Hamburger Hill (1987)

A very realistic interpretation of one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War.

Director:

John Irvin

Writer:

James Carabatsos (as Jim Carabatsos)

Stars:

Anthony Barrile, Michael Boatman, Don Cheadle

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Barrile	...	Pvt. Vincent 'Alphabet' Languilli
Michael Boatman	...	Pvt. Ray Motown (as Michael Patrick Boatman)
Don Cheadle	...	Pvt. Johnny Washburn
Michael Dolan	...	Pvt. Harry Murphy
Don James	...	Pvt. Elliott 'Mac' McDaniel
Dylan McDermott	...	Sgt. Adam Frantz
Michael A. Nickles	...	Pvt. Paul Galvan (as M.A. Nickles)
Harry O'Reilly	...	Pvt. Michael Duffy
Daniel O'Shea	...	Pvt. Frank Gaigin
Tim Quill	...	Pvt. Joe Beletsky
Tommy Swerdlow	...	Pvt. Martin Bienstock
Courtney B. Vance	...	Spc. Abraham 'Doc' Johnson
Steven Weber	...	Sfc. Dennis Worcester
Tegan West	...	Lt. Terry Eden
Kieu Chinh	...	Mama San

Storyline

A brutal and realistic war film focuses on the lives of a squad of 14 U.S. Army soldiers of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infanty Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during the brutal 10 day (May 11-20, 1969) battle for Hill 937 in the A Shau Valley of Vietnam as they try again and again to take the fortified hill held by the North Vietnamese, and the faults and casualties they take every time in which the battle was later dubbed "Hamburger Hill" because enemy fire was so fierce that the fusillade of bullets turned assaulting troops into shreded hamburger meat.

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Plot Keywords:

vietnam war | hill | vietnam | jungle | combat | 

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Taglines:

While the rest of the world wondered why, the Screamin' Eagles fought and died in the fiercest battle of America's bloodiest war.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

28 August 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hamburger Hill

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,360,705, 30 August 1987

Gross USA:

$13,839,404

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,839,404

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Rankcolor) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie's opening prologue states: "On 10 May 1969 Troops of the 101st Airborne Division engaged the enemy at the base of Hill 937 in the A Shau Valley. Ten days and eleven bloody assaults later, the Troops who fought there called it . . . HAMBURGER HILL."

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Goofs

Late in the movie after an US soldier hits a Vietnamese soldier with his helmet, he falls down and his hand crushes the helmet revealing it to be made out of foam or some other soft material.

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Quotes

Sgt. Frantz: Who is it?
Doc: How the hell do I know? He's got no goddamn head.

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Crazy Credits

The following poem is shown at the beginning of the credits: If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind. Major Michael Davis O'Donnell 1 January 1970 Dak To, Vietnam

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Alternate Versions

The Magna Pacific DVD Release: Sep 18, 2002 UPC: 9-315841-999491 is cut as when Duffy kills an NVA soldier with his M-60 the body explodes in gore and when Duffy is then killed by another NVA soldier that soldier is then shot in the back of the head and blood spurts out.

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Connections

Referenced in A Touch of Frost: Unknown Soldiers (1996)

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Soundtracks

I Wish It Would Rain
Written by Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield and Rodger Penzabene Sr. (uncredited)
Performed by The Temptations

User Reviews

Probably the most visually effective Vietnam movie

Many excellent Vietnam films, in an attempt to present their own interpretation of America's darkest hour, ask many political questions vital to the war: "What were we fighting for?" "Was this worth it?" "When does morality take over?" "When does the fighting stop?"

On the other hand, "Hamburger Hill" doesn't need to state any such questions. Rather, it presents the viewer with the scenario-- a group of men trying to advance on a hill-- and allows him to come to his own conclusions. It is a wonderful display of characters from all walks of life, and how hard times brought them together. Some want to be there, others don't, but they call all make the same statement: When it comes to their determination to get on top of that hill and advance upon the enemy, all of those political questions "don't mean nothin'."

This is probably the best Vietman film as far as visuals go. The actions sequences are raw and gory, and the locations are incredibly depressing-- setting the perfect stage for a war movie. Combined with excellent performances by everyone involved, this is certainly an underrated film that presents a clear picture of what the war truly might have been like.

***1/2 out of ****