Gardens of Stone (1987)

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

Ronald Bass (screenplay)
Nicholas Proffitt (novel)

Release Date:

8 May 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War | Romance

Tagline:

It was a dangerous time to be young. An impossible time to be a hero.

Plot:

A touching, insightful look at stateside military life during the Vietnam War at Ft. Meyer and Arlington National Cemetery (the Garden)...

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Sergeant | Vietnam | Vietnam War | Military

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

James Caan	...	Sgt. Clell Hazard
Anjelica Huston	...	Samantha Davis
James Earl Jones	...	Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
D.B. Sweeney	...	Jackie Willow
Dean Stockwell	...	Capt. Homer Thomas
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Rachel Feld
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Slasher Williams
Lonette McKee	...	Betty Rae
Sam Bottoms	...	Lt. Webber
Elias Koteas	...	Pete Deveber
Laurence Fishburne	...	Sgt. Flanagan (as Larry Fishburne)
Casey Siemaszko	...	Wildman
Peter Masterson	...	Col. Feld
Carlin Glynn	...	Mrs. Feld
Erik Holland	...	Col. Godwin

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-12/9 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Company:

ML Delphi Premier Productions

Trivia:

The repartee between Nelson and Willow regarding asexual reproduction (see the "Memorable Quotes" section) is almost identical to that between David Lightman and his science teacher in WarGames (1983).

Goofs:

Continuity: The name tags on uniforms are white US Army changed to subdued (black letters on olive drab tabs) in 1967, but in 1969 all soldiers are still wearing the old style.

Quotes:

"Goody" Nelson: You ever take biology in school, soldier?
Jackie Willow: Yes, Sergeant-Major.
"Goody" Nelson: How do worms copulate?
Jackie Willow: They don't, Sergeant-Major; they use asexual reproduction.
"Goody" Nelson: Mmmm-hmmmm! Interesting concept! Tell me, Willow - any idea who first came up with that notion: reproducing without sex?
Jackie Willow: Your wife, Sergeant-Major?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hollywood Vietnam (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Break on Through (To the Other Side)

First hand knowledge of this super movie.

My oldest son spent 8 years in the Old Guard Delta Company from 1984-1992. He was fortunate to be ask to play the part of the guidon bearer ( the black Delta Company Flag ) in the movie, and also to help instruct the actors in how to dress, stand, march ect. The movie was a masterpiece that covers just how it was for troops state side while the war was raging in Asia . My son said " Coppola did a superb job of following military protocol to make the film as real as possible " The story line is so right on. Coppola has another winner in my books. I thought the movie was very moving, lacking in nothing .

It was tragic that Coppola's son was killed in a boating accident while out with Ryan Oneal's son during the making of this excellent movie.

As you can tell I'm not a professional writer, but I just had to say something about how good this film is