The Finest Hour (1991)

Director:

Shimon Dotan

Writers (WGA):

Shimon Dotan (written by) &
Stuart Schoffman (written by)

Release Date:

21 August 1992 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Macho Lawrence 'Larry' Hammer and frailer Dean Mazzoli initially rival as Marines recruits, but become...

Plot Keywords:

Rescue | Ritual | Drinking | Boy | Duel

Cast

Rob Lowe	...	Lawrence Hammer
Gale Hansen	...	Dean Mazzoli
Tracy Griffith	...	Barbara
Eb Lottimer	...	Bosco
Baruch Dror	...	Greenspan
Daniel Dieker	...	Albie
Michael Fountain	...	Carter
Evyatar Lazar	...	Moonjean
Tae-joon Lee	...	T.J. (as Henry Taejoon Lee)
Ari Sorko-Ram	...	Petersen
Erik Degn	...	Thurston
Natan Sgan-Cohen	...	Franklin
Jonathan Herson		(as Jon J. Herson)
Uri Gavriel	...	Commander
John Phillips

Also Known As:

Desert Shield

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Company:

21st Century Film Corporation

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "State of Play: (#1.4)" (2003)

FOR FLAG AND COUNTRY

A blend of action/adventure with romantic drama is attempted in this work completed soon after the "Desert Storm" imbroglio in the Middle East, showcasing Rob Lowe and Gale Hansen as U. S. Navy Seals sharing a desire for underwater military operations as well as for a comely marine biologist played by Tracy Griffith. As the film opens, Lawrence Hammer (Lowe) and Dean Meszoly (Hansen) become best friends while training in California to be Seals, where they meet and compete for favours from Barbara (Griffith); after the course is successfully completed, a Las Vegas sojourn for R & R is discontinued by sudden nuptials for Hammer and Barbara, an event that Dean regards with despair, and so the companionship of the young commandos is no more. The impending U.S./Iraq conflict, as orchestrated via "Desert Shield", forms the background for the picture's largest segment, as the two Naval officers, now become mini-sub specialists upon opposite American coasts, are reunited as members of a task force to be deployed near an island in the Strait of Hormuz where an Iraqi naval site is reportedly being developed in order to utilize biological warfare. During what is nearly a suicide mission, Hammer receives severe wounds, and Meszoly requests that Barbara come to Dubai to visit her husband in hospital, hopefully expediting recuperation, but Hammer soon joins his fellow Seals in a last chance foray to destroy the biochemical weapons, no matter what risks the team must take. The disparate components - personal relationships and combat daring - do not mesh here, primarily from a lack of directoral clarity, in addition to blocking gaffes, as improbabilities quickly become cliche, although there are some suspenseful moments. The production was shot at and about San Diego and its environs, with acting honours going to Hansen who creates a layered role; actual doctored film segments made during Desert Storm seem positively instructional in comparison with this feature, that additionally casts mainly Israeli players in Arab parts.