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Platoon Leader

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
A young officer, just out of West Point is sent to Vietnam, where the men don't respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander
Play trailer1:31
1 Video
16 Photos
  • Drama
  • War
A young officer, just out of West Point is sent to Vietnam, where the men don't respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commanderA young officer, just out of West Point is sent to Vietnam, where the men don't respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commanderA young officer, just out of West Point is sent to Vietnam, where the men don't respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Aaron Norris
  • Writers
    • Andrew Deutsch(screenplay)
    • Rick Marx(screenplay)
    • James R. McDonough(book)
  • Stars
    • Tony Pierce
    • Robert F. Lyons
    • Michael Dudikoff
Top credits
  • Director
    • Aaron Norris
  • Writers
    • Andrew Deutsch(screenplay)
    • Rick Marx(screenplay)
    • James R. McDonough(book)
  • Stars
    • Tony Pierce
    • Robert F. Lyons
    • Michael Dudikoff
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:31
    Trailer

    Photos16

    Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Robert F. Lyons in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Michael Dudikoff, Jesse Dabson, Michael DeLorenzo, Rick Fitts, Brian Libby, and Robert F. Lyons in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
    Michael Dudikoff and Robert F. Lyons in Platoon Leader (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tony Pierce
    • Jan Shultz
    Robert F. Lyons
    Robert F. Lyons
    • Sgt. Michael McNamara
    Michael Dudikoff
    Michael Dudikoff
    • Lt. Jeff Knight
    Michael DeLorenzo
    Michael DeLorenzo
    • Raymond Bacera
    Jesse Dabson
    Jesse Dabson
    • Joshua Parker
    Rick Fitts
    Rick Fitts
    • Sgt. Robert Hayes
    Daniel Demorest
    • Duffy
    Brian Libby
    Brian Libby
    • Sgt. Roach
    Michael Rider
    Michael Rider
    • Pvt. Don Pike
    William Smith
    William Smith
    • Major Flynn
    Al Karaki
    • Kemp
    Evan J. Klisser
    • Larsen
    Evan Barker
    • Klinski
    A.J. Smith
    • Lt. Riley
    Dean Raphael Ferrandini
    Dean Raphael Ferrandini
    • Medic
    Bill Olmsted
    • Medic
    • (as Bill Olmstead)
    Themi Venturis
    • New Lieutenant
    Joyce Long
    • Mother With Child
    • Director
      • Aaron Norris
    • Writers
      • Andrew Deutsch(screenplay)
      • Rick Marx(screenplay)
      • James R. McDonough(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The only film directed by Aaron Norris to not have his brother Chuck Norris in it.
    • Goofs
      At the 43 min mark the VC and NVA the GIs using mortars. The sound effect was a incorrect. Mortars do not produce a whistle.
    • Quotes

      Raymond Bacera: Death is the ultimate alarm clock man, Wakes you up.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Remo, Rambo, Reagan and Reds: The Eighties Action Movie Explosion (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Out on the Fenceline
      Written and Performed by Fontaine Brown

    User reviews40

    Review
    Top review
    Well-done and underrated
    Originally entitled "Nam," this film was released as "Platoon Leader" to cash in on the success of "Platoon," which had been released the previous year. Unfortunately, this sank it, and most everyone dismissed this is an imitation of the latter film. However, I feel that this might be one of the finest films about the Vietnam War around, and that's due to the fact that it knows the genre of war films and it knows what to take seriously and what to regard as pure action.

    In war films, particularly ones about the Vietnam War, there has always been a question about which angle to approach: a human, emotional story or a pure action-adventure. This film handles the question well, and it shows us both. The film covers a new U.S. captain joining a platoon that is set up on a hill with orders to protect a small village. The story of how he must earn the right to be called the captain of such a motely group, and how the men themselves must struggle about just what they are fighting for in this war, is extremely moving. The writers choose to represent many different attitudes, all of which were present in the war: fear, reluctance, discontent, indifference, and honor. Each character is painted vividly and with wonderful acting, and through their tragedy and suffering, the viewer gets a better understanding of what went on during America's darkest hour.

    On the other hand, this film also contains some nicely-directed action sequences that know how to get the heart-beat going. They don't neccessarily glorify war, but they are very Rambo-esque, and made in an effort to satisfy action fans. It is the essence of these action scenes, combined with the human characters who have to pick up the pieces of each battle and move on with their daily, emotional struggles, that really makes this film tick.

    This film was directed by Chuck's brother Aaron Norris, who lost a brother to the Vietnam War. Indeed, this must have been a difficult film to shoot because of that, but he certainly paid his brother a fitting tribute in this underrated war epic.

    **** out of ****
    helpful•14
    8
    • Tin Man-5
    • Sep 24, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nam
    • Filming locations
      • Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    • Production companies
      • Cannon International
      • Breton Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,348,771
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,348,771
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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