The Green Berets (1968)

5.6G141 minDirector: John Wayne

1968 film by John Wayne, Ray Kellogg

The Green Berets is a 1968 American war film directed by John Wayne and Ray Kellogg, and starring Wayne, David Janssen and Jim Hutton, based on the 1965 novel by Robin Moore. Much of the film was shot in the summer of 1967. Parts of the screenplay bear little relation to the novel, although the portion in which a woman seduces a North Vietnamese communist general and sets him up to be kidnapped by Americans is from the book.

The Green Berets is strongly anti-communist and pro-South Vietnam. It was released at the height of American involvement in the Vietnam War, the same year as the Tet Offensive against the largest cities in South Vietnam. John Wayne was so concerned by the anti-war sentiment in the United States, he wanted to make this film to present the pro-military position. He requested and obtained full military cooperation and materiel from President Lyndon B. Johnson and the United States Department of Defense. John Wayne bought the film rights to Robin Moore's book for $35,000 and 5% of undefined profits of the film.

The film was a financial success at the box office, but received almost universally negative reviews from critics.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Green Berets about?
The Green Berets (1968) — U.S. Special Forces troops ("Green Berets") under the command of Colonel Mike Kirby defend a firebase during the Vietnam war. War correspondent George Beckwith accompanies Kirby and objects to both the war and the means by which it is executed. Kirby's firebase is overrun and his
Is The Green Berets based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Green Berets scary?
Content rating: G. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.