Heartbreak Ridge (1986)

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writer:

James Carabatsos (written by)

Release Date:

5 December 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | War

Tagline:

Clint Eastwood is Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway, career Marine and combat veteran. He is a man whose life has been defined by war. Korea and Vietnam taught him how to survive. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor but found public apathy and military bureaucracy. He is a hard-drinking loner but he's trying to reorganize his life and understand the woman he loves. He is a traditionalist who has to shape up his ragtag troops and he'll get the job done. His integrity is unwavering. His past is Heartbreak Ridge. He is ready for another battlefield and his finest hour. It will come.

Plot:

A hard-nosed, hard-living Marine gunnery sergeant clashes with his superiors and his ex-wife as he takes command of a spoiled recon platoon with a bad attitude.

Plot Keywords:

Ex Wife | Korean War | Military | Grenada | Veteran

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Sergeant Thomas Highway
Marsha Mason	...	Aggie
Everett McGill	...	Major Malcolm A. Powers
Moses Gunn	...	Staff Sergeant Webster
Eileen Heckart	...	Little Mary Jackson
Bo Svenson	...	Roy Jennings, Palace Bar Owner
Boyd Gaines	...	Lieutenant M.R. Ring
Mario Van Peebles	...	Corporal 'Stitch' Jones
Arlen Dean Snyder	...	Sergeant Major Choozoo
Vincent Irizarry	...	Fragetti
Ramón Franco	...	Private Aponte (as Ramon Franco)
Tom Villard	...	Profile
Mike Gomez	...	Private Quinones
Rodney Hill	...	Private Collins
Peter Koch	...	'Swede' Johanson

Also Known As:

Heartbreak Ridge (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Le maître de guerre (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
El sargento de hierro (Spain) [es]
Elitesoldaten (Denmark) [da]
Gunny (Italy) [it]
Halálhágó (Hungary) [hu]
Heartbreak Ridge (Finland) [fi]
O Destemido Senhor da Guerra (Brazil) [pt]
O Sargento de Ferro (Portugal) [pt]
O stratiotis (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Australia:R | USA:R (certificate #28415) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1986) | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company:

Jay Weston Productions

Trivia:

The Marine Corps had planned to use this film to promote its "Toys for Tots" campaign, but, upon viewing, decided not to because of the language.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the opening shot, you can see the shadow of the helicopter that is holding the camera as it circles the prison.

Quotes:

Lieutenant M.R. Ring: [approaching platoon] Good morning, men!
[responding to salute]
Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Thank you, Gunny. What a marvelous day for a military exercise. Men, today we'll will execute an ambush on a numerically superior force using cover, interlocking fields of fire, and the natural aggressiveness of the United States Marine.
Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: You show me some poontang and I'll show you an aggressive Marine.
Lieutenant M.R. Ring: We will provide Major Powers and his elite fighting force an accessable target to sharpen their superior skills. This will be facilitated by the Miles Gear that each man is wearing. As you know, when one of our men is shot this laser sensative device emits a beeping noise.
Highway: Excuse me, Lieutenant, but are you suggesting that we don't fight back?
Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Well, no, Gunny, Major Powers like to use the Recon platoon as a training tool.
Highway: Well, what happens when these men have to go into combat and they're not prepared? They just get dead.
Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Yes, I see what you mean.
Highway: Have you spoken to Major Powers about this?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: Ghosts (#3.1)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

I Love You But I Ain't Stupid

one of the most HILARIOUS war movies ever!!

I have to say that I really enjoyed watching this movie.

The grizzled, maverick war veteran, Sgt. Tom 'Gunny' Highway must be one of Clint Eastwood's more comedic roles (apart from the 'every which way' films) He had me bursting out laughing every time he even opened his mouth. One particular line that had me in stitches was when he was telling a cadet to put his Kevlar helmet back on by 1900 hours 'or he wouldn't have a head to wear it on'-pure class!! I've always liked Clint for his tough no-nonsense roles. This one is no exception! As a matter of fact, there were plenty of 'laugh-out-loud moments in this film to keep everyone happy-like the smart-ass remarks from the punk cadets.

The showdown between Highway and 'The Swede' was highly enjoyable, too.

'Heartbrake Ridge' is certainly a lot more lighter and easier to swallow than the similarly-themed 'Full Metal Jacket'.

This film certainly passes as perfectly adequate, undemanding popcorn viewing.