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Heartbreak Ridge (1986)

Actors: Joel Cox (editor), Clint Eastwood (director), Mario Van Peebles (actor), Nicholas Worth (actor), Marsha Mason (actress), Clint Eastwood (producer), Richard Venture (actor), Lloyd Nelson (actor), Clint Eastwood (actor), Bo Svenson (actor), J.C. Quinn (actor), Christopher Michael (actor), Peter Jason (actor), James D. Dever (miscellaneous crew), Bundy Chanock (miscellaneous crew),

Plot: 1983. Tom Highway is a well-decorated career military man in the United States Marine Corps, he who has seen action in Korea and Vietnam. His current rank is Gunnery Sergeant. His experiences have led him to become an opinionated, no nonsense man, who is prone to bursts of violence, especially when he's drunk, if the situation does not suit him, regardless of the specifics or people involved. Because of these actions, he has spent his fair share of overnighters behind bars. Close to retirement, one of his last assignments, one he requested, is back at his old unit at Cherry Point, North Carolina, from where he was transferred for insubordination. He is to train a reconnaissance platoon. His superior officer, the much younger and combat inexperienced Major Malcolm Powers, sees Highway as a relic of an old styled military. Highway's commanding officer, Lieutenant Ring, the platoon leader, is also a younger man who has no combat experience, but is academically inclined and happy-go-lucky. Highway finds that his team is a rag-tag bunch of slackers, who includes wannabe rock musician Stitch Jones, with who Highway had an inauspicious earlier meeting. The men in the platoon, who truly believe Highway is crazy, hate him, and don't understand why they have to follow his harsh training regimen when the United States is not currently at war. The major, who is all about efficiency regardless of combat readiness, has the same views of Highway. He is clear that he sees Highway's platoon solely as a training mechanism for his own elite squad trained by Highway's nemesis, Staff Sergeant Webster. Things for Highway and his platoon change when the United States enters into war in Grenada. Through it all, Highway tries to reconnect with his bar waitress ex-wife Aggie, he even clandestinely reading women's magazines to understand her better. Two primary obstacles stand in his way: Roy Jennings, Aggie's boss and current suitor who hates Marines, and Aggie's own remembrance of how dysfunctional their marriage was.

Keywords: 1980s, a-show-of-hands, accidentally-firing-a-gun, action-hero, air-strike, ak-47, alcoholic, army-lieutenant, army-major, assault-course
Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, War,
Taglines: Clint Eastwood is Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway, career Marine and combat veteran. He is a man whose life has been defined by war. Korea and Vietnam taught him how to survive. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor but found public apathy and military bureaucracy. He is a hard-drinking loner but he's trying to reorganize his life and understand the woman he loves. He is a traditionalist who has to shape up his ragtag troops and he'll get the job done. His integrity is unwavering. His past is Heartbreak Ridge. He is ready for another battlefield and his finest hour. It will come. ... the scars run deep.

Quotes:

Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: [approaching Highway] Just what the hell do you think you're doing?::Highway: Just enjoying the view, sir.::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Well, you disobeyed an order. I told you to stay in contact and not take this hill without me. Damn it! Get on your feet, Highway!::Highway: With all due respect, sir, you're beginning to bore the hell out of me.::[sees the helicopter landing and Colonel Meyers getting out]::Colonel Meyers: Who's in charge here?::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: I am, sir. Major Malcolm Powers.::Colonel Meyers: Did you lead this assault?::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Sir, Leutenant Ring and Gunnery Sergeant Highway disobeyed a direct order. I told them to wait for support but they went up this hill anyway.::Colonel Meyers: [to Highway] Why?::Highway: We're Marines, sir. We're paid to adapt, to improvise.::Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Sir, I gave the order to take this hill.::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Ring, this is going to ruin your career.::Colonel Meyers: Are you new to the infantry, Major?::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Yes, sir. Just came over from supply.::Colonel Meyers: Were you good at that?::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Yes, sir!::Colonel Meyers: Well then, stick to it because you're a walking cluster fuck as an infantry officer. My men are hard chargers, Major! Leutenant Ring and Gunny Highway took a handfull of young fire pissers, exercised some personal initiative and kicked ass! [to Lt Ring] Good job, Leutenant!::Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Thank you, sir!::Colonel Meyers: Leutenant, see to it that those students are escorted back to Cherry Point.::Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Yes, sir!::Colonel Meyers: [to Powers] Well, you're dismissed! [Highway and Choozoo approach] What the hell are you two sorry assed individuals looking at? Get the hell off of my LZ.::Highway, Choozoo: Semper Fi!::Colonel Meyers: Oo-rah!::Highway: Well, Chooz, I guess we're not 0-1-1 anymore.

[toasting a fallen comrade]::Choozoo: Here's to J.J. and all the pieces of him we couldn't find.

Highway: My name's Gunnery Sergeant Highway and I've drunk more beer and banged more quiff and pissed more blood and stomped more ass that all of you numbnuts put together. Now Major Powers has put me in charge of this reconisence platoon.::Lance Corporal Fragatti: We take care of ourselves.::Highway: You couldn't take care of a wet dream. God loves you.::Collins: I know that!::Highway: You men do not impress me!::Profile: Recon platoon kicks butt.::Highway: [grabs Profile by the nose] If you ladies think that you can slip and slide just because your last sergeant was a pussy, well queer bait, you're going to start acting like Marines right now!::Lance Corporal Fragatti: Who invited ya!::Highway: I'm not doing this because I want to take long showers with you assholes and I don't want to get my head shot off in some far away land because you don't habla, comprende?::Aponte: Ruh!::Highway: You?::Quinones: Yes, Gunney.::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: [singing] And you really look so fine and you've got that big behind.::Highway: [sees Jones] Well, well, well, well. I'm here to tell you that life as you knew it has ended. You all may as well go into town tonight. You may as well laugh and make fools out of yourselves. Rub your pathetic little peckers against your honies or stick it in a knothole in the fence but whatever it is, get rid of it. Because at 0600 tomorrow your ass is mine. [to Jones] Where's your bunk.::Highway: [walking toward the barracks holding Jones by the ear] Where is it?::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: Where's what, man?::Highway: The money for my ticket.::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: Hey, no need to resort to unnecessary violence. I was a little down on the money, you know, but I got a little money for you right here. But that's all I got. [hands Highway some cash]::Highway: And the meal.::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: The meal.::Highway: Yeah, the meal.::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: Ok, I got a little more for you here but that's definitely all I got.::Highway: And the tip.::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: No, man, that's really it that's all I got.::Highway: You owe me. [rips Jones' earring off] Now it's my will against yours and you will lose. So don't forget, 0600. That's six o'clock in the morning for those of you who don't habla.

Jail Binger: I don't like soldier boys.::Highway: Say what?::Jail Binger: If you wanna pop that puppy's can you don't have to grease him so hard, jarhead.::Highway: Well, it sounds like you're a man of experience.::Jail Binger: What the hell's that supposed to mean, grunge shit.::Highway: It means: Be advised. I'm mean, nasty and tired. I eat concertina wire and piss napalm and I can put a round in a flea's ass at 200 meters. So why don't you go hump somebody else's leg, mutt face, before I push yours in.::Jail Binger: Ain't gonna be so smart with your balls stuffed in your mouth, jarhead!::Highway: [hands cigar to the young man] Hang on to this, boy. I think war's just been declared.

Highway: Drop your cocks and grab your socks! Off your ass and on your feet. Let's move. Knees to the breeze in 5 minutes.::Profile: It's Goddam 5 o'clock. You said six!::Highway: So I lied. So I can't tell time. So maybe some communist bastard's going to make an appointment pop you a new asshole in your forehead. You're Marines now. You adapt. You overcome. You improvise. Let's move. Four minutes!::Highway: [in the head] We move swift. We move silent. We move deadly. Only one shake of those wangs ladies. Anymore than that consitutes pleasure and we're not in that business. Sleep well, Mr. Jones?::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: This is a nightmare. A freakin' nightmare. Wake me up, Mama, please!::Marine: [outside the barracks] The platoon is formed for PT, Gunny.::Highway: Take your post. The Marines are looking for a few good men. Unfortunately you ain't it. We will blaze a path into battle for others to follow. Surrender is not in our creed. Let me here you say that.::Lance Corporal Fragatti, Aponte, Profile, Quinones, Collins, Marine, Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: [mumbling] Surrender is not in our creed.::Highway: Louder or the next time you leave this base for R&R; you'll be collecting your pensions.::Lance Corporal Fragatti, Aponte, Profile, Quinones, Collins, Marine: Surrender is not in our creed!::Highway: Louder!::Lance Corporal Fragatti, Aponte, Profile, Quinones, Collins, Marine, Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: SURRENDER IS NOT IN OUR CREED!::Highway: Oo-rah. Strip off those t-shirts.::Lance Corporal Fragatti: Huh?::Highway: You'll all wear the same t-shirt or not at all. [Platoon takes off shirts. Highway approaches Fragatti] What's your name, Marine?::Lance Corporal Fragatti: Lance Corporal Fragatti, Gunny.::Highway: [takes off Fragatti's sunglasses and steps on them] Well, you shouldn't litter Fag-eddi. It's ecologically unsound. [moves down the line] What's your name?::Aponte: Aponte.::Highway: Your's?::Profile: Profile.::Highway: Your's?::Quinones: Quinoes.::Highway: Your's?::Collins: Collins!::Highway: Alright, Colitis, Cahones, Profilatics, Ajax. You boys are handsome. You ladies look like models. In fact I want your hair high and tight by tomorrow morning. When you start looking like Marines you'll start feeling like Marines and then, Goddamn it, you'll start acting like Marines. Platoon, ten-hut! Right face! Forward march!

Lieutenant M.R. Ring: [bumps into Highway] Excuse me, sir. I mean, Gunny. Sergeant Major::Choozoo: Sir. This is Gunnery Sergent Thomas Highway. He's been assigned to Recon Platoon.::Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Oh, outstanding, welcome aboard. Well, I have to hightail it men. I'm late for pre-schoolers school.::[looks at Highway's ribbons]::Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Lord!::Highway: His Mama know he's playing Marine?::Choozoo: By the way, he's Lt. Ring. Your platoon leader.::Highway: Thanks a lot.::Choozoo: You didn't think you were just gonna tilt nipple to a bunch of no rank fuzz butts did you?::Highway: I guess not.::Choozoo: Want me to intro you to your troops.::Highway: No, I'll take care of it.::Choozoo: Here, take my pickup.::Highway: Hey, thanks. Where is it?::Choozoo: You can tell by the sign. It says Sergeant Major.

Highway: Hey, Baby. You fool around on the first date?::Little Mary: Oooooo.::[hugs Highway]::Little Mary: Damn you, boy, don't you know how to write or call?::Highway: Well, I didn't want you to spend any sleepless nights thinking about me.::Little Mary: Come on, I'll get you a beer.::Highway: Great. I could use one.::[sits at bar]::Highway: You look great. They don't make 'em like you anymore.::Little Mary: Oh, hell, sure they do. But if you want a lot from a woman you have to give a lot.::Highway: Not this kid. It seems that marriage and the Marine Corps weren't too compatable.::Little Mary: Panther piss. The best years of my life were spent with a Marine. If I were a little younger I'd make you eat your words and curl your toes.::Highway: I bet you could.::Little Mary: Aggie always kept a smile on your face.::Highway: That was pain.::Little Mary: She's in town Tom.::Highway: I figured as much. Well, if she's looking for more alimony she's in real trouble because I've got myself so broke I couldn't get out of sight if it took a quarter to go around the world.::Little Mary: She's cocktailin' over at the Palace.::Highway: I figured she'd be married to a general by now. Can I get my old room back?::Little Mary: Hell yes. You gonna go see her?::Highway: Hell no. Can I run a tab on this?::Little Mary: Hell no.::Highway: Tough woman. Tough, tough woman.

Sergeant Webster: Highway, I heard you was back.::Highway: Webster.::Sergeant Webster: These retards couldn't fight their way out of a shit house.::Highway: That where you been keeping yourself lately?::Highway: Major Powers and me are building an elite company of fightin' men.::Highway: Webster, the only thing you could build is a good case of hemmorhoids. [taps Fragatti on the head]::Lance Corporal Fragatti: What? What?::Highway: Well, you're blowing away all of your ammunition, Fag-eddy. Miss I ain't America's gonna make Swiss cheese out of you.::Lance Corporal Fragatti: It's not my fuckin' fault, man. The fuckin' weapon's fuckin' fucked up.::Highway: [takes rifle and fires at target] There's nothing wrong with that rifle. Keep it tight. [moves down to Jones] You wake up this morning with a piss pot on your head?::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: Uh, no, Gunny, I wore this in your honor.::Highway: Is that right?::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: Yeah, you know, Sands of Iwo Jima, Pork Chop Hill, Kason, all that old antique shit. Sort of a tribute to an aging veteran close to retirement such as yourself.::Highway: Well, I'm touched.::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: Yeah, you know, sort of a recon way of saying welcome and ineveitably, goodbye.::Highway: And the kevlar helmet you were issued, that didn't by chance find it's way into one of the local pawn shops in town now did it?::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: Hey, hey, yo, that's a serious implication, Gunny. You know, we're financially responsible for these bad boys.::Highway: That's right, you are, that's why I want to see kevlar on your head by 1900 hours or you won't have a head to put it on.::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: Yes, sir, Gunny Highway Sergeant, sir!::Profile: Hey, Gunny. My weapon's jammed! [stands and the rifle goes off]::Sergeant Webster: [as the platoon is marching back] Major Powers' gonna teach you how to discipline your men.::Highway: Webster, if Powers ever comes to a sudden stop your face is gonna go half way up his ass.::Lance Corporal Fragatti: Profile's never gonna make it back to the barracks.::Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: Powers is cold blooded, man.::Highway: [after Profile falls] Come on, Profile. You can make it. Don't give the prick the satisfaction.

Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: [after Profile fell down, Highway speaks to him, then Profile runs off] What did you say to him?::Highway: I said "Don't give the prick the satisfaction," sir!

Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: This man has usurped authority and ignored my personal directives for over a week. Why, Lieutenant?::Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Sir, I thought the training exercise was...::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: You think too much and act too little. You are supposed to be an officer. Now look that word up in your platoon leader's handbook.::[to Highway]::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Who gave you permission to deviate from the training schedule?::Highway: I needed to evaluate my men, sir.::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: They're not your men, you self-centered, egocentric, son-of-a-bitch! They're the United States Marine Corps men! The Second Division's men! The Eighth Marine Regiment's men! In other words, they're MY men and SO ARE YOU, GET IT?::Highway: The only thing I'll get is my head shot off if I go into a hot landing zone with a platoon that doesn't know it's job.::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: You will follow my training program to the letter. No questions asked.::Highway: You go into combat tomorrow and you'll plant half those men.::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: You did it on your own, didn't you?::Highway: I can't fix it if I don't know what's broken.::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Well, you make it easy.::[pick up the phone]::Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Sir, I gave the Gunny permission to freelance his, I mean, the men, sir.::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: [slams down the phone] Wait outside, Ring.::[to Highway]::Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: I'm going to run you out of the corps, Highway. And you know what's funny? You're going to do all the work. Sooner or later you'll disregard procedure, disobey an order, or just get drunk. You can't help it. You're too old, too prideful, too stupid to change. I'm going to enjoy seeing you fall, Highway. Now get out and send in that idiot, Ring.::Highway: [leaves office and speaks to Lt Ring] He wants to see you, Lieutenant.::Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Sorry.::Highway: No reason to be. Lieutenant? Recon!