Cast overview: | |||
Darren McGavin | ... | Drake | |
Earl Holliman | ... | DePayster | |
Jan-Michael Vincent | ... | Adrian | |
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John Gruber | ... | Quentin |
Danny Goldman | ... | Sidney | |
Richard Yniguez | ... | Sanchez | |
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Antone Curtis | ... | Marcellus |
Peter Hooten | ... | Scrunch | |
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David Buchanan | ... | Armstrong |
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Ric Weaver | ... | Morton |
Among the new recruits in a U.S. Marine basic-training platoon is Adrian, a long-haired member of the hippie generation, opposed to blind allegiance to authority and the complete opposite of Gunnery Sergeant Tom Drake, who is assigned as Drill Instructor for Adrian's platoon. Drake's job as a D.I. is to break down the individuality of his recruits in order to rebuild them as a military unit, and he sets out to break Adrian's particularly contrary spirit. But Adrian's gentle will is difficult to break, and eventually both men come to learn something about what the other has to offer. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
I haven't seen this since my first viewing in 1970 but I remember the reactions of my peers ( I was 16) very well. We thought it was great! It was wonderful to see "one of our own" succeed against the military that threatened all of us at that time. It may be hard to understand today, but in those times of the draft, the Kent State shootings, and the war in Viet Nam, those of us with long hair or alternative views took pleasure in seeing those reflected in the popular media of the day which was anything but "alternative".