Ron Kovic

Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Actors: John Achorn (actor), Bob Gunton (actor), Willem Dafoe (actor), Mel Allen (actor), Dale Dye (actor), John Getz (actor), Tom Cruise (actor), Daniel Baldwin (actor), Stephen Baldwin (actor), William Baldwin (actor), Reg E. Cathey (actor), Raymond J. Barry (actor), Tom Berenger (actor), Wayne Knight (actor), David Herman (actor),

Plot: The biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.

Keywords: 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, american-soldier, anti-war-demonstration, anti-war-protest, baby, bar, baseball, based-on-book
Genres: Biography, Drama, War,
Taglines: A story of innocence lost and courage found.

Quotes:

Mrs. Kovic: [almost sobbing] Don't say penis in this house!::Ron Kovic: Penis! Penis! Big fucking erect penis, Mom!

Ron Kovic: People say that if you don't love America, then get the hell out. Well, I love America.

Ron Kovic: They burned the flag and they demonstrated against us; it's on the cover of the paper today. They have no respect. They have no idea what's going on over there, Mom - the men that are sacrificing their lives. People are dying every day over there, and nobody back here even seems to care. It's a bunch of goddamn shit if you ask me!::Mrs. Kovic: Ronnie, don't take the Lord's name in vain - not in front of the children. I agree with everything you say!::Ron Kovic: I served my country - and they just want to take from it - just take, take! Love it or leave it, that's what I think.

Lieutenant - Vietnam: [to Ron Kovic] It wasn't your fault, goddamn it! They got in the goddamn way!

Ron Kovic: When I was in the hospital, I thought, yeah - yeah, this makes sense.::Timmy Burns: What makes sense?::Ron Kovic: Because I failed, Timmy.::Timmy Burns: What are you talking about?::Ron Kovic: Because I - I killed some - people; I made some terrible - mistakes!::Timmy Burns: Oh, for Christ's sake, Ronnie, we all made mistakes. I mean, you - you had no choice. That's something that those goddamn pansy demonstrators ain't never gonna understand! Now, you don't even have to talk about it, Ronnie; I mean, it was insane over there! It was crazy!::Ron Kovic: Sometimes I wish, I wish I'd - The first time I got hit, I was shot in the foot. I could have laid down, I mean - who gives a fuck now if I was a hero or not? I was paralyzed, castrated that day; why? It was all so - stupid! I'd have my dick and my balls now, and some days, Timmy - some days I think I'd give everything I believe in - everything I got, all my values, just to have my body back again, just to be whole again. But I'm not whole; I never will be, and that's - that's the way it is, isn't it?::Timmy Burns: [after a slight pause] For Christ's sake, Ronnie, it's your birthday. You're alive. You made it! Smile.

Steve Boyer: You could start out as a cashier... and then work your way up to becoming a manager of one of these places - just like your dad.::Ron Kovic: I get $1700 a month from the government. I think I'm just going to lay low, and look around...::Steve Boyer: [dismissively] That's charity money, Ronnie; this isn't.::Ron Kovic: Charity?::Steve Boyer: All I'm saying is that you got to - you got to put the war behind you, you know; you got to forget about this chair you're in!::Ron Kovic: [leans forward] Sometimes, Stevie, I think people, they know you're back from Vietnam, and their face - changes: the eyes, the voice, the way they look at you, you know.::Steve Boyer: I know what you mean, Ronnie, but people here - they don't give a shit about the war! Yeah! To them it's just a million miles away. It's all bullshit, anyway. I mean, the government sold us a bill of goods and we bought it, and got the shit kicked out of us, and for what, huh?::Ron Kovic: What do you mean, "we," Stevie? You were in college, man.::Steve Boyer: [shrugs shoulders] You bought that Communist bullshit, Ronnie. Yeah, they were going to take over the world, you remember that? Fenelli, you, Walsh - the whole town was devastated.::[pause]::Steve Boyer: For what? For lies, for bullshit lies?

Ron Kovic: [to Charlie] I had a mother; I had a father, things - things that made sense. Do you remember things that made sense? Things you could count on? Before we all got so lost? What are we gonna do, Charlie? What am I gonna do?

Mrs. Kovic: [enters the room, beaming] Ronnie, Ronnie, you're doing the right thing! Communism has to be stopped! It's God's will that you go, and I'm proud of you. [gently pats his shoulder] Just be careful, that's all.::[pause]::Ron Kovic: Don't you know what it means to me to be a Marine, Dad? Ever since I was a kid I've wanted this - I've wanted to serve my country - and I want to go. I want to go to Vietnam - and I'll die there if I have to.

Doctor: We want to make one thing very clear to you, Ron. The possibility of your ever walking again is minimal... almost impossible. You're a T6 - paralyzed from the mid-chest down. Probably... you'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. (pause) Do you understand what I'm saying?::Ron Kovic: Well, doctor...::Doctor: Hmm?::Ron Kovic: Doctor, will I ever be able to - to have children?::Doctor: No. [pause] No, but we have a good psychologist. He's helped a lot of people.::Ron Kovic: I'll walk again.::Doctor: No you won't...::Ron Kovic: No, I know I'll walk again!::Doctor: No, let me tell you something, Ron. You will NEVER walk again.

[in the Bronx VA hospital]::Ron Kovic: This place is a fuckin' slum!::Marvin: You want out of here, man? Fine. We take that leg of yours, and we can get you out of here in two weeks!::Ron Kovic: I want my leg.::Marvin: Why?::Ron Kovic: I want my leg!::Marvin: Why? You can't feel it no how!::Ron Kovic: (incredulous and angry) It's my leg! I want my leg, you understand? Can't you understand that? All's I'm sayin' is that I want to be treated like a human being! I fought for my country! I am a Vietnam veteran! I fought for my country!::Patient: [off-camera] Shut the fuck up!::Ron Kovic: And I think that I deserve to be treated... decent!

The Making of 'Born on the Fourth of July' (1989)

Actors: Tom Cruise (actor), Tom Cruise (actor), Daniel Wheatcroft (producer),

Genres: Short,