Full Metal Jacket (film)

Full Metal Jacket (1987) (film)

Full Metal Jacket (1987) is an Oscar-nominated Stanley Kubrick film based on the novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford. The title refers to the type of ammunition used by infantry riflemen. The film portrays the urban Vietnam War fought by the U.S. Marines.

The protagonist is J.T. Davis, nicknamed "Joker" (Matthew Modine), a member of 3092 platoon, beginning recruit training as a Marine on Parris Island, South Carolina.

The film was photographed in England, in Cambridgeshire and Beckton, in Newham, East London. A British territorial army base, Bassingbourn Barracks, doubled as the Parris Island Marine boot camp. The disused Beckton Gasworks portrayed the ruined city of Hu?. Kubrick worked from still photographs of Hu? taken in 1968 and found an area owned by British Gas that closely resembled it and was scheduled to be demolished. To achieve this look, Kubrick had buildings blown up and the film's art director used a wrecking ball to knock specific holes in certain buildings over the course of two months. Originally, Kubrick had a plastic replica jungle flown in from California but once he looked at it was reported to have said, "I don't like it. Get rid of it." The open country is Cliffe marshes, also on the Thames, with 200 imported Spanish palm trees and 100,000 plastic tropical plants from Hong Kong.

Music
For the period music, Kubrick went through Billboard's list of Top 100 Hits for each year from 1962-1968 and tried many songs but "sometimes the dynamic range of the music was too great, and we couldn't work in dialogue." The music included in the film is as follows:

Hello Vietnam - Performed by Johnnie Wright
These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - Performed by Nancy Sinatra
Wooly Bully - Performed by Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs
Surfin' Bird - Performed by The Trashmen
The Marines Hymn - Performed by The Goldman Band
Chapel of Love - Performed by The Dixie Cups
Mickey Mouse Club Television Theme
Paint It, Black - Performed by The Rolling Stones

Plot

The brutal command of Senior Drill Instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (R. Lee Ermey, a former drill instructor in real life) shows the harsh indoctrination of Marine recruits. The Vietnam War is in full swing, and his job is to produce trained killers who will not hesitate when the decisive moment arrives. The film's first section focuses on the physical and psychological mistreatment of recruit Leonard Lawrence (Vincent D'Onofrio), whom the drill instructor nick-names Gomer Pyle.

Hartman immediately pegs Pyle as a misfit. He is socially awkward, overweight and out of shape. He has trouble coping with the physical rigors of boot camp. He also does not adhere well to orders and procedures. Whether this is from carelessness, anxiety, or lack of intelligence is never made clear. His deficiencies seem to personally offend Hartman, and he punishes him as a kind of lesson to the others. Hartman ultimately appoints Joker as Pyle's mentor, stressing that Joker will set Pyle straight. During an inspection, Hartman discovers a contraband jelly doughnut in Pyle's foot locker, and decides to administer collective punishment for the platoon every time Pyle messes up. After numerous collective punishments, the platoon gives Pyle a blanket party, discharging their anger upon him while simultaneously achieving team cohesion. Even Joker joins in, but he is obviously moved by Pyle's pitiful sobs of pain and grief.

The next morning, Joker realizes that Pyle has become sullen and withdrawn; he begins to detach himself from the platoon as well as the rest of reality. His expert marksmanship impresses Hartman, but worries Joker, because Pyle converses with his rifle "Charlene". On completing their training, every one in 3092 platoon is assigned a Military Occupational Specialty, the most common being 0300-Infantry (one notable exception is Joker who is assigned to 4212-Basic Military Journalism). On the platoon's last night on Parris Island, Joker is slated firewatch duty, during which he discovers Pyle in the head (toilet in Marine jargon), loading his rifle with live bullets. Frightened, Joker attempts to calm Pyle; he fails and Pyle's screaming rousts Hartman to them. He orders Pyle to put down the rifle and step away from it; misreading Pyle, Hartman is shot dead. Pyle then commits suicide as the stunned Joker watches.

The second part of the story occurs in Vietnam, in 1968. Joker is a Corporal and a Marine Combat Correspondent with Stars and Stripes, assigned to a Marine public affairs unit, with his new partner, a combat photographer known as Rafterman. The action is quiet where they are, as the Grunts are the ones who are in the "shit" (battlefield); until the Tet Offensive begins, and the Marine base is attacked. That night, Joker fights his first battle when the Viet Cong attempt to overrun the base. Next day, the PA staff learn about the situation from their superior. Because the Tet Offensive has likely cancelled his current assignment of covering an upcoming show featuring Ann-Margret, Joker asks his superior officer, "Sir? Does this mean Ann-Margret isn't coming?" With this silly remark, Joker's "phony tough" bravado towards his superior officer reaches the breaking point, and he is ordered to Phu Bai, a Marine forward operating base near the ancient Vietnamese city of Hu? to cover the combat taking place in this region. Rafterman tags along looking for some "trigger time."

Joker links up with "Cowboy," his friend from boot camp, who is second in command of the Lusthog Squad, and accompanies Cowboy's squad on patrol in the city of Hu?. A vicious battle breaks out, initially resulting in the death of Cowboy's platoon leader, which leaves a Marine nicknamed Crazy Earl as the new squad leader. Earl leads the Lusthog Squad through a ruined section of the city. One of the film's standout sequences shows the squad being interviewed individually by a television news crew and expressing their thoughts on the war.

The squad is called up for patrol again, this time north of the Perfume River (which divides the city of Hu?), where enemy forces are believed to be hiding. Crazy Earl comes across a stuffed animal and picks it up. The toy is a booby trap, and the ensuing blast kills Earl and leaves Cowboy the reluctant squad leader. The squad quickly becomes lost in the ruined city, and a sniper wounds two of their comrades, Doc Jay and Eightball, with the intention of drawing more of them in. As the squad moves up to try to locate the hidden position, the sniper kills Cowboy too. With his Marines by his side, Cowboy dies in Joker's arms. Using smoke to conceal their advance, the squad closes in and Animal Mother assumes control of the remaining Marines. As they fan out through the likely building, Joker finds the sniper. At the critical moment his rifle jams and the sniper, a young Vietnamese girl, opens fire, pinning Joker behind a column, making it impossible for him to escape or shoot back. Rafterman arrives and shoots the sniper, saving Joker. As Joker, Rafterman, Animal Mother, and the rest of the remaining Marines gather around the girl she begins to pray, then begs the Marines to kill her. Joker and Animal Mother argue over leaving her to suffer and die slowly. Ultimately, he allows a mercy killing, but only if the combat-deprived Joker performs it, who finishes her off after a long pause.

The film concludes with the Marines' ironic rendition of the song Mickey Mouse Club as they march into the night. This final sequence is an inside joke, as a military parody of the song exists, replacing the chorus with "F-U-C K-E-D A-G-A-I-N," and other variations on the lyrics.

Cast

Matthew Modine - Pvt. Joker

Adam Baldwin - Animal Mother

Vincent D'Onofrio - Leonard 'Private Pyle' Pratt

R. Lee Ermey - Gny. Sgt. Hartman (as Lee Ermey)
Dorian Harewood - Eightball

Kevyn Major Howard - Rafterman

Arliss Howard - Pvt. Cowboy
Ed O'Ross - Lt. Touchdown
John Terry - Lt. Lockhart
Kieron Jecchinis - Crazy Earl

Kirk Taylor - Payback
Tim Colceri - Doorgunner
Jon Stafford - Doc Jay (as John Stafford)
Bruce Boa - Poge Colonel
Ian Tyler - Lt. Cleves

Sal Lopez - T.H.E. Rock
Gary Landon Mills - Donlon
Papillon Soo - Da Nang Hooker (as Papillon Soo Soo)
Peter Edmund - Snowball
Ngoc Le - VC Sniper
Leanne Hong - Motorbike Hooker
Tan Hung Francione - ARVN Pimp
Marcus D'Amico - Hand Job
Costas Dino Chimona - Chili
Gil Kopel - Stork
Keith Hodiak - Daddy D.A.
Peter Merrill - TV Journalist
Herbert Norville - Daytona Dave
Nguyen Hue Phong - Camera Thief
Duc Hu Ta - Dead N.V.A.
Martin Adams - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Kevin Albridge - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Del Anderson - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Philip Bailey - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Louis Barlotti - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Beddows - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Patrick Benn - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Steve Boucher - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Adrian Bush - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Carey - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Gary Cheeseman - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Wayne Clark - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Chris Cornibert - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Danny Cornibert - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Curtis - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Davis - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Harry Davies - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Kevin Day - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Gordon Duncan - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Phil Elmer - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Colin Elvis - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Hadrian Follett - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Sean Frank - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
David George - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Laurie Gomes - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Brian Goodwin - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Nigel Goulding - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Hague - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Steve Hands - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Chris Harris - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon

Bob Eric Hart - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon (as Bob Hart)
Derek Hart - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Barry Hayes - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Hayes - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Robin Hedgeland - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Duncan Henry - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Kenneth Head - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Liam Hogan - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Trevor Hogan - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Luke Hogdal - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Steve Hudson - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon

Tony Howard - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Sean Lamming - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Dan Landin - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Leete - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Nigel Lough - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Terry Lowe - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Frank McCardle - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Gary Meyer - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Brett Middleton - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
David Milner - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Sean Minmagh - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Minmagh - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Morrison - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Russell Mott - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Ness - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Robert Nichols - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
David Perry - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Peter Rommely - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Pat Sands - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Jim Sarup - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Chris Maybach - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon (as Chris Schmidt-Maybach)
Al Simpson - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Russell Slater - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Gary Smith - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Roger Smith - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Tony Smith - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Anthony Styliano - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Bill Thompson - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Mike Turjansky - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Dan Weldon - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Dennis Wells - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
Michael Williams - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Wilson - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
John Wonderling - Parris Island Recruit and Vietnam Platoon
rest of cast listed alphabetically: