What film , starring John Wayne , was one of the first major films based on the Vietnam War ?
Further cinematic representations were released during the 1970s and 1980s , including Michael Cimino 's " The Deer Hunter " ( 1978 ) , Francis Ford Coppola 's " Apocalypse Now " ( 1979 ) , Oliver Stone 's " Platoon " ( 1986 ) — based on his service in the U.S. Military during the Vietnam War , Stanley Kubrick 's " Full Metal Jacket " ( 1987 ) , " Hamburger Hill " ( 1987 ) and " Casualties of War " ( 1989 ) .