Flight of the Intruder (1991)

During the air war over Vietnam, a U.S. Navy A-6 Intruder bomber pilot schemes with a hardened veteran to make an unauthorized air strike on Hanoi.

Director:

John Milius

Writers:

Stephen Coonts (novel), Robert Dillon (screenplay)

Stars:

Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe, Brad Johnson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Danny Glover	...	Commander Frank Camparelli
Willem Dafoe	...	Lt. Cmdr. Virgil Cole
Brad Johnson	...	Lt. Jake' Cool Hand' Grafton
Rosanna Arquette	...	Callie
Tom Sizemore	...	Boxman
J. Kenneth Campbell	...	Lt. Cmdr. 'Cowboy' Parker
Jared Chandler	...	Lt. J.G. Jack 'Razor' Barlow
Dann Florek	...	Mad Jack
Madison Mason	...	'Cag'
Ving Rhames	...	McRae
Christopher Rich	...	Lt. J.G. Morgan McPherson
Douglas Roberts	...	Guffy
Scott N. Stevens	...	Hardesty (as Scott Newton Stevens)
Justin Williams	...	Sammy
John Corbett	...	Big Augie

Storyline

After his bombardier is killed, Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton (Brad Johnson)', a carrier-based Intruder pilot, questions the purpose of Navy bombing missions. He finds an ally for his cynicism in Virgil Cole, a bombardier on his third tour of duty, and together they ponder the notion of one unsanctioned mission "downtown", to "Sam City" in North Vietnam.

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Plot Keywords:

vietnam | pilot | bomber | bombing run | vietnam war | 

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Taglines:

The only thing they can count on is each other.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song that Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton (Brad Johnson) and Virgil Cole (Willem Dafoe) gleefully sing in their A-6 Intruder, after their successful bomb run on Hanoi, is the 1964 hit Downtown made popular by British pop singer Petula Clark. During the Vietnam War, going "Downtown" was military slang for bombing Hanoi.

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Goofs

USS Indepenence (Grafton's aircraft carrier) is shown in the end credits equipped with Phalanx CIWS on it's stern. It was first introduced into service in 1980, and is still used. It is a defensive close range weapon based on 20 mm M61 Vulcan Gatling gun combined with a Ku-band radar for automatic targeting (primary role - shooting down incoming guided and cruise missiles). First prototype was fitted on USS King, but it was removed for improvements and successful evaluation of the weapon was completed in 1977 on USS Bigelow. PS: I also think I've noticed RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile on the carrier's left side (it was introduced in the 90s).

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Quotes

Cdr. Camparelli: But if I catch either one of you shitting in some vital area on my ship, I will have you *keelhauled*! And that's *serious* on an aircraft carrier!

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Connections

References Cool Hand Luke (1967)

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Soundtracks

The Magic Moment
by Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman
Performed by Jay and the Americans (as Jay & the Americans)
Courtesy of EMI, a division of Capitol Records, Inc.
By arrangement with CEMA Special Markets

User Reviews

As a former A-6 B/N

I found the movie interesting. It is probably loosely based on the exploits of Lyle Bull and Charles Hunter who on 30 October 1967 flew a solo flight over Hanoi and received the Navy Cross. Here is part of the citation for Bull: Lieutenant Bull assisted in the planning and execution of an extremely dangerous, single-plane, night, radar bombing attack on the strategically located and heavily defended Hanoi railroad ferry slip in North Vietnam. Although the entire Hanoi defensive effort was concentrated upon his lone bomber, he flawlessly assisted his pilot in navigating the aircraft to the target area and commencing an attack. Seconds before bomb release, six enemy surface-to-air missiles were observed to be tracking on his plane. Undaunted by this threat to his personal safety, Lieutenant Bull assisted his pilot in taking swift and effective action to avoid the missiles and complete the attack, releasing all weapons in the target area with extreme accuracy. After release, four more missiles were fired at his aircraft in addition to the intense anti-aircraft-artillery fire.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Flight of the Intruder

Filming Locations:

Harbor Star Stage, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,725,133, 21 January 1991

Gross USA:

$14,587,732

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,587,732

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1