The Green Berets

Starring:Luke Askew, Bruce Cabot, Eddy Donno, Jason Evers, Edward Faulkner, Mike Henry, Jim Hutton, David Janssen, Craig Jue, Aldo Ray, Rudy Robbins, Chuck Roberson, Jack Soo, Raymond St. Jacques, George Takei, Irene Tsu, John Wayne, Patrick Wayne
Director: John Wayne, Ray Kellogg
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Anyone who fought in Vietnam can tell you that the war bore little resemblance to this propagandistic action film starring and codirected by John Wayne. But the film itself is not nearly as bad as its reputation would suggest; critics roasted its gung-ho politics while ignoring its merits as an exciting (if rather conventional and idealistic) war movie. Some notorious mistakes were made--in the final shot, the sun sets in the east!--and it's an awkward attempt to graft WWII heroics onto the Vietnam experience. But as the Duke's attempt to acknowledge the men who were fighting and dying overseas, it's a rousing film in which Wayne commands a regiment on a mission to kidnap a Viet Cong general. David Janssen plays a journalist who learns to understand Wayne's commitment to battling Communism, and Jim Hutton (Timothy's dad) plays an ill-fated soldier who adopts a Vietnamese orphan. In addition to its widescreen image, the digital video disc includes a promotional featurette and seven different theatrical trailers. --Jeff Shannon

Description

John Wayne leads his special forces troops against the enemy in this first Hollywood treatment of the Vietnam War. It's rugged battle action all the way. David Janssen and Jim Hutton co-star.

Customer Reviews:

Overlooked facts about this movie and John Wayne.......2007-07-02

In light of America's present situation in Iraq in July,2007, it is quite natural that the Vietnam experience is being viewed in hindsight and films like this are getting a new viewing.

First, this movie is based on a 1964 novel about the Green Berets. When it was released in 1968 in the aftermath of the Tet Offensive(which America won) the American public and its leadership had rejected the overly optimistic outlook and bought the line the war was unwinnable and America should withdraw regardless of what happened to the South Vietnamese. If this was released in 1964, when there were few war critics outside of leftist and Black nationalist circles, it would have accurately reflected this country's view of South Vietnam and the war in 1964.

Second, John Wayne is like many war movie stars. It is a known fact that Charlie Sheen (Platoon), Mel Gibson( When we were Soldiers) Chuck Norris (Missing in Action 1,2and 3) and Sly Stallone (First Blood 1,2 and 3) never served in combat or the military. However, John Wayne did tour South Vietnam with the USO. Movie actors are selected on box office drawing power not their backgrounds. If John Wayne wasn't in this movie, would this be a classic ?

Third, this movie didn't accurately portray the corruption, nepotism, indecisiveness and bad decisions of the South Vietnamese army and its officials (which led to South Vietnam's defeat in 1975). It also didn't show the American killing of civilians (which did not occur regularly until after the big build up began in 1965 and were generally committed by units such as the Americal Division with suffered from bad leadership). What it did show was North Vietnamese troops were active in South Vietnam before 1965 (the left always denies this). their slaughter of civilians in this movie was a glimpse of what they were to do in Hue in 1968 (the left still says the massacre never happened) and in all of South East Asia after 1975.

Finally, John Wayne did do something that wasn't common at the time in military movies, he put a African-American actor (Raymond St. Jacques) in a leading role. Jacques portrayl of Sgt McGhee came accross as very dignified and intelligent. As the medic of the unit, he was ask by Lt. Col. Kirby (Wayne) for advice. Although John Wayne was not known to be a Civil Rights supporter and considered to be a racist by many radical Black circles, the character of Sgt McGhee was a breakthrough in potrayal of African-Americans in the movies.

I watched this movie along with Platoon during my basic training at Fort Dix, N.J. in 1987. The recruits loved it! However, this was during the Reagan era when the cold war was a fact of life. Those supporters and critics should accept this movie for what it is John Wayne's view about a war based on a novel that was written when most of America shared his views on Vietnam.

The Green Berets.......2007-06-10

This is a eye opening movie regarding the Vietnam war. It is an excellent movie.

Americans will love it...left wingers go elsewhere!.......2007-03-14

My father served two tours in Vietnam and both he and I enjoyed this great John Wayne flick.

The movie focuses on the Special Forces operating in Vietnam. It includes a huge battle at a base camp demonstarting the use of both ground and air forces in coordination, a combat technique employed today. It also features a secreat raid to capture a top VC officer.

The movie shows something not often demonstarted in Oliver Stone and similiar lefties Vietnam movies-the suffering of Vietnamese by the commies and the loyal support of the Montanyards(sp?) to America.

Maybe not 100% accurate but it is 100% American!

John Wayne Should Have Remained an Actor.......2007-03-01

I am awarding "The Green Berets" four stars merely because of its importance to our national debate concerning Vietnam. Other then that, it is aesthetically speaking a mediocre movie. It is definitely not Academy Award material. Was John Wane unable to find suitable investors within the left-wing Hollywood community? Should we assume that the movie was made on a shoe string budget? Whatever, Wayne should not have been so involved in the production. The screen play is mediocre and the direction is about what would expect in a made for TV movie. The actors mouth embarrassing cliches. Even the music score was awful. Am I a leftist who disagrees with Wayne's position on the war? Nope, he and I are on the exact same page. The United States was valiantly trying to save the Vietnamese people from the evil Communists. Unfortunately, our troops were stabbed in the back by the leftist media and it allies.

Watching "The Green Berets" is something of an unpleasant experience. John Wayne obviously meant well. It is sad that this desperately needed movie was not better. It may have made a huge difference in convincing the American people to stay the course.

David Thomson
Flares into Darkness

A Classic for most........2007-01-21

After being in country, I just cann't get into this type of movie. My Dad told me when I asked him to go see The Longest Day when it was released that he wasn't interested in seeing the movie after he saw the play. I now understand what he meant. I too saw the play. (My wife says she gives it a 5 star)

Average customer rating:

Overlooked facts about this movie and John Wayne
The Green Berets
Americans will love it...left wingers go elsewhere!
John Wayne Should Have Remained an Actor
A Classic for most.

The Green Berets
Starring: Luke Askew , Bruce Cabot , Eddy Donno , Jason Evers , and Edward Faulkner
Director: Wayne, John , and Kellogg, Ray
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6304696523
Release Date: 1997-10-29

Product Description

They were crack troops skilled in the techniques of unconditional warfare, the soldiers of theSpecial Forces- and the focus of Hollywoods first feature film about the Vietnam War. John Waynestars in and co-directs this red-white-and-blue depiction of Americas Vietnam effort, based onRobin Moores novel. Wayne wrote to President Lyndon Johnson to request military asssistancefor the film- and got more than enough firepower to create an impressive spectacle.

System Requirements:
Starring: John Wayne, David Janssen, Jim Hutton Director: Ray Kellogg, John Wayne Interactive Menus Production Notes Featurette Scene Access Seven Theatrical Trailers Languages: English, French & Spanish Subtitles: English & Spanish Dolby Digital Widescreen version presented in a "letterbox" widescreen format preserving the "scope" aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition. Special Features: Featurette, Theatrical Trailer, Interactive Menus, Production Notes Video Format: Widescreen (no A.R. specified) Subtitles: Spanish, English Track Info: English: Dolby Digital Mono French: Dolby Digital Mono Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono Closed Captioning: Yes # Discs: 1 # Sides: Single Produced by Michael Wayne; written by James Lee Barrett; running time of 142 minutes; ClosedCaptioned.

Format: DVD MOVIE

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Customer Reviews:

Overlooked facts about this movie and John Wayne.......2007-07-02

The Green Berets.......2007-06-10

This is a eye opening movie regarding the Vietnam war. It is an excellent movie.

Americans will love it...left wingers go elsewhere!.......2007-03-14

John Wayne Should Have Remained an Actor.......2007-03-01

A Classic for most........2007-01-21

The Warrior Tradition - Green Berets (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

The Warrior Tradition - Green Berets (History Channel)

Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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National Geographic: Inside Special Forces
ARMY RANGER SCHOOL
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ASIN: B000FKP0GE
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Description

Commandos have taken part in every war in American history, from the Revolution to today. But it wasn't until World War II that these unconventional units evolved into official, structured parts of the Army. And it was left to President Kennedy to grant them their trademark berets and legitimize the "special forces." Narrated by Stacy Keach, THE GREEN BERETS is a thrilling look at these fabled fighters. Explore what is known about their missions in Vietnam fighting behind enemy lines, the true story of their extensive "black ops" remain top secret. Military historians reveal how World War II units like the Rangers and "Merrill's Marauders" showed the need for a permanent, specialized force trained to operate with minimal supervision. See footage of the Berets in training and in action, and meet with some of the men who have served with this elite force. From Vietnam to Panama and the Gulf War, this is an up-close look at THE GREEN BERETS.