.
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Desert One

Desert One

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Critics Consensus

Comprehensive without getting bogged down in details, Desert One offers a fascinating look at a daring military mission that ended in defeat.

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Critics Reviews

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Christy Lemire FilmWeek (LAist) Sep 1, 2020
You can learn a lot more from your failures than your rah-rah successes. Barbara Kopple is of course a veteran [filmmaker] and does this brilliantly. Go to Full Review Angie Han FilmWeek (LAist) Sep 1, 2020
It felt a little bit dry to me. Having a lot of perspectives is good, but it means that you have a long series of talking heads... That said, it was worth watching. Go to Full Review Steve Pond TheWrap Aug 24, 2020
[Barbara] Kopple is an impeccable documentarian. Go to Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site Feb 10, 2021
It is a deplorable work, which ... espouses nauseating pro-military and patriotic sentiments. Go to Full Review A.S. Hamrah The Baffler Jan 9, 2021
Desert One has no real point of view. It doesn't offer much, beyond honoring the men who tried to rescue the hostages, and is by default but not by conviction militaristic. Go to Full Review Dan Schindel Hyperallergic Nov 17, 2020
Kopple's best films capture blistering humanity, and that's mostly absent here. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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greg r @itsgregsworld Feb 15, 2021 The story of the most incompetent people ever to carry out a mission. Excellent documentary. Shame on America. See more john h @JHTheHorrorTheHorror Feb 14, 2021 Well made with many details new to me. Emotionally impactful as well. I recommend watching with "Jimmy Carter Rock and Roll President" and "Argo". See more Jan 21, 2021 Revealing and as poignant today as it was in 1980. Great film-making, it will be useful for many as perspective for how American politics and international relations took a sharp turn. See more Read all reviews
Desert One

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Cast & Crew

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Barbara Kopple

Director

Jimmy Carter

Self

Francisco Bello

Writer

David Cassidy

Producer

Eric Forman

Producer

Barbara Kopple

Producer

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Desert One

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Desert One

Desert One (2019) Desert One (2019) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Barbara Kopple examines a failed U.S. military operation to rescue hostages in Tehran, Iran, in 1980.
Director
Barbara Kopple
Producer
David Cassidy, Eric Forman, Barbara Kopple
Screenwriter
Francisco Bello
Distributor
Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co
History Channel, Cabin Creek Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 21, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 21, 2020
Runtime
1h 47m
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