Les boys de la compagnie C

The Boys in Company C (1978) was a movie that follows the recruits from Company C. Golden Harvest known for their Bruce Lee films and Jackie Chan productions made several films that were targeted for a world wide audience. One of them was this film. A very good film about the war in Viet-Nam that's is sadly over looked by other films such as Apocalypse Now, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket. Shot in the Phillipines and filled with many minor stars (with the exception of the great R. Lee Ermey) this one has an aura of realism (i.e the real Drill Instructors and boot camp scenes).

I liked this movie very much. Too bad it has never been restored to it's original wide screen aspect for maximum entertainment. If this were available on D.V.D. I would call this one a keeper.

Highly recommended.

An interesting war film that is mostly overlooked by Full Metal Jacket fans. Stan Shaw gives a good performance that when I which makes me wonder we he hasn't had a bigger career.

This movie shares the soccer connection with the Caine/Stallone movie "Victory" (1981/I). I actually think the soccer scenes were better done in Company C.

Nonetheless this movie is an interesting choice which any war movie buff should not miss...

I loved it, and guess having been a soldier, I got the humor of it. Everyone compares it to "Full Metal Jacket" but "Three Kings" reminded me more of it.

I have to have this one in my DVD collection. I was told that it was done and released as a very limited number.

This movie would be just a regular by the numbers movie about war, weather the Vietnam War or World War II. You have a bunch of stereotypical screw ups who get thrown into Marine boot camp during the Vietnam War. The film follows them thru boot camp to the hell of 'nam. These boys become men and it doesn't end happily for one of them. The scenes in boot camp are funny and also very realistic. This was the first film appearance of Lee Ermey as their drill instructor. His first words on screen are "I'm Sergeant Loyce I'm your drill instructor for the next two f@&%ing months maggots". He is really funny and theres a good scene where him and Stan Shaw have a blazing argument (although in real life you would be in the brig for talking to your DI like that). Thirty years ago drill instructors were allowed to be a lot rougher with privates then today and my favorite part is where this one DI grabs a daydreaming recruit by the....well watch it and see. Actually the DI Lee plays in this film is almost a nice guy compared to the one that he played in Full Metal Jacket. The scenes in Vietnam are handled as well, especially the ones showing the horrors of combat. They talk about the drug smuggling that went on and the film is unflinching in how it shows the machinations of the politicians who sent our men out into the field with one hand tied behind their backs. No one we suffered such a humiliating defeat. This film is gritty, vulgar and unsentimental but it is a true story we must not forget about a terrible war that ripped our country apart like the Cival War. Like I said though, Lee Ermey makes this film. I love him on Mail Call. I think my favorite part of the show is the one where he talked about the paratroopers at D-Day. Someone wrote him an e-mail and asked if it was true that they really said Geronimo when they jumped. Lee said that wasn't true at all and what they probably said was "OH S#$T!!!!!!!"

The Boys in Company C is a very uneven movie, which makes for a mixed experience. R. Lee Ermey does his iconic drill instructor role 9 years before Full Metal Jacket which in itself makes this movie a must watch!

Stan Shaw is perfect for the Lead Role as Tyrone (and as a side note: My God can the man sing!) and the other main characters are good for their roles.

Sadly the script is underwhelming and a bit unbelievable at times with countless insubordinations and dangerous acts which would make for court martial 10 times over for each of the main characters. The acting is not good for the emotional scenes and although the setting and scenery is well done, other aspects like explosions and fighting falls very short. The story never really evolves and comparing to later Vietnam war movies it's not anywhere close.

Still, there are some shining moments: The beginning is good, boot camp is great and R. Lee Ermey is awesome, the initial scenes in Vietnam are good and Stan Shaw is almost too good for this movie, but again, the movie sadly never lifts.

Yes, the body count insanity is shown in a good way which I like, but this drowns on the otherwise inconsistent script.

I'm impressed with a movie like this coming out just 5 years after USA left Vietnam, and that they casted an African American as the Main Lead, and I'm sure it was a good movie at the time it came out.

Watch it if you're a fan of Vietnam War movies, but don't expect another Full Metal Jacket or Platoon.