Sunday 31 March 2024

Heartbreak Ridge (1986 Clint Eastwood)

Pain in the arse (but highly decorated) Gunnery Sergeant Highway (I know) returns to his final post as a marine corps trainer. Luckily he's the toughest sonofabitch amongst them all, something that's established right at the outset in jail. Then he meets up with petty thief / guitarist Mario van Peebles, who of course turns out to be one of his troops. (if I had a complaint with the film it's that he is just a bit too much.) Meanwhile he chums up with ex Marsha Mason again. Clint saw it as a comedy about a super-macho man who's as thick as shit.

It's a very traditional film, really. He of course makes his unit the best one, even defeating arrogant commanding officer Everett McGill, then takes them into battle where they are gloriously successful. The screenplay by James Carabatsos was uncredited substantially rewritten by Joe Stinson (according to the director).

It's most entertaining, particularly in Clint's refusal to accept his superior's authority, and in his attempts to learn a modern approach to relationships via magazines.

Music Lennie Niehaus, photography Jack Green, editor Joel Cox, gaffer Tom Stern.


With Moses Gunn, Eileen Heckart. Boyd Gaines good value as Lieutenant with no experience but who gamely makes the best of it.

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