*The Green Berets* (film)

*The Green Berets* (film) is a 1968 American war film directed by and starring John Wayne. Co-directed by Ray Kellogg, the film is a dramatization of the United States Army Special Forces' role in the early years of the Vietnam War, adapted from the 1965 novel by Robin Moore. Produced by Batjac Productions and released by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, it was a major commercial success but received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics for its heavy-handed pro-war stance and perceived propagandistic nature during a period of intense national division over the conflict.

Plot

The narrative follows Green Beret Colonel Mike Kirby as he takes command of a camp in the Vietnam conflict zone. A skeptical journalist, George Beckworth, is embedded with the unit to report on their activities. The plot depicts the defense of the camp against a large-scale assault by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, showcasing the heroism of the American soldiers. A secondary mission involves a team, led by Sergeant Petersen, venturing behind enemy lines to kidnap a high-ranking Viet Cong officer. The film culminates in the successful raid and the journalist's conversion to supporting the war effort, ending with a now-iconic, historically inaccurate shot of the sun setting in the east over the South China Sea.

Cast

The ensemble cast is led by John Wayne as Colonel Mike Kirby, with David Janssen portraying the journalist George Beckworth. Key supporting roles include Jim Hutton as Sergeant Petersen, Aldo Ray as Sergeant Muldoon, and Raymond St. Jacques as "Doc" McGee. Other notable cast members are Bruce Cabot as Colonel Morgan, Jack Soo as Colonel Cai, and George Takei as Captain Nim. The film also features Luke Askew as Sergeant Provo, Irene Tsu as Lin, and Edward Faulkner as Captain MacDaniel. Mike Henry appears in a minor role, and Jason Evers plays a correspondent.

Production

Development began when John Wayne acquired the rights to Robin Moore's novel, seeking to create a patriotic counter-narrative to growing anti-war sentiment. The screenplay was written by James Lee Barrett. With cooperation from the Department of Defense, filming took place primarily at Fort Benning in Georgia, which stood in for Southeast Asia. The United States Army provided extensive logistical support, equipment, and personnel, including actual Green Berets as extras. Director Ray Kellogg handled the extensive battle sequences and special effects. The score was composed by renowned film composer Miklós Rózsa.

Release and reception

The film premiered in Atlanta on June 19, 1968, and was a significant box office hit, earning approximately $32 million against a $7 million budget. However, critical reception was intensely negative. Reviewers from major publications like *The New York Times* and *The Washington Post* lambasted it as simplistic propaganda. Renata Adler of *The New York Times* famously called it "a film so unspeakable, so stupid, so rotten and false in every detail." It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing but is often cited as one of the worst major studio films ever made. The premiere was met with protests from anti-war activists.

Historical accuracy and legacy

The film has been widely criticized for its profound historical inaccuracies and its stark, one-sided portrayal of the Vietnam War. It omits the political complexity of the conflict, the role of the South Vietnamese government, and presents a sanitized, glorified vision of American intervention. The infamous final scene, with the sun setting over the water to the east, became a symbol of its overall disregard for reality. Culturally, it stands as a stark artifact of pro-military Cold War cinema, contrasting sharply with contemporary and later films like *M*A*S*H* and *Apocalypse Now*. Its legacy is that of a politically charged cinematic curiosity, emblematic of the deep cultural divisions in the United States during the late 1960s.

Category:1968 films Category:American war films Category:Films about the Vietnam War Category:Films directed by John Wayne Category:Warner Bros. films