Full Metal Jacket (1987)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Stanley Kubrick

Writers:

Gustav Hasford (novel)
Stanley Kubrick (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 June 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Tagline:

An Epic Story of the Vietnam War [Australia Theatrical]

Plot:

A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow Marine recruits from their brutal basic training to the bloody street fighting set in 1968 Hue, Vietnam.

Plot Keywords:

Recruit | Vietnam | Tet Offensive | Sergeant | Basic Training

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Matthew Modine	...	Pvt. Joker
Adam Baldwin	...	Animal Mother
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Pvt. Pyle
R. Lee Ermey	...	Gny. Sgt. Hartman (as Lee Ermey)
Dorian Harewood	...	Eightball
Kevyn Major Howard	...	Rafterman
Arliss Howard	...	Pvt. Cowboy
Ed O'Ross	...	Lt. Touchdown
John Terry	...	Lt. Lockhart
Kieron Jecchinis	...	Crazy Earl
Kirk Taylor	...	Payback
Tim Colceri	...	Doorgunner
Jon Stafford	...	Doc Jay (as John Stafford)
Bruce Boa	...	Poge Colonel
Ian Tyler	...	Lt. Cleves
Sal Lopez	...	T.H.E. Rock
Gary Landon Mills	...	Donlon
Papillon Soo	...	Da Nang Hooker (as Papillon Soo Soo)
Peter Edmund	...	Snowball
Ngoc Le	...	VC Sniper
Leanne Hong	...	Motorbike Hooker
Tan Hung Francione	...	ARVN Pimp
Marcus D'Amico	...	Hand Job
Costas Dino Chimona	...	Chili
Gil Kopel	...	Stork
Keith Hodiak	...	Daddy D.A.
Peter Merrill	...	TV Journalist
Herbert Norville	...	Daytona Dave
Nguyen Hue Phong	...	Camera Thief
Duc Hu Ta	...	Dead N.V.A.
Martin Adams	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Kevin Albridge	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Del Anderson	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Philip Bailey	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Louis Barlotti	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Beddows	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Patrick Benn	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Steve Boucher	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Adrian Bush	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Carey	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Gary Cheeseman	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Wayne Clark	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Chris Cornibert	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Danny Cornibert	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Curtis	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Davis	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Harry Davies	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Kevin Day	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Gordon Duncan	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Phil Elmer	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Colin Elvis	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Hadrian Follett	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Sean Frank	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
David George	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Laurie Gomes	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Brian Goodwin	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Nigel Goulding	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Hague	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Steve Hands	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Chris Harris	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Bob Eric Hart	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon (as Bob Hart)
Derek Hart	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Barry Hayes	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Hayes	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Robin Hedgeland	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Duncan Henry	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Kenneth Head	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Liam Hogan	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Trevor Hogan	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Luke Hogdal	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Steve Hudson	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Howard	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Sean Lamming	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Dan Landin	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Leete	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Nigel Lough	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Terry Lowe	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Frank McCardle	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Gary Meyer	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Brett Middleton	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
David Milner	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Sean Minmagh	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Minmagh	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Morrison	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Russell Mott	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Ness	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Robert Nichols	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
David Perry	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Peter Rommely	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Pat Sands	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Jim Sarup	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Chris Maybach	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon (as Chris Schmidt-Maybach)
Al Simpson	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Russell Slater	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Gary Smith	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Roger Smith	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Smith	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Anthony Styliano	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Bill Thompson	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Mike Turjansky	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Dan Weldon	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Dennis Wells	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Michael Williams	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Wilson	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Wonderling	...	Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stanley Kubrick	...	Murphy (voice) (uncredited)
Vivian Kubrick	...	News Camera Operator at Mass Grave (uncredited)
David Palffy	...	Mass Grave Soldier (uncredited)
John Ward	...	TV Camera Operator (uncredited)

Directed by
Stanley Kubrick

Writing credits
Gustav Hasford		(novel "The Short Timers")
Stanley Kubrick		(screenplay) &
Michael Herr		(screenplay) &
Gustav Hasford		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jan Harlan	....	executive producer
Michael Herr	....	associate producer
Philip Hobbs	....	co-producer
Stanley Kubrick	....	producer

Original Music by
Vivian Kubrick		(as Abigail Mead)

Cinematography by
Douglas Milsome		(lighting cameraman)

Film Editing by
Martin Hunter

Casting by
Leon Vitali

Production Design by
Anton Furst

Art Direction by
Keith Pain
Rod Stratfold
Leslie Tomkins		(as Les Tomkins)

Set Decoration by
Barbara Drake		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Keith Denny

Makeup Department
Christine Allsopp	....	co-makeup artist (as Christine Allsop)
Jennifer Boost	....	co-makeup artist
Leonard	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Philip Kohler	....	production manager (as Phil Kohler)
Bill Shepherd	....	unit production manager
Paul Hitchcock	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Terry Needham	....	first assistant director
Chris Thompson	....	second assistant director (as Christopher Thompson)
Ken Shane	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Steve Allett	....	stand-by prop
Frank Billington-Marks	....	propman
Ronald Boyd	....	stagehand
A.R. Carter	....	carpenter
T.R. Carter	....	carpenter
John Chapple	....	supervising painter
Leonard Chubb	....	painter
R. Dave Favell Clarke	....	propman
Jane Cooke	....	prop buyer
Jim Cowan	....	stand-by construction
George Crawford	....	construction manager
Winston Depper	....	dressing prop
Marc Dillon	....	dressing prop
Dominic Farrugia	....	plasterer
Anthony Frewin	....	art department researcher
David Gruar	....	stagehand (as David Gruer)
Danny Hunter	....	stand-by prop
John Marsella	....	stand-by construction
Joe Martin	....	assistant construction manager
Michael Martin	....	stagehand
Stephen Martin	....	stagehand
Colin McDonagh	....	stand-by construction
Brian Morris	....	stand-by construction
Leslie Evans Pearce	....	painter
Nigel Phelps	....	assistant art director
Michael Quinn	....	plasterer
George Reynolds	....	stand-by construction
Tom Roberts	....	painter
Andrew Rothschild	....	assistant art director
Steve Simmonds	....	set dresser (as Stephen Simmonds)
Paul Turner	....	chargehand prop
Brian Wells	....	prop master
Terry Wells	....	stand-by prop
Micky Wheeler	....	dressing prop (as Michael Wheeler)
Mark Wilkinson	....	carpenter
Alan Cheevers	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Philip Elton	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roger Cherrill	....	sound transfer
Paul Conway	....	assistant sound editor
Peter Culverwell	....	assistant sound editor
Mike Dowson	....	dubbing mixer
Nigel Galt	....	sound editor
Joe Illing	....	dialogue editor
Andy Nelson	....	dubbing mixer
Edward Tise	....	sound editor
Edward Tise	....	sound recordist
Martin Trevis	....	boom operator
Steve Bartlett	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Alan Barnard	....	special effects senior technician
Jeff Clifford	....	special effects senior technician
Peter Dawson	....	special effects senior technician
John Evans	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Eddie Butler	....	modeller

Camera and Electrical Department
James Ainslie	....	follow focus
Ken Arlidge	....	aerial photographer
Maurice Arnold	....	follow focus
Jean Marc Bringuier	....	Steadicam operator (as Jean-Marc Bringuier)
Mark Ellis	....	grip
Manuel Harlan	....	video operator
Michaela Mason	....	camera trainee
Vaughan Mathews	....	camera trainee (as Vaughan Matthews)
Seamus O'Kane	....	chief electrician
Les Phipps	....	rigger
Brian Rose	....	follow focus
Jonathan Taylor	....	follow focus
John Ward	....	Steadicam operator
Peter Wilkinson	....	rigger
Jason Wrenn	....	assistant camera
Adam Dale	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Stewart Hadley	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Simon Mills	....	clapper loader: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nguyen Thi My Chau	....	additional casting: Vietnam
Marion Dougherty	....	additional casting
Jane Feinberg	....	additional casting
Mike Fenton	....	additional casting
Dan Tran	....	additional casting: Vietnam

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Birkinshaw	....	wardrobe master (as John Birkenshaw)
Helen Gill	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Rona Buchanan	....	editor trainee
Adam Watkins	....	montage editing engineer

Transportation Department
James Black	....	unit driver
Steve Coulridge	....	unit driver
Dave Croucher	....	transportation
Ron Digweed	....	transportation
Nick Johns	....	action vehicle engineer
Paul Karamadza	....	unit driver
Ron Lowe	....	transport facilities
Mark White	....	transportation (as Chalky White)
Bill Wright	....	unit driver

Other crew
Margaret Adams	....	production coordinator
Paul Cadiou	....	production accountant
Matthew Coles	....	production runner
Emilio D'Alessandro	....	assistant to producer
Rita Dean	....	assistant accountant
R. Lee Ermey	....	technical advisor (as Lee Ermey)
Chester Eyre	....	laboratory contact
Carmen Fitzgerald	....	nurse
Anthony Frewin	....	assistant to producer
Linda Glatzel	....	nurse
Julian Harcourt	....	special computer editing programs
Robert Hills	....	armorer
Steve Millson	....	production assistant
John Oxlade	....	armorer
Julie Robinson	....	continuity
Adam Samuelson	....	louma crane technician
Michael Shevloff	....	production runner
Wendy Shorter	....	secretary to producer
Alan Steele	....	accounts computer operator
Leon Vitali	....	assistant to director
Bob Warren	....	helicopter pilot
Joseph Cline	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Nick Frewin	....	key model maker (uncredited)
Marc Wolff	....	aerial coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Natant
• Stanley Kubrick Productions
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia-Cannon-Warner (1987) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1987) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• Creative Design (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Warner Bros. (1987) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1987) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1987) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (two-disc special edition)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• ARRI München  camera equipment provided by
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• British Gas PLC North Thames  thanks
• Chapman Beauvais  titles
• D & D International Locations  transports
• Delta Sound Services  sound post-production
• Depot Queens Division Bassingbourn  special thanks
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by
• Focus Cars Ltd.  unit transport
• Hills Small Arms  armourers
• Kay-Metrocolor Sound Studios  optical sound
• Location Caterers, The  catering
• PSA Bassingbourn Barracks  thanks
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering
• Samuelson Film Service  louma crane and montage video editing system
• Samuelson's Camera Equipment  aerial photography
• Sykes Group  helicopters provided by
• The National Trust Norfolk  thanks
• The Vietnamese Community  thanks
• Warner Bros. Records  soundtrack released by
• Willie's Wheels  transport facilities

Also Known As:

Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Vietnamese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 (re-rating on appeal) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | Portugal:M/16 | UK:15 (2007 Re-rating) | Canada:18A (DVD rating) | Hungary:18 | Brazil:16 | Ireland:15 (2007 Re-rating) | Malaysia:U | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 (original rating) | France:U (re-rating) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Israel:16 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Vietnam:(Banned) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bassingbourn Barracks, Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Company:

Natant

Trivia:

Mickey Mouse is referred to at the end of both segments: when Hartmann enters the head to confront Joker and Pyle, he cries "What is this Mickey Mouse shit?" ("Mickey Mouse" was GI slang for something - or someone - that was petty, stupid and senseless); and Joker and company sing the theme from the Mickey Mouse Club as they march through the burning city. A third Mickey Mouse reference is in the press room: a Mickey Mouse figure can be seen near the window behind Pvt. Joker.

Goofs:

Continuity: Palm trees move unexpectedly.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: I am Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, your senior drill instructor. From now on you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and last words out of your filthy sewers will be sir. Do you maggots understand that?
Recruits: Sir, yes sir!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Bullshit I can't hear you. Sound off like you got a pair.
Recruits: SIR, YES SIR!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Surfin' Bird

A Movie that you will always wonder about

"Full Metal Jacket" is one of the legends of any service person in basic training. As a young recruit in the Army, we talked about it, and we talked about it further and it is one of those movies that you always find something new to say about. The beginning, the young men come to be trained as "killers." And it is at this point where you may realize later that not everyone is meant to be in the military, example, Leonard (Pyle.) He is a nice kid with probably a good sense of humor, probably liked among for his sense of humor and would have done better in college, but instead is in the Marine Corp where he does not fit in well. Then you have Hartman (excellent portrayal by Gunny Ermy) who has the heartless job of making killers out of these young men. It is here that you question if he is truly mean spirited or is doing what he knows he has to do by being as hard as he can so that these young men will survive the horrors of war. This is a point that I think is sometimes missed. Joker, a rather smart young man, attempts to take Leonard under his wing and the two become friends until Leonard messes up and is given a "blanket party" by the rest of the platoon. Hartman is the reason for this, but behind this hides another reason; he has to make them tough and solid so that they will work as a team and have each other's backs in combat. He knows this to be true, but no one else does. This sends Leonard into a psychotic break and for a while, Hartman begins to show interest in Leonard due to his progress. Joker, noticing the change in Leonard, does not bring this to anyone's attention and thus begins his journey through his own private war because he believes from his inaction, he may have been the cause for the aftermath of the confrontation of Leonard and Hartman and the eventual fate of Leonard.

After that, the movie shifts and they are in Vietnam and only then does Joker begin to see why Hartman was so mean as he sees his friends become more like Leonard and may be destined to share his fate. When the young sniper is shot is when a part of humanity returns to Joker and we are left to guess at what follows.

The performances by Ermy, Modine and D'Onofrio were remarkable, especially D'Onofrio. I often wonder what went on behind the scenes, especially with a seasoned Marine war vet such as R. Lee Ermy on the set. I often wonder how much he contributed to the movie as an actual adviser.

By the way, I am a Gulf War I Army Veteran and I am female, so it could be that I may be looking at this differently. Females usually were not in combat situations, but some were. I do wish the movie would have shown that a little, but as far as making you think, I think the movie did what it was suppose to do.