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

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Cast verified as complete

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John
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Russell
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Sgt. Hulka
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Stella
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Louise
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Ox
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Capt. Stillman
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Stillman's Aide
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Cruiser
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Col. Glass
Roberta Leighton ...
Anita
Conrad Dunn ...
Psycho
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Elmo
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Hector (as Antone Pagan)
Glenn-Michael Jones ...
Leon
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Recruiter (as Bill Lucking)
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Dowager in Cab
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Border Guard (as Joseph P. Flaherty)
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Border Guard
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M.C.
Robin Klein ...
Cheerleader
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Gen. Barnicke
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Stillman's Girlfriend (as Lois Areno)
Samuel Briggs ...
Corporal
Joseph X. Flaherty ...
Sgt. Crocker
Hershel B. Harlson ...
Shoeshine Man
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Soldier with Mortar
Solomon Schmidt ...
Store Owner
Gino Gottarelli ...
Russian Officer
Gene Scherer ...
Russian Officer
Dawn Clark ...
Mud Wrestler
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Mud Wrestler (as Juanita Merritt)
Susan Mechsner ...
Mud Wrestler
Sue Bowser ...
Mud Wrestler
Linda Dupree ...
Mud Wrestler
Leslie Henderson ...
Mud Wrestler
Craig Schaefer ...
Soldier Outside Motor Pool
Arkady Rakhman ...
Immigrant
Pamela Bowman ...
Cruiser's Girl
Gerard J. Counts ...
Russian Soldier
Yetim Buntsis ...
Russian Soldier
Semyon Veyts ...
Russian Soldier
Larry R. Gillette ...
Russian Soldier
Glenn Leigh Marshall ...
Russian Soldier
Dale Prince ...
Russian Soldier
Larry Odell Lane ...
Soldier
Joyce D. Helmus ...
Soldier
David A. Mullins ...
Soldier
Bruce E. Ellis ...
Soldier
David D. Platko ...
Soldier
Phillip A. Urbansky ...
Soldier
William R. Sykes ...
Soldier
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Soldier
J.A. Crawford ...
Soldier
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Soldier
Norman Mont-Eton ...
Policeman
Mark S. Markowicz ...
Policeman
Jeff Viola ...
Policeman
Robert Dulaine ...
Policeman
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Berle ...
Spectator at Arrival (uncredited)
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Bouncer in Mud Wrestling Bar (uncredited)
Raven Grey Eagle ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Driver (uncredited)
Michael King ...
Soldier (uncredited)
Sam Nickens ...
Spectator at Arrival (uncredited)
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Family Member at Graduation Ceremony (uncredited)
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Extra at Graduation Ceremony (uncredited)
Hunter Roberts ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Enemy Soldier (uncredited)
Michael Santiago ...
Voice (uncredited)
Ian A. Stevens ...
Recruited Company Soldier (uncredited)
Jeffrey L. Tandy ...
Extra (uncredited)
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Spectator at Arrival (uncredited)

Directed by

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Ivan Reitman

Written by

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Len Blum ... (written by) &
Daniel Goldberg ... (written by) (as Dan Goldberg) and
Harold Ramis ... (written by)

Produced by

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Daniel Goldberg ... producer (as Dan Goldberg)
Joe Medjuck ... associate producer
Ivan Reitman ... producer

Music by

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Elmer Bernstein

Cinematography by

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Bill Butler ... director of photography

Editing by

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Harry Keller
Michael Luciano
Eva Ruggiero

Editorial Department

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David Bernstein ... theatrical & HDR mastering colorist
Stephen Price ... assistant film editor
Peter Ransohoff ... assistant film editor
Nancy Weizer ... assistant film editor

Casting By

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Karen Rea

Production Design by

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James H. Spencer

Set Decoration by

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Carl Biddiscombe

Costume Design by

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Richard Bruno

Makeup Department

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Chuck House ... makeup artist (as Charles House)
James Lee McCoy ... makeup artist (as Jim McCoy)
Carol A. O'Connell ... hairstylist (as Carol O'Connell)

Production Management

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Russell Saunders ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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George Fortmuller ... dga trainee
James M. Freitag ... second assistant director
Richard Learman ... assistant director
Donald Newman ... second assistant director (as Donald J. Newman)

Art Department

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Louis S. Fleming ... assistant property master (as Louis Fleming)
Sam Gordon ... property master
William F. Matthews ... set designer (as William Mathews)
Michael Muscarella ... construction coordinator
Sandy Veneziano ... set designer (as Sandra Veneziano)

Sound Department

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Wayne Artman ... rerecording mixer
Tom Beckert ... rerecording mixer
Raul A. Bruce ... boomman (as Raul Bruce)
Jeff Bushelman ... sound editor
Gene S. Cantamessa ... production sound mixer (as Gene Cantamessa)
Michael Jiron ... rerecording mixer
Dan O'Connell ... foley artist (uncredited)
Gary L.G. Simpson ... foley artist
Pat Somerset ... sound editor
Jeremy Hoenack ... sound effects editor (uncredited)
David E. Stone ... sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Stanley Amborn ... special effects (as Stan Amborn)
Joseph A. Unsinn ... special effects supervisor (as Joe Unsinn)
Ken Speed ... special effects assistant (uncredited)

Stunts

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Steve Blalock ... stunts
John Cade ... stunts
Ralph D. Carpenter ... stunts
Terry James ... stunt coordinator
Carol Daniels ... stunt double: Sean Young (uncredited)
Mary Peters ... stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Colin J. Campbell ... gaffer (as Colin Campbell)
James R. Connell ... camera operator (as James Connell)
Howard Hagadorn ... second grip
Randy Hart ... best boy
George Hill ... key grip
Charles L. Morgan ... crane grip (as Charles Morgan)
James M. Sheppherd ... dolly grip (as Jim Sheppherd)
Don Smetzer ... still photographer
Chris Strong ... electrician
Lynn Tomes ... first assistant cameraman
Bruce Birmelin ... still photographer (uncredited)
Garrett Brown ... steadicam operator (uncredited)
Adam Glick ... set lighting technician (uncredited)
Brian W. Roy ... camera operator (uncredited) / director of photography: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department

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Norman Bennett ... casting assistant
Pat Hamilton ... casting assistant
Olivia Maggard ... casting: Kentucky
Debbie Peterson ... casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Robert Iannaccone ... costumer: men's (as Bob Iannaccone)
Silvio Scarano ... wardrobe supervisor
Barbara Sebern ... costumer: women's

Location Management

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Bill Borden ... location manager (as William R. Borden)
William R. Borden ... location manager
Sam Mercer ... location manager (as Samuel L. Mercer)
Michael King ... location assistant (uncredited)

Music Department

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Peter Bernstein ... orchestration
Kathy Durning ... music editing
Dan Wallin ... scoring mixer
Robert Adcock ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Murray Adler ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Dale Anderson ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Israel Baker ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Chuck Berghofer ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Elmer Bernstein ... conductor (uncredited) / music producer (uncredited)
Larry Bunker ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Stuart Canin ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Ron Clark ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Douglas Davis ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Vince De Rosa ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Bonnie Jean Douglas ... musician: violin (uncredited)
David Duke ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Earl Dumler ... musician: oboe (uncredited)
Dominick Fera ... musician: woodwinds (uncredited)
Bob Findley ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Ron Folsom ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Pam Gates ... musician: violin (uncredited)
James Getzoff ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Harris Goldman ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Pamela Goldsmith ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Endre Granat ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Susan Greenberg ... musician: flute (uncredited)
Ralph Grierson ... musician: piano (uncredited)
Maurie Harris ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Nelson Hatt ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Todd Hemmenway ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Norman Herzburg ... musician: woodwinds (uncredited)
Paula Hochhalter ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Mitch Holder ... musician: guitar (uncredited)
The Hollywood Studio Symphony ... music performed by (uncredited)
Judith Johnson ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Tommy Johnson ... musician: tuba (uncredited)
Anatol Kaminsky ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Jim Kanter ... musician: clarinet (uncredited)
Armand Kaproff ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Nathan Kaproff ... orchestra contractor (uncredited)
Milton Kestenbaum ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Myra Kestenbaum ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Bernard Kundell ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Janet Lakatos ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Ronald Langinger ... musician: clarinet (uncredited)
Peter Limonick ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Abe Luboff ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Arthur Maebe ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Jack Marsh ... musician: woodwinds (uncredited)
Loren Marsteller ... musician: baritone horn (uncredited)
Tim May ... musician: guitar (uncredited)
Lew McCreary ... musician: baritone horn (uncredited)
Malcolm McNab ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Peter Mercurio ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Carole Mukagawa ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Richard Nash ... musician: trombone (uncredited)
Ted Nash ... musician: woodwinds (uncredited)
John Neufeld ... musician: clarinet (uncredited)
Richard Perissi ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Joe Porcaro ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Tom Raney ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Joseph Reilich ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Emil Richards ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
George Roberts ... musician: trombone (uncredited)
Gale Robinson ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Jay Rosen ... musician: violin (uncredited)
David Schwartz ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Jim Self ... musician: tuba (uncredited)
Sid Sharp ... musician: violin (uncredited)
David Shostac ... musician: woodwinds (uncredited)
Paul Shure ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Henry Sigismonti ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Julian Spear ... musician: clarinet (uncredited)
David Speltz ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Sheridon Stokes ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Chet Swiatkowsky ... musician: piano (uncredited)
Vicki Sylvester ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Tony Terran ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Milton Thomas ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Louise Di Tullio ... musician: flute (uncredited)
Lloyd Ulyate ... musician: trombone (uncredited)
James Walker ... musician: flute (uncredited)
Ken Watson ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Don Williams ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Graham Young ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Bob Zimmitti ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Mark Zimoski ... musician: percussion (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Lloyd Nelson ... script supervisor

Transportation Department

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Pat Desmond ... transportation coordinator (as Pat Desmond Jr.)
Ron Riner ... transportation coordinator
Mike Phillips ... prop truck driver (uncredited)
Mike Robinson ... driver: cast (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Eudie Charnes ... production office coordinator
Ronn Forella ... choreographer: Graduation sequence
Arthur Goldweit ... assistant choreographer
Leroy Heuglin ... liaison: Kentucky
Robert F. Kocourek ... auditor (as Robert Kocourek) / production accountant (as Robert Kocourek)
Yvonne Lacer ... production secretary
Brian Lindquist ... unit publicist
Judith Margolin ... secretary to the producers
Burke Mattsson ... titles designed by: MGM Title
Anne Robinson ... secretary to the producers
Barry Sprouse ... technical advisor (as Capt. Barry Sprouse)
Marion F. Williams ... technical advisor (as C.S.M. Marion F. Williams)

Thanks

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Nick Albrecht ... special thanks
John Y. Brown ... the producers would also like to thank, for their warm hospitality (as Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown)
Victor Cox ... special thanks
Orlando Fernandez ... special thanks
Phyllis George ... the producers would also like to thank, for their warm hospitality (as Phyllis George Brown)
Richard Harris ... special thanks
Steve Havens ... special thanks
Dewey Kays ... special thanks
Leroy Lay ... special thanks
Wayne Maeser ... special thanks
Charles Mudd ... special thanks
Larry Shircliff ... special thanks
James Sparks ... special thanks
William Stansbury ... the producers would also like to thank, for their warm hospitality (as Louisville Mayor William Stansbury)
Dennis Thorp ... special thanks

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

At the end of a very bad day when he realizes his life has gone and is going nowhere, John Winger is able to convince his best friend, Russell Ziskey, whose life is not much better, to enlist in the army, despite they not being obvious soldier material. In basic training, they are only two of a bunch of misfits that comprise their platoon. However, it is still John that is constantly butting heads with their drill sergeant, Sergeant Hulka. Two of their saving graces are Stella and Louise, two MPs who get them out of one scrape after another. Their entire platoon is in jeopardy of not graduating. But what happens during basic leads to their entire platoon being assigned to an overseas mission in Italy, to test a new urban assault vehicle, the EM-50 project. John and Russell decide to take the EM-50 for an unauthorized test drive to visit Stella and Louise who have been reassigned to West Germany. In the process, the rest of the platoon, Hulka, and Hulka's immediate superior, self-absorbed Captain Stillman, get caught unofficially behind enemy Communist lines in Czechoslovakia. John and Russell, with Stella and Louise's help, will have to show their true mettle as US army soldiers and in the process test the capabilities of the EM-50 to rescue their platoon without the rest of the US army knowing what's going on, and thus without any assistance beyond themselves. Written by Huggo

Plot Keywords
Taglines Today's army needs men of courage... honesty... integrity... ambition. Instead, they got John Winger. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Cheech and Chong Join the Army (United States)
  • Les bleus (France)
  • Ich glaub' mich knutscht ein Elch! (Germany)
  • El pelotón chiflado (Spain)
  • Una legió de guillats (Spain, Catalan title)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 106 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $10,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend United States $6,130,197, 28 Jun 1981

Did You Know?

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Trivia According to Ivan Reitman, Bill Murray insisted that Harold Ramis be cast as his friend for two reasons: 1. They were long-time friends in real life. 2. So Ramis could help Murray re-write his dialogue or help him improvise. See more »
Goofs While Ox and several other characters got true boot camp haircuts, taken down to the barest of stubble, Winger, Zisky, Elmo and Psycho among others have haircuts that are too long to be the norm at the start of boot camp. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Stripes/Eyes of a Stranger/The Cannonball Run/Superman II (1981). See more »
Soundtracks Rubberband Man See more »
Crazy Credits Four actors with the first name "John", are listed back -to-back in the final credits: John Candy, John Larroquette, John Voldstad and John Diehl. See more »
Quotes John Winger: Cut it out! Cut it out! Cut it out! The hell's the matter with you? Stupid! We're all very different people. We're not Watusi. We're not Spartans. We're Americans, with a capital 'A', huh? You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We're the underdog. We're mutts! Here's proof: his nose is cold! But there's no animal that's more faithful, that's more loyal, more loveable than the mutt. Who saw "Old Yeller?" Who cried when Old Yeller got shot at the end?
[raises his hand]
John Winger: [Sarcastically] Nobody cried when Old Yeller got shot? I'm sure.
[hands are reluctantly raised]
John Winger: I cried my eyes out. So we're all dogfaces, we're all very, very different, but there is one thing that we all have in common: we were all stupid enough to enlist in the Army. We're mutants. There's something wrong with us, something very, very wrong with us. Something seriously wrong with us - we're soldiers. But we're American soldiers! We've been kicking ass for 200 years! We're ten and one! Now we don't have to worry about whether or not we practiced. We don't have to worry about whether Captain Stillman wants to have us hung. All we have to do is to be the great American fighting soldier that is inside each one of us. Now do what I do, and say what I say. And make me proud.
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