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China Beach

  • TV Series
  • 1988–19911988–1991
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,057
126
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
China Beach (1988)
Trailer for China Beach: The Complete Collection
Play trailer3:06
5 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • History
  • War

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

IMDb RATING
8.2/10
3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,057
126
  • Creators
    • John Sacret Young
    • William Broyles Jr.
  • Stars
    • Dana Delany
    • Michael Boatman
    • Robert Picardo
Top credits
  • Creators
    • John Sacret Young
    • William Broyles Jr.
  • Stars
    • Dana Delany
    • Michael Boatman
    • Robert Picardo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 29User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 5 Primetime Emmys
      • 26 wins & 46 nominations total

    Episodes62

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos5

    China Beach: Complete Collection
    Trailer 3:06
    China Beach: Complete Collection
    China Beach: Season 3
    Trailer 2:15
    China Beach: Season 3
    China Beach (Trailer 1)
    Trailer 0:41
    China Beach (Trailer 1)
    China Beach: Season 2
    Trailer 1:31
    China Beach: Season 2
    China Beach
    Trailer 3:06
    China Beach

    Photos965

    Robert Picardo, Dana Delany, and Megan Gallagher in China Beach (1988)
    Concetta Tomei in China Beach (1988)
    Dana Delany in China Beach (1988)
    Robert Picardo in China Beach (1988)
    Nan Woods in China Beach (1988)
    Ricki Lake in China Beach (1988)
    Derek de Lint in China Beach (1988)
    Marg Helgenberger and Brian Wimmer in China Beach (1988)
    Dana Delany in China Beach (1988)
    Robert Picardo and Dana Delany in China Beach (1988)
    Robert Picardo, Dana Delany, and Ned Vaughn in China Beach (1988)
    Dana Delany, Marg Helgenberger, Chloe Webb, and Nan Woods in China Beach (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dana Delany
    Dana Delany
    • Colleen McMurphyas Colleen McMurphy
    61 episodes61 eps • 1988–1991
    Michael Boatman
    Michael Boatman
    • Pvt. Samuel Beckettas Pvt. Samuel Beckett
    62 episodes62 eps • 1988–1991
    Robert Picardo
    Robert Picardo
    • Dr. Dick Richardas Dr. Dick Richard
    62 episodes62 eps • 1988–1991
    Concetta Tomei
    Concetta Tomei
    • Maj. Lila Garreauas Maj. Lila Garreau
    61 episodes61 eps • 1988–1991
    Marg Helgenberger
    Marg Helgenberger
    • K.C. Kolowskias K.C. Kolowski
    61 episodes61 eps • 1988–1991
    Brian Wimmer
    Brian Wimmer
    • Cpl. Boonie Lanieras Cpl. Boonie Lanier
    62 episodes62 eps • 1988–1991
    Oliver Theess
    • The Soldieras The Soldier…
    61 episodes61 eps • 1988–1991
    Jeff Kober
    Jeff Kober
    • Sgt. Evan 'Dodger' Winslowas Sgt. Evan 'Dodger' Winslow
    58 episodes58 eps • 1988–1991
    Nancy Giles
    • Pvt. Frankie Bunsenas Pvt. Frankie Bunsen
    53 episodes53 eps • 1988–1991
    Troy Evans
    Troy Evans
    • Sgt. Pepperas Sgt. Pepper…
    28 episodes28 eps • 1989–1991
    Megan Gallagher
    Megan Gallagher
    • Wayloo Marie Holmesas Wayloo Marie Holmes…
    17 episodes17 eps • 1988–1991
    Michael J Henderson
    Michael J Henderson
    • Beetleas Beetle
    17 episodes17 eps • 1988–1989
    Nan Woods
    Nan Woods
    • Cherry Whiteas Cherry White
    15 episodes15 eps • 1988–1989
    Marcia Magus
    • Nurse Jody Kassas Nurse Jody Kass
    15 episodes15 eps • 1988–1991
    Ned Vaughn
    Ned Vaughn
    • Jeff Hyersas Jeff Hyers…
    15 episodes15 eps • 1988–1991
    Ricki Lake
    Ricki Lake
    • Holly Pelegrinoas Holly Pelegrino
    13 episodes13 eps • 1989–1990
    Elizabeth Lindsey
    Elizabeth Lindsey
    • Maias Mai…
    10 episodes10 eps • 1988–1989
    Tim Ryan
    Tim Ryan
    • Capt. Natch Austinas Capt. Natch Austin…
    10 episodes10 eps • 1988–1989
    • Creators
      • John Sacret Young
      • William Broyles Jr.
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —LA-Lawyer
    • 20th century
    • timeframe 20th century
    • nurse
    • vietnam
    • doctor
    • 10 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • History
      • War
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Troy Evans (Sergeant Pepper) was a Vietnam veteran. During a reunion on Good Morning America, he stated the show gave him a sense of closure.
    • 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]
    • Quotes

      Colleen McMurphy: Sex is a bad word, but it feels good. Love is a good word, but it hurts.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Reflections
      (Theme)

      Written by Brian Holland / Lamont Dozier / Eddie Holland

      Recorded by Diana Ross & The Supremes

    User reviews29

    Review
    Top review
    One of the all time great series!
    I haven't seen the series since it first was on ABC. I tried to watch every week and was angry when they canceled it, because it was a great series.I recently purchased a copy of the pilot episode on VHS tape (China Beach)and once again was reminded how well the series was put together. Like many others I want to own all of the series on DVD and hope that chance will come. Dana Delany was outstanding in this role and touches the heart. Through her you see what it is like to see young men dying or dealing with terrible, life altering injuries and how hopeless she feels when she can not save them. Yet she knows the important part she plays to those dying boys as the voice and touch that represents the mothers, wives, lovers, and sisters of those who are dying far from home. They are not dying alone when she is there. Others in the cast are outstanding as well. The Gal that played Cherry the donut girl, and the back up singer turned lead, when the pretty one can't stay well enough to sing. She came to meet the boys-a-rama ,but soon was doing much more to touch the hearts of those at war. This is not a drama about the fighting in the field, but about the nurses and doctors in the field and the soldiers that go through their hospital. This is not Mash in Vietnam! This is a serious drama that will have you crying for all those dead and wounded soldiers wasted on battlefields around the other side of the world fighting an unpopular war. Each deals with the stress in their own way, but you can not watch this series without it touching you deeply and emotionally. If you lived during the Vietnam years then this will bring back the emotions of those times. If for no other reason this series should be put on DVD to honor the nurses, Doctors, entertainers, and donut girls that tried to bring a touch of home to the troops in Vietnam. To those who were wounded and survived and the many who did not this series should be available and remembered. Tour of Duty also should be on DVD and is excellent companion piece to show what the fighting grunts on the ground went through. Tour of duty is scheduled to be released on DVD this summer. Now Give us China Beach!
    helpful•32
    1
    • ksu72
    • Mar 2, 2004

    FAQ1

    • Why have I never seen this show?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 26, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Playa de China
    • Filming locations
      • Indian Dunes - 28700 Henry Mayo Drive, Valencia, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Sacret
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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