The Odd Angry Shot

Terribly underrated, and generally unknown in the US. Although the film deals with Australian troops in Viet Nam, this could very easily have been any of the US units. Any of us who served on the ground there will recognize these men as buddies we knew. The combat sequences in this film are among the best ever filmed, and until "Platoon" came along, it was one of the few films that portrayed the combat experience in Viet Nam as it really was. Like "84 Charlie MoPic", it's a small film that tells a large story without beating you over the head with its message. When people ask me which are the best films about that endless mess in Viet Nam, this is one of the first films I refer them to (along with "MoPic"). My VHS copy is just about worn out; I never tire of its grim humor and honest story. (USMC, Viet Nam 67-69)

This was Australia's only film about our involvement the Vietnam War until 2012, when The Sapphires appeared, followed by Danger Close in 2019.

Made in 1979, it follows a group of conscripts from Sydney to the Mekong Delta and watches them patrol, drink beer, engage the enemy, drink more beer, gamble, grumble, gambol, drink, watch friends die, and occasionally wonder what it's all for.

Though the cast includes famous names such as Bryan Brown, John Hargeaves, John Jarratt and Graeme Blundell, it is comedian Graham Kennedy who steals the show as the wisecracking NCO on his second tour. He provides the MASH-type quips as well as thoughtful commentary on the war.

Overall, the script is a bit obvious and the action sequences are a bit on the low-budget side (with quite a few locations looking distinctly Australian and a few too many gum trees).

The movie pales in comparison with American depictions of the war, with neither the wit of MASH (ostensibly set in the Korean War, but with much to say on America's involvement in Vietnam as well) nor the powerful criticism of Apocalypse Now nor the grit of Platoon.

However, the movie does have its moments: it captures the distinctly Australian mateship element of our soldiers and provides our only cinematic depiction of this important event which divided Australian society in the 1960s and 1970s. As such it is well worth seeing, despite its limitations.

A few Australians have already written on this site praising the film for its portrayal of the Australian SAS in Vietnam and commented at length about the scope of the film. I would like to comment about the accurate way the military operations are portrayed. I served in the US Army in the 101st Airborne Division's elite LRSD (Long Range Surveillance Detatchment)where this film was one of our favorites. It was, and still is, the only film we had ever seen that realisticly showed what long range recon patrols are like; slow, concealed, quiet, and sometimes fruitless small team patrols made up of professional soldiers. We were also impressed that the film showed the part of all patrols that movies never show, the planning phase where the operation order is given and reviewed, mission essential equipment is meted out, maps are studied, radio frequencies and callsigns are memorized, and all questions are asked. The film shows the unglamorous and sometimes dull side of special warfare, but is still a must for anyone interested in special operations units that wants to see what it's all about.

A really well constructed Australian film, that accurately portrays the Vietnam 'feeling' in this country. Best described as a sad thought provoking work, with some excellent and funny performances by the skilled cast. A low budget film that 'over achieves' its message.

This film is rarely shown, but is available on video if you hunt around. It is a minor classic and stars a young Bryan Brown and a Graham Kennedy before his crow imitating newsreader days.

Whether it portrays the SAS realistically is a moot point, but this was the Australian SAS in the late sixties/early seventies and reference to Australian Books such as the "Phantoms of the Jungle", suggest that the Swanbourne troops went through Vietnam in the way portrayed.

The film is worth watching not for the overdone anti-war message but the black humour and jokes. The presentation of the shoebox contraption to the pardre is worth watching in itself.