The Green Berets (1968)

Col. Mike Kirby picks two teams of crack Green Berets for a mission in South Vietnam. First off is to build and control a camp that is trying to be taken by the enemy the second mission is to kidnap a North Vietnamese General.

Directors:

Ray Kellogg, John Wayne

Writers:

James Lee Barrett (screenplay), Robin Moore (novel)

Stars:

John Wayne, David Janssen, Jim Hutton

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Col. Mike Kirby
David Janssen	...	George Beckworth
Jim Hutton	...	Sgt. Petersen
Aldo Ray	...	Sgt. Muldoon
Raymond St. Jacques	...	Sgt. Doc McGee
Bruce Cabot	...	Col. Morgan
Jack Soo	...	Col. Cai
George Takei	...	Capt. Nim
Patrick Wayne	...	Lt. Jamison
Luke Askew	...	Sgt. Provo
Irene Tsu	...	Lin
Edward Faulkner	...	Capt. MacDaniel
Jason Evers	...	Capt. Coleman
Mike Henry	...	Sgt. Kowalski
Craig Jue	...	Hamchunk

Storyline

U.S. Special Forces troops ("Green Berets") under the command of Colonel Mike Kirby defend a firebase during the Vietnam war. War correspondent George Beckwith accompanies Kirby and objects to both the war and the means by which it is executed. Kirby's firebase is overrun and his troops fight bravely to retake it. Kirby and a select group of his men are then ordered on a special mission to capture a high-level Viet Cong officer.

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Plot Keywords:

propaganda film | propaganda | green beret | vietnam | vietnam war | 

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Taglines:

A special force in a special kind of hell!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Vietnamese German Danish

Release Date:

27 July 1968 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Die grünen Teufel

Filming Locations:

Ft. McClellen, Alabama, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$21,707,027

Company Credits

Production Co:

Batjac Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The house from which John Wayne's team kidnaps the North Vietnamese general was on a heavily wooded estate in Columbus, Georgia, off of Hilton Avenue, just north of the intersections of 13th Street, Wynnton Avenue, and Macon Road. It was chosen by Wayne's production crew for its classic neo-French architecture and because the grounds were adorned with non-native plants and trees. Unfortunately, the house burned to the ground in the 1990s, the lot was never rebuilt upon and to this day is home to the various plant species that appeared in the movie. On a more whimsical note, during the scenes where Wayne's assault team sneaks up on the villa (during the day), if you stop-motion the DVD as Wayne and Jim Hutton survey the situation, you can look between the foliage and see cars passing by on Wynnton Ave, and the parking lot of Sara Spanno's Fish House, a popular Columbus seafood restaurant for many years, in the background.

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Goofs

The jeep that picks up John Wayne/ Col Kirby in Da Nang is the same jeep that he was riding around in at Ft, Bragg. The markings and numbers are the same.

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Quotes

Sergeant Muldoon: [after seeing him in non-military issued pajamas] Peterson, I worry about you. Three tours of duty and you're still acting like a civilian!
Sgt. Petersen: Muldoon, I'm not a Marine. I believe in my comfort!

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Alternate Versions

141 minute version minus several scenes is what was shown on The Military Channel's "An Officer and a Movie".

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Connections

Referenced in Box of Moonlight (1996)

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Soundtracks

The River Seine
(La Seine)
(uncredited)
Music by Guy Lafarge
French lyrics by Guy Lafarge and Flavien Monod
English lyrics by Allan Roberts and Alan Holt
Sung by Liselotte Malkowsky

User Reviews

Pine trees in Viet Nam

For the person who comments on there not being any pine trees in Viet Nam. (as shown in the'Green Berets') Have you ever been to Viet Nam? Sorry to inform you, but there ARE pine trees in Viet Nam. Try visiting Lam Dong Province and I am sure you will realize your comments are wrong. I am an American living and working here, and personally can attest to this. You must take time to study the geography and flora of this country and it will surprise you. In fact, there is desert here, just like you might see in Arizona. It lies between Phan Tiet and Nha Trang along the coast. Furthermore, if one converses with some of the former Vietnamese soldiers who fought along-side the US here, you will hear many stories of how they appreciated the US effort during the war. Many tell me a different story that the US did belong here. Before commenting-come and see for yourself.

Regards