Stripes (1981)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Ivan Reitman

Writers:

Len Blum (writer) &
Daniel Goldberg (writer) ...

Release Date:

26 June 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War

Tagline:

The story of a man who wanted to keep the world safe for democracy...and meet girls

Plot:

Two friends who are dissatisfied with their jobs decide to join the army for a bit of fun.

Plot Keywords:

Czechoslovakia | Army | Basic Training | Graduation | Sergeant

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 21

8:00 PM

AMC

Cast

Bill Murray	...	John Winger
Harold Ramis	...	Russell Ziskey
Warren Oates	...	Sgt. Hulka
P.J. Soles	...	MP Stella Hansen
Sean Young	...	MP Louise Cooper
John Candy	...	Pvt. Dewey 'Ox' Oxberger
John Larroquette	...	Capt. Stillman
John Voldstad	...	Cpl. Tyson - Stillman's Aide
John Diehl	...	Pvt. 'Cruiser'
Lance LeGault	...	Col. Glass
Roberta Leighton	...	Anita
Conrad Dunn	...	Pvt. Francis 'Psycho' Soyer
Judge Reinhold	...	Pvt. Elmo Blum
Antone Pagan	...	Hector
Glenn-Michael Jones	...	Leon

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use. (extended edition)

Runtime:

106 min | USA:126 min (extended version) | Spain:117 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian | Polish

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba) (original rating) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) | Finland:K-12 (cut) (1981) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (extended version) (2005) | Canada:14A (Manitoba/Ontario) (extended version) (2005) | Spain:13 | Finland:K-11 (uncut) (2005) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M | Norway:16 (1981) | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Argentina:Atp | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

According to the DVD special features, the film was originally conceived as a vehicle for Cheech & Chong; Ivan Reitman has also stated that the reason this fell through was because their manager insisted (without the pair's knowledge) on a 25% share of Reitman's next five films, which he wasn't willing to give up. The script was then rewritten for Bill Murray and Harold Ramis, and most of the "stoner" humor was shifted to the "Elmo" character played by Judge Reinhold.

Goofs:

Continuity: In their room in Germany (extended cut scene), Stella takes off one leg-warmer. Then she and John are horsing around and the leg-warmer switches legs in subsequent shots.

Quotes:

Russell Ziskey: [trying to teach the platoon to march] C'mon, rhythm! Hut, 2, 3, 4. Black guys help the white guys...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Old School' Orientation (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

RUBBERBAND MAN

Military Hi-Jinks.

Losers Bill Murray and Harold Ramis think that joining the U.S. Army will be little more than a needed vacation, a place to avoid work and meet women. However they are in for a rude awakening in this hilarious film that does admittedly lose its way in its final act, but is still overall a good little movie experience. Warren Oates steals every scene as their hard-nosed and down-right rough drill sergeant. 3.5 out of 5 stars.