- Writers
- Waldo Salt(screenplay)
- Robert C. Jones(screenplay)
- Nancy Dowd(story)
- Stars
- Writers
- Waldo Salt(screenplay)
- Robert C. Jones(screenplay)
- Nancy Dowd(story)
- Stars
- Bozo
- (as Lou Carello)
- Writers
- Waldo Salt(screenplay)
- Robert C. Jones(screenplay)
- Nancy Dowd(story)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe opening scene where the vets in the hospital are talking was unscripted. They were real Vietnam vets discussing their own views about the war. Jon Voight was supposed to have added to the dialogue, but out of respect, stayed silent and listened.
- GoofsNot only is Bob's long hair and mustache out of place for a Marine captain, there isn't a military haircut on any able-bodied soldier in the film.
- Quotes
Marine Recruiter: The Marine Corps builds body, mind and spirit. Thank you.
High School Class Pres.: And now, with a different perspective, we have Luke Martin, combat veteran of the Marine Corps.
Luke Martin: Sergeant, do you mind if I ask you a question?
Marine Recruiter: No, sir.
Luke Martin: Just call me Sergeant. That's what I was. Where were you stationed?
Marine Recruiter: Danang.
Luke Martin: [Luke's speech is spliced with final scene of Capt. Bob Hyde where he is at the beach] You know, you want to be a part of it, patriotic, go out and get your licks in for the U.S. of A. And when you get over there, it's a totally different situation. I mean, you grow up real quick. Because all you're seeing is, um, a lot of death. And I know some of you guys are going to look at the uniformed man and you're going to remember all the films and you're going to think about the glory of other wars and think about some vague patriotic feeling and go off and fight this turkey too. And I'm telling you it ain't like it's in the movies. That's all I want to tell you, because I didn't have a choice. When I was your age, all I got was some guy standing up like that, man, giving me a lot of bullshit, man, which I caught. I was really in good shape then, man. I was captain of the football team. And I wanted to be a war hero, man, I wanted to go out and kill for my country. And now, I'm here to tell you that I have killed for my country or whatever. And I don't feel good about it. Because there's not enough reason, man, to feel a person die in your hands or to see your best buddy get blown away. I'm here to tell you, it's a lousy thing, man. I don't see any reason for it. And there's a lot of shit that I did over there that I find fucking hard to live with. And I don't want to see people like you, man, coming back and having to face the rest of your lives with that kind of shit. It's as simple as that. I don't feel sorry for myself. I'm a lot fucking smarter now than when I went. And I'm just telling you that there's a choice to be made here.
- Crazy creditsFour members of the film crew are designated as "Friends who did everything".
- Alternate versionsWhen released theatrically in Ontario, Canada. The Ontario board of Censors made cuts to the love scene between Jon Voigt and Jane Fonda for a 'Restricted' rating.
- SoundtracksHey Jude
Written by Paul McCartney (uncredited) and John Lennon (uncredited)
Performed by The Beatles (as Beatles)
EMI Records Inc.
An introductory pool table conversation among several disabled vets establishes the ground rules Anyone who defends the war for any reason is wrong Cut to enthusiastic Marine Capt. Bob Hyde (Bruce Dern) and his naive wife Sally (Jane Fonda) in the Officer's Club
It is 1968
A military campaign conducted by forces of the Viet Cong has just started and Capt. Hyde is looking forward to his tour of duty in Vietnam... As a dedicated military officer, he sees it primarily as an opportunity for progress As soon as he leaves, Sally is forced to find housing off the base and moves into a new apartment by the beach with another Marine wifethe bohemian Vi Munson (Penelope Milford), whose traumatized brother Bill (Robert Carradine) is a patient at the local Veteran's Hospital
Physically, Bill is fine, but "they sent him back without an ignition," Vi says Lonely and looking for something to do, Sally volunteers at the hospital and runs across embittered cripple Luke Martin (Jon Voight). They soon discover that they went to the same high school, where he was the star quarterback and she was a cheerleader
Now, paralyzed from the waist down Luke is subject to furious, self-pitying rages, understandable but still unpleasant and offensive Sally externalizes his troubles, his scars, and his frustrations And through Luke's eyes, Sally's absolute outlook on life starts to change They soon become fairly close turning their friendship into a torrid affair At the same time, Sally's husband was away discovering the horrors of the war
There was a particular chemistry between Fonda and Voight which gave the film a certain magic
- Nazi_Fighter_David
- Jan 5, 2009
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