Baby Blue Marine

I first saw this film in 1980 and it touched a cord which reminded me of a more innocent time. The opening narrative, music and paintings by Norman Rockwell set the tone for me. You either love the movie or hate it. Jan Michael Vincent was at his all time best and portrayed Cpl Marion Hedgepeth in a most innocent and touching way. This movie is at the top of my all time favorites, a shame it isn't available on DVD or VHS anymore. The ending was also wonderful. John Hancock did a marvelous job of capturing the essence of the time.

Just saw Baby Blue Marine again after 30 years. I still find it a pleasant and romantic film which catches a time which has been lost forever. The innocence and purity of a time now long gone, is truthfully captured in this small film. The acting is above average and Richard Gere's brief appearance as a shell-shocked Raider Marine war hero, holds a keen interest for any film buff or Gere fan. Jan-Micheal Vincent is in his prime and looks and acts like the "All-American" boy. The late Bruno Kirby (who was billed as B.Kirby, Jr.) has a meaty role as "Pop", a peace-loving, Marine Corp reject, dreaming of getting back home to his wife. If you're looking for sex, drugs, or rock and roll, this movie is not for you. If you're looking for action and adventure, the same applies. However, if you want to recapture a time in America of innocence, honor, romance, and love, then Baby Blue Marine is a movie for you.

This film was seen by me in a movie theater when it came out in 1976. (I haven't seen it since.) The recent passing of Jan Michael Vincent brought the memory of it back to me. I have no allegiance to Mr. Vincent, but considering his reportedly troubled life, I wanted to note that his performance in this film was truly empathetic and moving. Thus, he could certainly handle himself on screen. The film was sort of a surprise, with an excellent cast of familiar actors of that era. I particularly also recall the performance of John Lund in a very pivotal role. This picture was extremely well done, and, obviously, for me, especially memorable.

Very appealing stateside WWII drama stars then-hot Jan-Michael Vincent as Marion "Hedge" Hedgepeth, who, before long, flunks out of his basic training as a Marine, and is sent home in a baby blue uniform in disgrace. During the journey, he encounters an actual young veteran (Richard Gere, in a memorable bit) who's desperate to avoid being sent back into battle. So the vet mugs Hedge (well, so to speak...he actually LEAVES him a few dollars), and all Hedge has to wear is the vets' uniform. On his way back home, he stops in a small Colorado town, and is naturally thought to be a war hero by the locals. He's so endearing to them, and they to him, that he can't bring himself to tell them the truth.

Written by Stanford Whitmore ("Hammersmith Is Out", "The Dark"), and directed by John D. Hancock ("Let's Scare Jessica to Death", "Bang the Drum Slowly"), this is an enjoyable little film worth rediscovering. While not altogether believable (for some reason, there's a Japanese internment camp right in the woods near this town), it gets by on a certain amount of charm, just like its lead character. In fact, a citizen named Hudkins (Bert Remsen), with whose daughter Rose (Glynnis O'Connor) Hedge falls in love, surmises that he's too *nice* and *innocent* to seem like a hardened killer.

Overall, the film does get pretty dramatic, and takes on the tone of a fable, but it never veers too far into unpleasantness. Excellent location shooting in & near the California towns of Weed and McCloud gives it atmosphere and a fine feeling of Americana, and the score by Fred Karlin is excellent.

Vincent was then at the peak of his career as a leading man in film, and he couldn't be more likable. O'Connor is adorable as the romantic interest, and Katherine Helmond, Dana Elcar, Bert Remsen, Bruno Kirby, Gere (sporting shocking bleach blonde hair), Art Lund, Michael Conrad, Allan Miller, Kenneth Tobey, Lelia Goldoni, Marshall Efron, and Barton Heyman comprise a rock solid supporting cast. Adam Arkin has one of his earliest big screen roles as a boy named "Rupe".

Well worth a look, especially if you like cinema set during this period, or are a fan of Vincent.

Seven out of 10.

I was actually around 13 years old camping near the McCloud River, near Shasta when this movie was being filmed. My family was paid to leave our campsite for the afternoon, when they filmed Vincent floating down the river. A little trivia...the scene where they pulled him out, was actually where he started his float down the river. And if the stunt man missed the netting, there was 20 foot waterfall about 1/4 mile down farther.

Anyway...I watched it at the time, and didn't get it. It wasn't until years later when I saw the movie and actually understood the meaning of it. It's pretty powerful movie and certainly a fine job by Jan at such a young age. His movie career never really took off as expected, but of course he later found success on TV. I wish this movie was available, cause I would love to see it again.