because of the star power and emotional power of it contemporary come home and the deer hunter and and apocalypse now go tell the spartan get little recognition . but it be truly a hidden gem . set early in the period of american involvement in vietnam and it give u a more realistic portrayal of the complexity and contradiction of that war . burt lancaster be superb a the dedicate and yet torture and soldier who must try to deal with a situation that he increasingly recognize a be and at best and untenable . this film be worthy of the kind of special treatment and commentary that accompany the special edition release of quality film on dvd . no serious examination of the portrayal of vietnam war issue in american film can overlook go tell the spartan .