China Beach 

The trials of a weary nurse, her friends and colleagues in a Vietnam War field hospital.

Creators:

John Sacret Young, William Broyles Jr.

Stars:

Dana Delany, Michael Boatman, Robert Picardo

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 25 wins & 46 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Dana Delany	...	Colleen McMurphy 62 episodes, 1988-1991
Michael Boatman	...	Pvt. Samuel Beckett 62 episodes, 1988-1991
Robert Picardo	...	Dr. Dick Richard 62 episodes, 1988-1991
Concetta Tomei	...	Maj. Lila Garreau 62 episodes, 1988-1991
Marg Helgenberger	...	K.C. Kolowski 62 episodes, 1988-1991
Brian Wimmer	...	Cpl. Boonie Lanier 62 episodes, 1988-1991
Jeff Kober	...	Sgt. Evan 'Dodger' Winslow 58 episodes, 1988-1991
Nancy Giles	...	Pvt. Frankie Bunsen / ... 54 episodes, 1988-1991
Troy Evans	...	Sgt. Pepper / ... 28 episodes, 1989-1991

Storyline

Dateline: November 1967, within klicks of Danang, Vietnam, sits a U.S. Army base, bar and hospital on China Beach. This is the 'Nam, filled with wounded soldiers and one very lovely but damaged Army Nurse Colleen Mc Murphy. Many heroes, dead and alive, in the forms of nurses, warriors, Donut Dollies, lifeguards, politicians, USO entertainers, Chopper Chicks, doctors, officers and enlisted men, brothers and sisters, Kool-Aid Kids, orderlies, medics, morticians, Army brass and one hostile prostitute named K.C. try to make sense of life and death in between bourbon, bullets and battles.

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Plot Keywords:

20th century | woman | man | nurse | vietnam | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 April 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kineska plaža

Filming Locations:

Indian Dunes - 28700 Henry Mayo Drive, Valencia, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sacret, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (60 episodes) 120 min (pilot) 120 min (series finale)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Several of the storylines, and even some of the dialogue were taken directly from the experiences and recollections of actual Vietnam era military nurses.

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Goofs

McMurphy's pilot boyfriend is a Captain (wearing two silver bars on each shoulder) and has Command Pilot wings on his flight suit name tag (pilot's wings with a star surrounded by a wreath). To earn Command Pilot wings you have to be a rated pilot for 15 years and have 3,000 hours of flight time. No pilot in the USAF would be a rated pilot for 15 years and amass 3,000 flying hours and still be a Captain. Besides, assuming he graduated college at age 22 and flight training at 23, and then flew for 15 years he would be 38 years old. Clearly he isn't that old. [See Wikipedia article on "U.S. Air Force aeronautical rating" for rating criteria]

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Quotes

Dr. Dick Richard: You wanna keep it down? I can't hear the war.

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Connections

Spoofed in China Bitch (1989)

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Soundtracks

Reflections
(Theme)
Written by Brian Holland / Lamont Dozier / Eddie Holland
Recorded by Diana Ross & The Supremes

User Reviews

They don't make 'em like they used to

Although I'm a 25 year old Israeli guy, born after the Vietnam war was over, and halfway around the world, this series touched me in a way most dramas didn't. Perhaps it was Dana Delaney's excellent dramatic acting, or the music, or any of the wonderful features of the talented crew that made this beautiful series possible, but I get the feeling that although I like new drama series like ER or The West Wing, I feel that John Wells has learned well, but not enough. China Beach had a certain something that other drama series did not. I'm no expert, so I can't put my finger on it, but whatever it was, I haven't seen it since, and I suspect I'll never see it again.