THE GREEN BERETS

PRODUCED BY MICHAEL WAYNE
DIRECTED BY JOHN WAYNE/RAY KELLOGG
MUSIC BY MIKLOS ROSKA
BATJAC PRODUCTION
WARNER BROS-SEVEN ARTS

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/DVD-2_green-berets.jpg..http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/article00.jpg

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
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)

Directed
Ray Kellogg
John Wayne
Mervyn LeRoy (uncredited)

Writing Credits
James Lee Barrett
Col. Kenneth B. Facey
Robin Moore novel

Cinematography
Winton C. Hoch

Makeup Department
Dave Grayson .... makeup artist

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)

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.

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.

Scenes were filmed with Vera Miles as John Wayne's wife but they were cut before release by the studio. Wayne made up for this by casting Miles in his next film Hellfighters (1968).

In 1967 John Wayne wrote to Democratic President Lyndon Johnson requesting military assistance for his pro-war film about Vietnam. Jack Valenti told the President, "Wayne's politics are wrong, but if he makes this film he will be helping us." Wayne got enough firepower to make The Green Berets (1968), which became one of the most controversial movies of all time.

Warner Bros. were concerned about letting John Wayne direct the movie because of the fact that his previous directorial effort, The Alamo (1960), had been an expensive flop. They therefore only agreed to let him do the film if he agreed to co-direct with a more experienced director, and Wayne chose Ray Kellogg who, despite having only ever directed B-movies, the studio accepted due to his track record as a second unit director on a number of major studio releases.

The defensive battle that takes place during the second half of the movie is very loosely based on the Battle of Nam Dong, during which two Viet Cong battalions attacked a small outpost in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam which was defended by a mixed force of Americans, Australians and South Vietnamese troops on July 6, 1964. After the successful defense of the outpost, the commanding officer, CPT Roger Donlon, was awarded the Medal of Honor.

The character Colonel Mike Kirby is based on the real life person Lauri Törni, who later on called himself Larry Thorne. Lauri Törni was a Finnish Army captain who fought in the Second World War during the Winter War (1939-40) and Continuation War (1941-44) against the Soviet Union. He emigrated to the USA in the late 1940s, and in 1954 joined the US Army, and in November 1963 he joined the Special Forces unit A-734 in Vietnam and fought in the Mekong Delta. He disappeared during a mission in 1965 and was reported MIA (Missing In Action). Larry Thorne's remains were found in 1999, and formally identified in 2003.

The three leads, John Wayne, David Janssen, and Jim Hutton, all died within slightly over eight months of one another: Hutton on June 2, 1979, Wayne on June 11, 1979, and Janssen on February 13, 1980.

Most colonels were only in their late twenties or early thirties during the Vietnam War. John Wayne was 60 when this film was made and Bruce Cabot was 63.

Goofs
* Revealing mistakes: The M-16 that Col. Kirby smashes against a tree is a toy gun made by Mattel in the 1960s. You can see tell by the speaker holes in the magazine (which is also much larger than a real M-16 magazine).

* 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).

* 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".

* Continuity: Before they all leave for Vietnam, Sgt. Muldoon wakes everybody up and turns to Petersen's place and the top of an open guitar case can be seen with a guitar in it. Then we get a look at the place from Muldoon's point of view. The next shot shows Muldoon again, but the guitar is now out of the case and leaning against the wall.

* Errors in geography: The movie supposedly takes place in Vietnam. Besides the southern yellow pines that make up 95% of the forests, there is an obvious lack of palm trees and other tropical plants. In addition, in the beginning of the movie they walk past a water tower with a red and white checkered paint scheme. This is how water towers are painted on U.S. military bases in the United States. Forward operation posts do not build water towers like this.

* Factual errors: Kirby arrives in Vietnam on an airfield where the airfield operations do not make any sense. For some reason there are troops marching around in circles on the tarmac and one version of every single type of aircraft the army owns sitting right next to each other. In addition, there are jeeps driving all around the tarmac with troops with loaded guns. This is a very dangerous and improbable use of an airfield.

* Factual errors: The helicopter Kirby is in does not react correctly in terms of aerodynamics after it is hit and catches fire. The helicopter would have swung violently around, speeded up as it fell, and would have crashed extremely hard, easily killing everyone on board.

* Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the opening scene of the film, Sgt. Muldoon states that the founding fathers of the United States began writing the constitution after the revolutionary war was over "from 1776 to 1783". The Revolutionary War in fact ended with the treaty of Paris in November of 1783.

* Continuity: In the scene where John Wayne tells Provo to set up a .30 caliber weapon to support the .50 caliber weapon, "Provo" reacts to being shot before the VC actually shoots him.

* Revealing mistakes: When the tower that John Wayne is standing on gets hit by enemy fire and begins to fall, the people in the tower shown falling are clearly dummies, not human.

* Continuity: In the final scene with Kirby and Hamchuck on the beach, it is clearly around noon or so when the conversation starts, but just a few frames later the sun is setting.

* Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): After the Americans arrive at the base camp, John Wayne/Col Kirby introduces David Janssen to the camp commander by pointing his weapon at him and waving it. As a soldier, his character should know better: you treat your weapon as though it is loaded and never point the muzzle at something unless it is a target.

* Factual errors: When the AC-47 was firing on the camp, it is impossible for the rounds to strike in a straight line. This is because the aircraft fires while in a bank.

* Revealing mistakes: During the rainstorm, it is obvious that characters in the background of the scene are not subject to the rain. The ground in the background is a lighter colour than the ground in the foreground. Also it is apparent that the sun is shining in that area

* Continuity: In one of the scenes showing the helicopters leaving the camp, as Tran and Beckworth discuss them it shows a helicopter leaving with the number 4 on it's nose. The scene cuts to Tran and Beckworth discussing two helicopters going on patrol and then cuts back to the helicopter with '4' on its nose taking off again albeit shot from a different angle

* Factual errors: One scene shows several helicopters touching down in a landing zone (LZ) near the base camp. Simultaneously (and well before all the helicopters have completed their landing) at least 1 jeep is shown driving out into the LZ, approaching a helicopter from its rear and crowding alongside it's spinning tail rotor. This is extremely dangerous and people have literally lost their heads because of this. Safety mandates that everyone stays clear of all helicopter spinning tail rotors at all times and an LZ should be kept clear of all non-emergency vehicles.

* Continuity: At (01:31) A small group of soldiers is gathered with Colonel Kirby (John Wayne) as the "Mike force" is landing in helicopters. Sgt. Provo (Luke Askew) loses his boonie hat as the second chopper in the stick touches down. The cover is seen to fly straight up and is presumably pushed a distance away from the rotor wash. Provo remains without a hat until a closeup scene a few seconds later when he is miraculously wearing it again though he hasn't left the group.

* Revealing mistakes: Although hard to spot in the film, still photographs taken on location reveal Colonel Kirby and Captain MacDaniel to be wearing highly polished, standard combat boots - not paratrooper's jump boots - with their tan Class A uniforms in their scenes at Ft. Bragg. Special Forces soldiers, all qualified paratroopers, wore jump boots with both their dress and fatigue uniforms.

* Incorrectly regarded as goofs: The famous supposed-goof at the end of the movie where the characters watch the sun set over the ocean in the east is not necessarily impossible. Since no previous scenes take place on the coast, this scene could have taken place anywhere in Vietnam. Vietnam does have a west coast - albeit a short one.

* Continuity: At the start of the movie, the orientation team is a part of the 3rd Special Forces Group. Muldoon and McGee are wearing 3rd Group flashes on their berets. The next time we see them, they are with Col. Kirby watching Peterson. They are then wearing 5th Group flashes.

Memorable Quotes (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063035/quotes)

Filming Locations
Fort Benning, Georgia, USA
Stage 25, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Watch the Trailer:-

Z9O8EihvPlo

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 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/6304696523/qid=1139040365/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-2966141-4147854?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130)

Deep Discount DVD (http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=WBD001002) (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!!!

http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/t/t375.htm

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

http://www.dukewayne.com/imagehosting/2147fcb464c7961.jpg

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 (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=4130)
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!!!

http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/t/t375.htm
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.

http://www.amazon.com/Green-Berets/dp/B000KGYONI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1228615723&sr=1-2

Thank you. I'll have to get it.

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

Here is alittle info about the Blu-Ray high def release date for "The Gren Berets":

Warner has also announced that the John Wayne classic The Green Berets will debut on Blu-ray on 1/5/2010 (SRP $28.99). Extras will include the vintage The Filmmakers: The Making of The Green Berets featurette. The title is already available on DVD

More info & covershots of the Blu-Ray version:

http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/thn/assets_c/2009/09/green-berets-thumb-500x642-1701.jpg

The Green Berets are coming to Blu-Ray in January

By Paul on September 14, 2009 10:34 AM [/URL]

Warner Home Video in the US are going to release the classic John Wayne movie THE GREEN BERETS on Blu-Ray this coming January...

The actual release date for this release is 5th January 2010. The film is legendary as it is the first Hollywood depiction of the war in Vietnam. Attached are the specs and the artwork.

Features include:

1080P Widescreen
English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD
English, French, German and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Hebrew, Finnish, Greek
Vintage Featurette The Filmmakers: The Making of The Green Berets
Theatrical Trailer


[url]http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2009/09/the-green-berets-are-coming-to-blu-ray-in-january.php (http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2009/09/the-green-berets-are-coming-to-blu-ray-in-january.php#trackbacks)

That will be added to my collection.......High Def is the only way to watch a movie!!

Very good, indeed. I saw it at a theater while I was in college and awaiting being drafted in the lottery when my deferment ran out. Despite the anti-war times, the audience cheered when the Cong were blown onto the barb wire fence. Disconcerting to say the least.
I flashed back to the Georgia movie locations when I was in basic training in Fort Dix, New Jersey. What the hell did that frozen, flat tundra have any relevance to the fetid swamps of Nam? I felt mightily unprepared and wished the Duke and company were going with me.
Obviously, everything worked out for the best, but I still think that the training at the time was ridiculous and was reflected by the Berets' training scenes.



We deal in lead, friend.

The current issue of the magazine Retro Cinema has an interview wit Luke Askew, "Provo" from the film. Interesting read-he said he got the part only because Bruce Dern had to back out due to another commitment.

http://i37.servimg.com/u/f37/11/97/59/03/a_duk152.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=7183&u=11975903)

http://i77.servimg.com/u/f77/11/97/59/03/a_duke20.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=7250&u=11975903)

http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/11/97/59/03/wayne422.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=2522&u=11975903)

http://i27.servimg.com/u/f27/11/97/59/03/a_duk145.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=7876&u=11975903)

http://i27.servimg.com/u/f27/11/97/59/03/a_duk160.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=7891&u=11975903)

http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/11/97/59/03/wayne498.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=2640&u=11975903)

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk229.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8621&u=11975903)

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk230.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8622&u=11975903)

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk231.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8623&u=11975903)

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk249.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8644&u=11975903)

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk256.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8654&u=11975903)

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk257.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8655&u=11975903)

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk278.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8679&u=11975903)

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk287.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8689&u=11975903)

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk444.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8863&u=11975903)

Behind the Scenes of Film.

http://img90.imageshack.us/flvplayer.swf?f=Pthegreenberetscoulisses

That was great, Lasbugas. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Mark

thanks for sharing Lasbugas

lasbugas (http://www.dukewayne.com/member.php?u=4623)
You are a true PRO with what you can do!

Chester :newyear:

Speaking of The Green Berets. I am or was still in the process of watching episodes from The "A" Team 1st season--and on the last disk-I think the 1st episode? it showed lots of footage from The Green Berets in it when "The "A" Team" was reminiscing about their service with some friend who was killed whose funeral they wanted to attend. ANyway, you see great chopper action, that bridge being blown sky-high, as well as scenes where they are about to infiltrate a village where they find many murdered.

Anyway, it's nice to see in episodes where there is something to do with Duke or some of his movies. I also see they have a sort of "tribute" to Ronal REagan too--but you will have to watch that show to see what I mean as I aint tellin. ;-))

Forgot to mention--great stills by the way. ;-)