The Siege of Firebase Gloria (1989)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

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 | Sergeant | Battle | Assault | Helicopter

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

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.

Quotes:

Capt. A.J. 'Bugs' Moran: Six-one-two, this is six. Thirty-second pass over the canopy. Let's burn Charlie's ass. Gunners on your left, you'll notice targets of opportunity. Please fire at will, and thank you for flying Moran Airlines.

Movie Connections:

References "The Mighty Mouse Playhouse" (1955)

This Movie is GREAT!!!!..

First off. This is a movie not a documentary. As a former Recon Marine who served in that hell, the movie has many realistic and uncompromising moments. Like a movie it went for the splatter and over the top special effects. However, the story of a Marine Recon patrol plays out properly. Although, the fishing village shootout wouldn't have been the best way to gather intelligence.

The movie greatest asset is it tells the truth about the transition from guerrilla warfare to guerrilla political warfare. Defeat the village supporting the warrior then you can defeat the warrior. The movie attempts to tell the story of both the professional marine and the Viet Minh. The guerrilla forces operating in the South while the North militarizes its forces. The marines aren't all gung-ho over the top, but they are marines. It's our job, lets get it done. However the job is a fight that can't be fought and moral support wasn't forthcoming from home. Marines fought and won every one of their land battles in Vietnam. We weren't trying to win wars, just the current fight and get out alive.

The Amazon special issue tape doesn't contain the subtitles of the Viet Minh. Thereby, removing the essence of the movie's twofold storytelling. The creation of a social awareness on both sides of the fences.

In combat your only motivation is to survive and that means keeping yourself and the guy on your flank covered. The Viet Minh aren't shown as mindless communists, but soldiers fighting foreign invaders and the corruption that they fostered.

This movie has an intelligent story to tell, but Hollywood recognized the need to entertain the dopers in the back rows. They buy more movie tickets. Also this movie is from the 80's. When you judge a movie remember the mental and social climate in which it was made. So there are a lot of oil drums being blown to simulate explosions. And super bullets being fired on both sides. As I said this is a movie.

If you want to be entertained and maybe have your eyes opened a little bit more about that time. This is the movie for you.

Sometimes low budget doesn't have to mean low quality. Hollywood needs to sweep you into the popcorn tub and drench it with butter. But you don't have to swallow all the crap that's put in front of you.

Other movies to check out are Platoon Leader (Vietnam), Bravo Two Zero (SAS in the Gulf). I didn't like Platoon or A Crop of S--T Now (Apocalypse Now). That the essence of our individual freedom, choices.

Semper Fi