David Morrell actually wrote Rambo (1982) at the same time he was writing his dissertation on American literature, and submitted both at the same time. When his agent called to tell him of the sale, Morrell actually
thought he was talking about his dissertation being accepted.
The first scripts [for Rambo III (1988)) I saw were excellent,
particular the character of a fortyish female French physician who takes care of Afghan children injured during the war. The story had an epical RAMBO OF ARABIA feel. But for budgetary and other reasons, the scripts got simpler until the released film felt like a cartoon. One of the subtexts I added was that the Soviet War with Afghanistan was a version of America's involvement in Vietnam, with similar fracturing effects to each country's veterans and culture.
