The Siege of Firebase Gloria (1989)

Director:

Brian Trenchard-Smith

Writers:

William L. Nagle (written by) &
Tony Johnston (written by)

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 | Massacre | Embassy

Cast

Wings Hauser	...	Di Nardo
R. Lee Ermey	...	Hafner
Robert Arevalo	...	Cao Van
Mark Neely	...	Murphy
Gary Hershberger	...	Moran
Clyde Jones	...	Coates (as Clyde R. Jones)
Margi Gerard	...	Flanagan
Richard Kuhlman	...	Ghost
John Calvin	...	C.O. Williams
Albert Popwell	...	Jones
Michael Cruz	...	Vietnamese Child
Erich Hauser	...	Patrol Member (as Eric Hauser)
Guel Romero	...	Patrol Member
Don Wilson	...	Patrol Member (as Donald Wilson)
Nick Nicholson	...	Photographer
Ray Cerdena	...	Duc Van (as Rey Cerdena)
Val Victa	...	Thien
Dan Austin	...	Dead Eye
David Anderson	...	Co-Pilot
Warren Dickson	...	Crew Chief
Benny Collins	...	Door Gunner
Greg Walsh	...	Pilot
Henry Strzalkowski	...	Pilot (as Henry Strakowski)
Mike Soquez	...	Soldier
Raffy Soques	...	Soldier
Don Holtz	...	Soldier
Philip Gordon	...	Soldier
Mark Miller	...	Soldier
Warren Tiller	...	Soldier
Chris Castillejo	...	Soldier (as Chris Castillejos)
Mark Calvo	...	Soldier
Randy Knudson	...	Soldier
Banjay Oges	...	Soldier (as Sanjay Oges)
Sonny Bee	...	Soldier
Femi Oladipupo	...	Soldier
Mike Wonders	...	Soldier
Ben Uri	...	Soldier
Dennis Chuks	...	Soldier
Cris Albert	...	Soldier (as Chris Albert)
Albert Bronski	...	Soldier
Gerard Danlon	...	Soldier (as Gerald Donlon)
Thomas Brazze	...	Soldier
Mike Wilson	...	Soldier
Chika Chikason	...	Soldier
Greg Jones	...	Soldier
Mike Silva	...	Soldier
Simon Finch	...	Soldier
Leila Johnson	...	Nurse
Kristine Erlandson	...	Nurse (as Christine Erlandson)
Wendy Stone	...	Nurse

Directed by
Brian Trenchard-Smith

Writing credits
William L. Nagle		(written by) (as William Nagle) &
Tony Johnston		(written by)

Produced by
Rod S.M. Confesor	....	producer
Ana Maria Dans	....	associate producer
Charles W. Fries	....	executive producer
Michael Fuller	....	associate producer (as Mike Fuller)
Antony I. Ginnane	....	executive producer
D. Howard Grigsby	....	producer (as Howard Grigsby)
Marilyn Ong	....	executive producer (as Marilyn G. Ong)

Original Music by
Paul Schutze		(as Paul Shutze)

Cinematography by
Kevan Lind

Film Editing by
Andrew Prowse

Production Design by
Toto Castillo

Art Direction by
Armando Raysag

Makeup Department
Cecille Baun	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Francis Ferrer	....	hair stylist
Rodrigo Perez	....	hair stylist
Melvin Delos Santos	....	hair stylist
Edgardo Viniegas	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Jessie Cuneta	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
JoAnn Cabalda Banaga	....	second assistant director: Philippines (as Jo Ann Cabalda-Banaga)
Tony Collamat	....	third assistant director
Ricardo De Guzman	....	first assistant director
Timmy Herrera	....	first assistant director
Andrew Prowse	....	second unit director

Art Department
Edel Angeles	....	set dresser
Boy Araojo	....	scenic painter
Ernesto Arteza	....	scenic painter
Ernesto Bayona	....	set dresser
Dante Bonifacio	....	set dresser
Gamie Bulatao	....	set dresser
Boy Cartalla	....	set dresser
Danilo Celedonio	....	set dresser
Rikki Daquil	....	propsman
Doods Gonzalez	....	propsman
Mario Gravo	....	set dresser
John Hernandez	....	propsman
Noel Importante	....	scenic painter
Edgardo Mariano	....	assistant set dresser
Rex Masigla	....	set dresser
Carlos Mendiola	....	set dresser
Nestor Mendiola	....	assistant property master
Al Mercer	....	property master
Lito Munoz	....	propsman
Alex Ochoa	....	propsman
Rudy Oledan	....	construction supervisor
Eddie Palogme	....	set dresser
Willy Pleras	....	head set dresser (as Willi Pleras)
Rod Villanueva	....	scenic painter

Sound Department
Victor Bea	....	sound: second unit
Don Connolly	....	sound: main unit
Philip Dickson	....	sound editor (as Phil Dickson)
Sally Fitzpatrick	....	sound assistant
Ashley Grenville	....	foley assistant
Phil Judd	....	sound mixer
Phil Judd	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rick Lisle	....	sound assistant
Pedro Nicolas	....	sound: second unit (as Pedro Nicholas)
Basia Ozerski	....	sound assistant
John Patterson	....	foley assistant
Angus Robertson	....	foley recordist
Penn Robinson	....	foley editor
Nicki Roller	....	sound assistant
Joe Spinelli	....	boom: main unit
Peter Townend	....	sound editor (as Pete Townend)
Gener Viray	....	boom operator: second unit
Karin Whittington	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Jackie Celestino	....	special effects assistant
Lorenzo Demillo	....	special effects assistant
Danny Dominguez	....	special effects supervisor
Reynaldo Espinosa	....	special effects assistant
Gilbert Goltiano	....	special effects assistant
Reynaldo Menge	....	special effects assistant
Rolando Mercado	....	special effects assistant (as Roland Mercado)
Philip Regala	....	special effects assistant
Roland Salem	....	special effects assistant (as Rolando Salem)
Raymundo Torrente	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Roger Cowland	....	opticals
Ken Phelan	....	opticals

Stunts
Eddie Nicart	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Boboy Balicas	....	best boy
Joe Batac	....	director of photography: second unit
Johnny Cecogo	....	head electrician
Angelo De Guzman	....	assistant grip
Jimmy Delostrico	....	assistant camera (as Jaime Delos Tricos)
Freddie Medes	....	camera loader
Bobby Ongleo	....	camera operator
Rufo Orita	....	head grip
Roger Robles	....	still photographer
Caloy Salcedo	....	focus puller: Panaflex camera
Délio Santos	....	assistant electrician
Jesus Sauro	....	best boy

Casting Department
Nick Nicholson	....	casting: Philippines
Eliza Roberts	....	casting: USA (as Eliza Simons)
Rosemary Welden	....	casting: USA

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ramon Alonzo	....	wardrobe master
Rolando Duigan	....	third wardrobe assistant
Fidel Javier	....	wardrobe assistant
Boyet Medina	....	second wardrobe assistant
Bert Yamballa	....	tailor

Editorial Department
Dany Cooper	....	assistant editor: Australia
Boy Gloria	....	assistant editor: Philippines
Rick Hawthorne	....	laboratory liaison: P.I.A.
Rey Lapid	....	assistant editor: Philippines
Paula Lourie	....	assistant editor: Australia
Jane Moran	....	assistant editor: Australia
John Pulford	....	color grader
Ferdie Salvador	....	assistant editor: Philippines
Shawn Seet	....	second assistant editor

Transportation Department
Danny De Leon	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Rolando Akim	....	production assistant
Efren Anuat	....	wigwam
Gigi Belen	....	assistant production controller
Giselle Bobiles	....	accountant
Merlyn Bravo	....	field cashier
Shamaine Buencamino	....	script supervisor (as Shamaine Centenera)
Armando Canlas	....	armorer
Resie Carlos	....	administrative assistant
Mauro Cortez	....	military liaison (as Sgt. Mauro Cortez)
Teresita S. Crisostomo	....	script supervisor (as Tess Crisostomo)
Marilyn Delaney	....	liaison: Negative Cutting Services
Cesar Dominguez	....	chief armorer
Ivan Edano	....	craft service assistant
R. Lee Ermey	....	additional dialogue (as R. Lee Ermy)
Jun Fernandez	....	wigwam
Diosdado Figueroa	....	armorer
Cenón González	....	location manager (as Cenon Gonzalez)
Lope V. Juban Jr.	....	production liaison
Max Laurente	....	legman
Juanito Madalang	....	wigwam
Isidro Manalo	....	craft service assistant
Alfredo Margallo	....	craft service assistant
Rolly Mesina	....	craft service assistant
Alan Morley	....	opticals
Aurelio Munoz	....	armorer
Boyet Munoz	....	field cashier
Danilo Nazareth	....	legman (as Danny Nazareth)
Renato Nucup	....	armorer
Temmy Ongleo	....	lifter/clapper (as Artemio Ongleo)
Richard Piorkowski	....	laboratory liaison: Colorfilm
Rey Ranigo	....	head craft service
Pinky Romero	....	script supervisor
Leny Sacop	....	production nurse
Joseph Santos	....	production assistant
Apolinario Serrano	....	laundryman
Brian Trenchard-Smith	....	additional dialogue
Tracy Tuason	....	production controller
Eylonia Villaroman	....	financial controller
Charlie Yuzon	....	purchaser
Cecille Zapata	....	production secretary

Production Companies

• Bancannia Holdings Pty. Ltd. (associate)
• Eastern Film Management Corporation

Distributors

• Fries Entertainment
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Negative Cutting Services  negative matching
• Optical & Graphics  titles
• P.M.P. Motion Picture Productions  production services
• Soundfirm  sound mixed at (as Soundfirm)
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities

Also Known As:

"The Firebase" - Europe (English title)

Runtime:

99 min | 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:

Factual errors: R. Lee Ermey's name is misspelled Ermy in the "additional dialogue" credit.

Quotes:

Capt. A.J. 'Bugs' Moran:Six-one-two, this is six. Let them know who we are on the way out
Pilot:Six, this is six-one. I got some rockets left.
Capt. A.J. 'Bugs' Moran:We don't get paid for bringing them home. Leave me some widows behind.

Movie Connections:

References "The Mighty Mouse Playhouse" (1955)

Refreshingly old-fashioned

An isolated firebase faces human wave assaults from the VC at the start of Tet.

This is the Vietnam War just the way we thought or preferred to think about it at the time: the Americans are the good guys, Charlie's the bad guy, South Vietnamese civilians are the ones being protected, everyone loves being in the Corps, inter-service co-operation is something you can always take for granted. The reality was a bit more complicated, but it didn't seem that way to a lot of people then.

It's about time the guys who were over there, or sit-at-home strategists back here, got a movie that validates their recollections and good intentions, one that's realistic, but without being too gung ho on the one hand (like "The Green Berets"), or too negative about US involvement on the other (like most other Vietnam films). I don't think I buy this point of view personally anymore, but it's good to have it available as an option.

Lee Ermey is totally authentic as always. Wings Hauser is not at that level but he's good enough. The Vietnamese are generally played by Filipinos who don't completely look the part but do a decent job.

There's plenty of mayhem for action buffs -- much of the movie looks like the climax from "Glory" (or "Zulu"). Pot-smoking is frowned upon in this one, as is poor grooming (I did say old-fashioned). Everybody does his duty, especially Charlie.

The good guys win this time.