Heartbreak Ridge (1986)

Hard-nosed, hard-living Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway (Clint Eastwood) clashes with his superiors and his ex-wife as he takes command of a spoiled recon platoon with a bad attitude.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writer:

James Carabatsos

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, Marsha Mason, Everett McGill

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clint Eastwood	...	Gunnery Sergent Thomas Highway
Marsha Mason	...	Aggie
Everett McGill	...	Major Malcolm Powers
Moses Gunn	...	Staff Sgt. Webster
Eileen Heckart	...	Little Mary
Bo Svenson	...	Roy Jennings
Boyd Gaines	...	Lieutenant Ring
Mario Van Peebles	...	Corporal Stitch Jones
Arlen Dean Snyder	...	Sergeant Major Choozoo
Vincent Irizarry	...	Fragetti
Ramón Franco	...	Aponte (as Ramon Franco)
Tom Villard	...	Profile
Mike Gomez	...	Quinones
Rodney Hill	...	Collins
Peter Koch	...	'Swede' Johanson

Storyline

1983. Thomas Highway (Clint Eastwood) is a well-decorated career military man in the United States Marine Corps, he who has seen action in Korea and Vietnam. His current rank is Gunnery Sergeant. His experiences have led him to become an opinionated, no nonsense man, who is prone to bursts of violence, especially when he's drunk, if the situation does not suit him, regardless of the specifics or people involved. Because of these actions, he has spent his fair share of overnighters behind bars. Close to retirement, one of his last assignments, one he requested, is back at his old unit at Cherry Point, North Carolina, from where he was transferred for insubordination and conduct unbecoming. He is to train a reconnaissance platoon. His superior officer, the much younger and combat inexperienced Major Malcolm Powers (Everett McGill), sees Highway as a relic of an old-styled military. Highway's commanding officer, Lieutenant Ring (Boyd Gaines), the platoon leader, is also a younger man who...

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Plot Keywords:

marine | military | gunnery sergeant | u.s. marine corps | uniform | 

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Taglines:

... the scars run deep.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title "Ayatollah of Rock and Rollah" was also used to describe the feudal warlord Humungus in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981).

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Goofs

When attacking the ruined fort at the top of the hill, two Marines throw grenades simultaneously, but the pins were pulled slightly apart. Only one explosion occurs.

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Quotes

Highway: I been pumping pussy since Christ was a corporal. I can tell you, the best damned poontang I ever paid for was in Da Nang. The girls were checked out daily. And we got ourself laid in a safe, orderly, proficient, military manner. That is until some suckhead writes home mama and says he dipped his wick in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the shit hits the fan. A committee of congressmen who asshole to asshole who couldn't make a beer fart in a whirlwind, start telling your ...

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Crazy Credits

The opening Warner Bros. logo is black and white.

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Alternate Versions

UK cinema and video versions were cut by 15 secs to remove some of the confrontational dialogue between Eastwood and the bald man during the opening scene in the prison cell. The cuts were restored in 2001.

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Connections

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

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Soundtracks

Recon Rap
Written by Mario Van Peebles

User Reviews

one of the most HILARIOUS war movies ever!!

I have to say that I really enjoyed watching this movie.

The grizzled, maverick war veteran, Sgt. Tom 'Gunny' Highway must be one of Clint Eastwood's more comedic roles (apart from the 'every which way' films) He had me bursting out laughing every time he even opened his mouth. One particular line that had me in stitches was when he was telling a cadet to put his Kevlar helmet back on by 1900 hours 'or he wouldn't have a head to wear it on'-pure class!! I've always liked Clint for his tough no-nonsense roles. This one is no exception! As a matter of fact, there were plenty of 'laugh-out-loud moments in this film to keep everyone happy-like the smart-ass remarks from the punk cadets.

The showdown between Highway and 'The Swede' was highly enjoyable, too.

'Heartbrake Ridge' is certainly a lot more lighter and easier to swallow than the similarly-themed 'Full Metal Jacket'.

This film certainly passes as perfectly adequate, undemanding popcorn viewing.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

5 December 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Heartbreak Ridge

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,100,840, 7 December 1986

Gross USA:

$42,724,017

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$42,724,017

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jay Weston Productions, The Malpaso Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1