Heartbreak Ridge (1986)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

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 | 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 title "Ayatollah of Rock and Rollah" is also used to describe the feudal warlord Humungus in Mad Max 2 (1981)

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the beginning of the film, when Highway stands to attention as the colors are being lowered at sunset, the bugle call being played is "Taps". However, the correct call is "Retreat". Taps is played later in the evening at Lights Out.

Quotes:

Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Morning, men! I thought I'd lead you through this exercise. Can't find Gunny Highway, though...
[Highway appears behind a makeshift building at the training site and sprays live bullet fire]
Lieutenant M.R. Ring: [dives for cover] Jesus Christ, what was that?
Lance Corporal Fragatti: Sir! That is the AK-47 Assault Rifle!
Profile: The preferred weapon of our enemy...
Collins: And it makes a distinctive sound when fired at us, Sir!
Lieutenant M.R. Ring: [still dazed] Yeah... I guess it does!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

Recon Rap

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.