The Siege of Firebase Gloria (1989)

Director:

Brian Trenchard-Smith

Writers:

William L. Nagle (writer)
Tony Johnston (writer)

Release Date:

27 January 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Tagline:

Against all odds they went to hell and back.

Plot:

A tough sergeant and his sidekick roll into a demoralized firebase and proceed to rebuild morale and fortifications in advance of the climactic battle with the VietCong.

Plot Keywords:

Vietcong | Battle | Sergeant | Siege | Vietnam War

Cast

Wings Hauser	...	Cpl. Joseph L. 'Nard' DiNardo
R. Lee Ermey	...	Sgt. Maj. Bill Hafner / Narrator
Robert Arevalo	...	NVA Col. Cao Van
Mark Neely	...	Pvt. Murphy
Gary Hershberger	...	Capt. A.J. 'Bugs' Moran (chopper pilot)
Clyde Jones	...	Pvt. 'Shortwave' Coates (as Clyde R. Jones)
Margi Gerard	...	Capt. Kathy Flanagan, MD
Richard Kuhlman	...	Ghost
John Calvin	...	Capt. Williams (CO)
Albert Popwell	...	1st Sgt. Jones
Michael Cruz	...	Vietnamese Child
Erich Hauser	...	Spider (patrol member) (as Eric Hauser)
Guel Romero	...	Hauk (patrol member)
Don Wilson	...	Patrol Member (as Donald Wilson)
Nick Nicholson	...	Combat Photographer

Also Known As:

The Firebase (Europe: English title)

Runtime:

USA:97 min | Germany:96 min (cut version: 72)

Country:

Australia | Philippines

Language:

English | Vietnamese

Color:

Color (partly: Black & White)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:18 (cut version: 16) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Company:

Bancannia Holdings Pty. Ltd.

Trivia:

The explosions that follow as Di Nardo returns to the fire base saying, "Fuck your password," after the commando raid are actually fireworks.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Capt. A.J. 'Bugs' Moran shouts "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille" obviously referencing the song recorded by Kenny Rogers in 1977 - two years after the fall of Saigon and the end of the war.

Quotes:

Cao Van: The courage of your enemies does you honor.

Movie Connections:

References "The Mighty Mouse Playhouse" (1955)

F******G "A"on this ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was there Jack; and this one is right on the money!!!! This film is so true to the mark that for almost 2 hours I literally forgot where I was and thought I was THERE with those f*****' jarheads (God love 'em!) Although I was only an Army Ranger (5th Group) for 18 months, I was on 7 LZ' and was in 49 firefights and got into this film from the first minute-I got it only a few weeks ago on video, but have seen it on cable dozens of times and will catch it EVERY time it's on! Lee Ermey is absolutely flawless in every picture he does, and for a civilian, Wings Hauser isn't far behind. And the guy who did the chopper pilot was PHENOMENAL; I would have sworn he was real as gold!!! Unless you're a Jane Fonda or Hillary Clinton type, see this flick at least once- you owe it to every serviceman and woman who went over there- We did it for YOU!