THE GREEN BERETS

PRODUCED BY MICHAEL WAYNE
DIRECTED BY JOHN WAYNE
and RAY KELLOGG
MUSIC BY MIKLOS ROSKA

171

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Plot Summary

Col. Mike Kirby picks two teams of crack Green Berets for a mission in South Vietnam. First off is to build and control a camp that is trying to be taken by the enemy the second mission is to kidnap a North Vietnamese General.

Full Cast

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
James Lee Barrett
Col. Kenneth B. Facey
Robin Moore novel

Cast (in credits order) verified as complete
John Wayne .... Col. Mike Kirby
David Janssen .... George Beckworth
Jim Hutton .... Sgt. Petersen
Aldo Ray .... Sgt. Muldoon
Raymond St. Jacques .... Doc McGee
Bruce Cabot .... Col. Morgan
Jack Soo .... Col. Cai
George Takei .... Capt. Nim
Patrick Wayne .... Lt. Jamison
Luke Askew .... Sgt. Provo
Irene Tsu .... Lin
Edward Faulkner .... Capt. MacDaniel
Jason Evers .... Capt. Coleman
Mike Henry .... Sgt. Kowalski
Craig Jue .... Hamchunk
Chuck Roberson .... Sgt. Griffin
Eddy Donno .... Sgt. Watson
Rudy Robbins .... Sgt. Parks
Richard 'Cactus' Pryor .... Collier (as Cactus Pryor)
Vera Miles .... Mrs. Kirby (scenes deleted)
Yodying Apibal .... South Vietnamese soldier (uncredited)
Charles Bail .... Sgt. Lark (uncredited)
Jess Barker .... (uncredited)
Vincente Cadiente .... Viet Cong soldier (uncredited)
Walker Edmiston .... (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy .... (uncredited)
Frank Koomen .... Lt. Sachs (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... (uncredited)
William Olds .... Phan Son Ti (uncredited)
James Seay .... (uncredited)
Bill Shannon .... Sgt. White (uncredited)
Hayward Soo Hoo .... Soldier (uncredited)
Laird Stuart .... Lt. Olsen (uncredited)
Ralph Volkie .... (uncredited)
Dick Warlock .... (uncredited)
Bach Yen .... Singer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Winton C. Hoch

Makeup Department
Dave Grayson .... makeup artist

Production Management
Lee Lukather .... unit production manager (as Lee W. Lukather)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe L. Cramer .... assistant director
Cliff Lyons .... second unit director

Stunts

Phil Adams .... stunts (uncredited)
Stan Barrett .... stunts (uncredited)
Bobby Bass .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Bullock .... stunts (uncredited)
Jim Burk .... stunts (uncredited)
Hank Calia .... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Couch .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Couch .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Courtney .... stunts (uncredited)
Everett Creach .... stunts (uncredited)
Eddy Donno .... stunts (uncredited)
Joe Finnegan .... stunts (uncredited)
Alan Gibbs .... stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins .... stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... stunts (uncredited)
Ernie F. Orsatti .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson .... stunts (uncredited)
Ronald C. Ross .... stunts (uncredited)
George Sawaya .... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Shannon .... stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Summers .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Warlock .... stunts (uncredited)

Other crew
George Coleman .... transportation coordinator
Wayne Fitzgerald .... title designer
Bruce Lee .... martial arts choreographer
Joe Lewis .... martial arts performer
Chuck Norris .... martial arts performer
Eddie Parker .... martial arts performer
Crayton Smith .... script supervisor
Lee Sollenberger .... costumer
Mike Stone .... martial arts performer
Mervyn LeRoy .... studio advisor (uncredited)

Filming Location

Fort Benning, Georgia, USA

Trivia

* Much of the film was shot in 1967 at Ft. Benning, Georgia, hence the large pine forests in the background rather than tropical jungle trees.

* Some of the "Vietnamese village" sets were so realistic they were left intact, and were later used by the Army for training troops destined for Vietnam.

* The colonel who ran the jump school (and who was seen shooting trap with John Wayne) was the real jump school commandant and a legendary commander of U.S. paratroopers.

* Late in the movie John Wayne can be seen to wrap his rappelling rope through a carabineer the wrong way. Called a "fatal hookup" in the Army, this would result in an immediate fall once weight was applied.

* Co-director Ray Kellogg was originally hired as the second-unit director to stage the various battle and action scenes. During filming, however, John Wayne was so impressed with Kellogg's work that he elevated him to co-director status.

* David Janssen was working on this film when the final episode of his series "The Fugitive" (1963) aired.

* In the book "Green Berets" by Robin Moore, the main character is based on Maj. Larry Thorne (originally Lauri Törni, a Finnish soldier who moved to USA after WWII).

* George Takei missed working on the "The Trouble with Tribbles" episode of the original "Star Trek" (1966) series to work on this movie.

* WILHELM SCREAM: As enemy soldiers are thrown into the air by an exploding grenade.


Goofs

* Revealing mistakes: When Kirby smashes the M-16 against a tree, you can see a speaker in the stock, indicating it is probably a toy gun.

* Revealing mistakes: Col. Kirby uses a "fatal hookup" when rappelling from the mansion's balcony. He is clearly shown wrapping the rope the wrong way through the karabiner. As soon as weight is put on it, the karabiner opens and the rappeller falls free. U.S. Army karabiners in 1968 were non-locking, and were called "snap links" because of it.

* Revealing mistakes: When Kirby's helicopter crashes in a ball of fire the rigging cables used to suspend it are visible.

* Revealing mistakes: During the night attack on the base, a medium shot of the attacking "Vietcong" clearly shows that, although dressed in the traditional VC black pajamas and conical straw hats, most, if not all, of them are Caucasians (the film was shot at Fort Benning, Georgia, and many soldiers were hired as extras).

* Errors in geography: The closing scene shows Kirby & Hamchunk walking along the beach with the sun setting in the background. They were walking southeast - you can't see sunsets in Da Nang.

* Factual errors: The mortar tube that the crew is using in the pit is a 4.2 inch (diameter) mortar. Yet they are dropping 81mm rounds down the tube. Also, when a round is fired out of a mortar, it sounds like an explosion, not like a small "poof".

Good reviews, Keith. On all the new ones you put in here. By the way, do you think Waynes Col. Mike Kirby in The Green Berets is related to his Maj. Dan Kirby in The Flying Leathernecks? Just curious, lol. Glad to see you back, where ever you were.

Hi,
I like this film, and I'm not too bothered
what the critics said.
The film was not a documentary, and so to that extent,
it was viewed and criticized too harshly.
It should be accepted for what it is, a Hollywood war film.!
It was a well acted, solid, film, and kept me
interested from beginning to end.
Apart from all the protests, the film was successful at the box office.
Ironically, Duke's depiction of communist dominance, was laughed at at the time,
but nowadays, his vision is sadly true.
Rating 9/10

On the Cutting Room Floor

Duke, and Vera Miles, met in a brief sequence,
this scene was dropped.

Memorable Quotes

Colonel Mike Kirby: What are you going to say in that newspaper of yours about us in Vietnam?
George Beckworth: If I say what I feel, I may be out of a job.

Reporter: Could you answer a question that all of us are asking?
Sergeant Muldoon: We'll try.
Reporter: Why is America raging this ruthless war in Vietnam?
Sergeant Muldoon: Foreign policy decisions are not made by the military. A soldier goes where he is told to go, and fight whom is told to fight.

George Beckworth: There is such a thing as due process.
Colonel Mike Kirby: Out here, due process is a bullet.

Hamchunk: Was my Peter-san brave?

Sgt. Petersen: [after being woken up by Sgt Muldoon] 3:30! Is that right, Sarge?
Sergeant Muldoon: That's right, Soldier-boy. That's right!
Sgt. Petersen: We'd better get some sleep! We've got a hell of a lot of work to do tomorrow!

Sergeant Muldoon: [after seeing him in non-military issued pajamas] Peterson, I worry about you. Three tours of duty and you're still acting like a civilian!
Sgt. Petersen: Muldoon, I'm not a Marine. I believe in my comfort!

INFORMATION IMDb

I would agree that this is a solid, well-acted movie, and the heck with the critics!

While many people in the United States felt we were doing the right thing going into Vietnam, and helping them combat Communism, not many realized how much effort was really made by our military to help the Vietnamese and not just kill them. John Wayne did his best in this movie to try to convey that message.

Chester :newyear:

P.S. Available at, among other places,
Amazon ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Deep Discount DVD ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) (cheaper again!! :lol: )

Hi Keith, well done my friend, VERY well done!! :-)) I agree with you all in syaing, the heck with what the critics say about the film. I like it as much as I did the first time I saw it way back when I was a yonker--meaning when I was a toddler. ;-))

Just watched this one. I had to tape it from television because I had to work, so the picture quality wasn't as good as on DVD. I thought it was pretty or maybe even very good. I love when the duke says to the newspaper guy "Tell it to Captain Coleman, and shout it loud, cause Arlington Cemetary is a long way from here."

I thought that maybe they tried to do too much in the film though. It should have ended after they all survive the attack on the camp, instead of continuing on until they capture the head honcho guy. But I enjoyed it nevertheless.

Have to admit I always liked this movie and thought it worked well.

On the DVD front it is the only one that I have that is printed on both sides that you have to switch it to see the other half of the movie. Why they did it this way is anyone's guess as it is not that long a movie.

If it is released in this UK John Wayne magazine I will buy it to have a one sided disc.


Mike

I like this film too. It's funny but VHS I have is better then DVD released here.
:rolleyes:

Hi Senta

All releases be it video or DVD depend on the master material being used.

I think the film companies like us all to but at least 4 copies of each DVD.

First the DVD release with any print or sound faults, :cry2:

Then the restored version with the sound and print faults fixed, :)

Then the collectors edition with all the extras. :stunned:

and Then Finally The Directors Cut sold in a big metal tin like a reel of film with restored scenes and even more extras that also falls off the shelf every 5 minutes. :fear2:


Mike

Hi Mike,
Thats the problem. I have some of my beloved Duke films in a number of DVD copies. The last is the best quality as always. And I also can't go away when I see new Russian release of his movie, it is interesting to check out how is the quality and translation.
Regards,
Senta

In the more recent DVD versions of Green Berets do you still have to turn disc over or has it moved to being one sided?

Mike

I spent 12 years in our military and love this film. I could care less what the critics say. Unless you experience the military life and daily routine and deal with the hardships they have no right talk against what we do and the perfect answer was in the film. We don't get into politics, we go where we're told and do the job we are trained to do. We don't get issued a political handbook just a seabag and orders. Excellent review!

[quote=DakotaSurfer;37248]I spent 12 years in our military and love this film. I could care less what the critics say. Unless you experience the military life and daily routine and deal with the hardships they have no right talk against what we do and the perfect answer was in the film. We don't get into politics, we go where we're told and do the job we are trained to do. We don't get issued a political handbook just a seabag and orders. Excellent review![/quote ]


Amen to that, DakotaSurfer. Duke was very staunch to do this film with the political climate the way it was at that time. Despite the critics, as you say, this was an excellent film (although I didn't like Jim Hutton getting his demise near the end). And the nitpickers be damned!
Cheers - Jay:beer:

In the more recent DVD versions of Green Berets do you still have to turn disc over or has it moved to being one sided?


The UK DVD of The Green Berets that I purchased late last year is a 'flipper' disc just like the US disc.

Thanks Roughrider

I wonder why they did it that way? I have seen longer movies on 1 disc without the need for flipping over.


Mike

The US version is a flip disc but what I see is that they used a single layer double sided disc, if they would have used a double layer, they would have gotten everything on one side and could have made a decent label for the other side. It came out on DVD in 1996 so if I remember they did a lot of flip discs back then. Double layer technology may not have been around yet. My source says double layer DVD's was developed in 2003 and came out on the market in 2005. DVD-R's didn't come out until 1997.

DakotaSurfer, thank you for your military service.

GSP

Hi Dakota Surfer

Thanks for the information. The Green Berets is being released again in UK with John Wayne Collector magazine so that why I was wondering whether this release would be single sided.


Best


Mike

Nice copy of lobby card,

1457

That is a great photo from the movie, do you own the card?

Chester

No, I have a photo, so this is a photo of the photo!

Here's a pic of the theater poster -

A strange one this , but thanks for posting

Keith,

It is a little unusual. This is one that Les Adams, from Abilene, Texas shared with us.

Chester :newyear:

Believe it or not this John Wayne war film is the one I find most entertaining and feel to be his one of his best War films. It's a shame though that he didn't make another war film in the 70's.

Green Berets is a great action movie despite what critics think (do they think???)

This point was proved at box office and with viewwing figures everytime it is shown!!


Mike

We all know that critics don't think, cause if they did more people who deserved the awards would have gotten them.

This is one of my favorite Duke films, also.
Cheers - Jay:beer:

I am glad to see that I am not the only one who likes it a lot.

Before I retired, a gentleman who was in the army and stationed at Ft. Bragg during the making of "The Green Berets", told me about being an extra in the movie. He gave me a couple of prints of photos he had made that were taken with him and Duke in informal poses. They are both dressed up in their uniforms for the movie and the background is the building at the site of the big battle.
Cheers - Jay:beer:

My Grandad was an extra in the movie.... unfortunately he has no screen time :cry2:

Lauri Törni alias Larry Thorn on whom Kirby's character was based had an unusual life. He was a captain in the Finnish army during the wars against the Soviet Union (WW2 for the rest of the world). He couldn't live with the peace treaty made and moved to Germany in 1945 (when Finland was no more an ally of Germany) to get advanced saboteur training. He was captured by Brits, and then by Finns and spent several years in jail. After release, he moved to South America and then to the North, as an illegal immigrant, but worked his way to a resident and even US army officer. He died in Vietnam, and his remains were actually found in 1999.

That's interesting, thank you for sharing that piece of information.

Lauri Törni alias Larry Thorn on whom Kirby's character was based had an unusual life. He was a captain in the Finnish army during the wars against the Soviet Union (WW2 for the rest of the world). He couldn't live with the peace treaty made and moved to Germany in 1945 (when Finland was no more an ally of Germany) to get advanced saboteur training. He was captured by Brits, and then by Finns and spent several years in jail. After release, he moved to South America and then to the North, as an illegal immigrant, but worked his way to a resident and even US army officer. He died in Vietnam, and his remains were actually found in 1999.

So, were any of the storylines in the movie based on actual events that Thorn was involved in?

So, were any of the storylines in the movie based on actual events that Thorn was involved in?


I actually found a site that has all the information anybody might want about him. He sounded like a incredible man. Check it out!!!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Awesome! thanks for the link.

I found this much: On his first detachment Thorne was based in Chau Lang and Tinh Bien, in southern Vietnam, in the region of “Seven mountains”. He returned to Vietnam in December 1964 and was based in Phuoc Vinh, the island of Phu Quocin and Nha Trang. He died in a helicopter accident when taking part in ”Shining Brass” operation, October 1965. I forget if any of these places is mentioned in Green Berets, but I don’t believe there’s much left of his character; I haven’t read Robin Moore’s (who met Thorne in Tinh Bien) book, but I understand it is almost completely rewritten for the movie. What I’ve read about Thorne, he seems have been a fearless soldier who enjoyed war, and far less nice fellow than Col. Kirby

The new DVD is the exact same one that was released a while back, just new packaging. Damn flipper...

Makes you wonder why it has to be on a 2 sided disc. Other longer movies can be put on a 1 sided disc. No extras either:glare:

Maybe WB is gonna release a 40th anniversary DVD next year? :fear2: But probably not.

The Green Berets is one of those Duke movies that are in my earliest memory of anything. I bet I have seen this movie at least 80 times or more over the years. I never tire of seeing it and when it is shown, I watch it. You can guess that it is one of my all-time most favorite movies. I don't care either what the damned critics say about this movie. It just further proves to me that the critics "dont-know-what-time-it-is" when it comes to critiquing movies.

Here is an example of the book the movie was made from. The book is actually a collection of stories from the war in Viet Nam. Reading the book, you can see where they took pieces of it to make the story in the movie. A good read.

Mark

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

It seems that I love almost all of Duke's 59-76 work, course I grew up on this section of the Duke's career. And the older I get the more I love all of his work.

great film about a sad time of history one of many will there ever come a time when wars will be long ago history.

I have just posted:-
Classic War Movies- Apocalypse Now ([Only registered and activated users can see links])
which views the Vietnam War, in a totally different light
to that of Duke's movie.
Thought it interesting to bring this review back to the top.

Actually one of my favorite John Wayne films. Critics (liberals) jumped all over Duke for making this because it put the Vietnam war in a positive light. But it was well made and provided an alternative point of view (which wasn't in favor at the time). But it did good box office, so what do the critics know (I'm sorry the sun sets in the east, but that doesn't detract from the movie in anyway - besides from what I've seen on another topic, 90% of folks don't know Vietnam from South Africa)?

Lauri Törni alias Larry Thorn on whom Kirby's character was based had an unusual life. He was a captain in the Finnish army during the wars against the Soviet Union (WW2 for the rest of the world). He couldn't live with the peace treaty made and moved to Germany in 1945 (when Finland was no more an ally of Germany) to get advanced saboteur training. He was captured by Brits, and then by Finns and spent several years in jail. After release, he moved to South America and then to the North, as an illegal immigrant, but worked his way to a resident and even US army officer. He died in Vietnam, and his remains were actually found in 1999.
So, were any of the storylines in the movie based on actual events that Thorn was involved in?
I actually found a site that has all the information anybody might want about him. He sounded like an incredible man. Check it out!!!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]
I found this much: On his first detachment Thorne was based in Chau Lang and Tinh Bien, in southern Vietnam, in the region of “Seven mountains”. He returned to Vietnam in December 1964 and was based in Phuoc Vinh, the island of Phu Quocin and Nha Trang. He died in a helicopter accident when taking part in ”Shining Brass” operation, October 1965. I forget if any of these places is mentioned in Green Berets, but I don’t believe there’s much left of his character; I haven’t read Robin Moore’s (who met Thorne in Tinh Bien) book, but I understand it is almost completely rewritten for the movie. What I’ve read about Thorne, he seems have been a fearless soldier who enjoyed war, and far less nice fellow than Col. Kirby
etsija and SXViper,

I want to thank both of you for adding this fascinating dimension to the discussion. Somehow I totally missed it the first time around, and I figure if someone who's around here as much as I am missed it, maybe there are others.

Thanks again!

Chester :newyear:

Thanks for posting. Great Read

Mike

This is one of my top all time favorite films of his. It's a good fun movie with a great score.

I like the movie because it allowed Duke to speak his mind. The ending with him and the kid was great.

I more than agree. I, too, loved the ending myself. Is there a soundtrack to the movie?

I more than agree. I, too, loved the ending myself. Is there a soundtrack to the movie?


I didn't see a link for new copies, but here is a link for used copies.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Thank you. I'll have to get it.

This movie should have a 2-disc special edition DVD.