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Platoon Leader

  • 1988
  • R
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
A young officer, just out of West Point is sent to Vietnam, where the men don't respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander
Play trailer1:31
1 Video
25 Photos
DramaWar

A young officer, just out of West Point is sent to Vietnam, where the men don't respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commanderA young officer, just out of West Point is sent to Vietnam, where the men don't respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commanderA young officer, just out of West Point is sent to Vietnam, where the men don't respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander

  • Director
    • Aaron Norris
  • Writers
    • Andrew Deutsch
    • Rick Marx
    • James R. McDonough
  • Stars
    • Tony Pierce
    • Robert F. Lyons
    • Michael Dudikoff
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    2.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Aaron Norris
    • Writers
      • Andrew Deutsch
      • Rick Marx
      • James R. McDonough
    • Stars
      • Tony Pierce
      • Robert F. Lyons
      • Michael Dudikoff
    • 47User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:31
    Trailer

    Photos25

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    Top cast42

    Edit
    Tony Pierce
    • Jan Shultz
    Robert F. Lyons
    Robert F. Lyons
    • Sgt. Michael McNamara
    Michael Dudikoff
    Michael Dudikoff
    • Lt. Jeff Knight
    Michael DeLorenzo
    Michael DeLorenzo
    • Raymond Bacera
    Jesse Dabson
    Jesse Dabson
    • Joshua Parker
    Rick Fitts
    Rick Fitts
    • Sgt. Robert Hayes
    Daniel Demorest
    • Duffy
    Brian Libby
    Brian Libby
    • Sgt. Roach
    Michael Rider
    Michael Rider
    • Pvt. Don Pike
    William Smith
    William Smith
    • Major Flynn
    Al Karaki
    • Kemp
    Evan J. Klisser
    • Larsen
    Evan Barker
    • Klinski…
    A.J. Smith
    • Lt. Riley
    Dean Raphael Ferrandini
    Dean Raphael Ferrandini
    • Medic
    Bill Olmsted
    • Medic
    • (as Bill Olmstead)
    Themi Venturis
    • New Lieutenant
    Joyce Long
    • Mother With Child
    • Director
      • Aaron Norris
    • Writers
      • Andrew Deutsch
      • Rick Marx
      • James R. McDonough
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews47

    5.32.3K
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    Featured reviews

    5actionpro

    Fairly Entertaining Stuff

    This movie is underrated probably because of the prejudices held by critics against Michael Dudikoff. Though his acting is widely thought to be mediocre (it is), he shines in this movie. "Platoon Leader" is gripping fare and deserves more respect than it currently garners. It is not just another throwaway Vietnam movie. It is, in fact, entertaining and is required viewing for any fan of action movies. 5/10
    MichaelM24

    one of Dudikoff's best

    PLATOON LEADER is one of Dudikoff's best movies, perhaps because, since it was a rare theatrical release, more attention was given to make sure it was well-done. You really get a sense of what the war in Vietnam was like for the soldiers there, with hair-raising jungle ambushes and close calls. Naturally, the guys at the base don't take too kindly to Dudikoff when he first arrives, but ultimately grow to respect him, something I've really grown tired of seeing in the movies. But the battle scenes are well-executed, the direction by Aaron Norris (Chuck's brother) nothing special but good, and the music heroic and uplifting. War movie fans should enjoy it.
    Tin Man-5

    Well-done and underrated

    Originally entitled "Nam," this film was released as "Platoon Leader" to cash in on the success of "Platoon," which had been released the previous year. Unfortunately, this sank it, and most everyone dismissed this is an imitation of the latter film. However, I feel that this might be one of the finest films about the Vietnam War around, and that's due to the fact that it knows the genre of war films and it knows what to take seriously and what to regard as pure action.

    In war films, particularly ones about the Vietnam War, there has always been a question about which angle to approach: a human, emotional story or a pure action-adventure. This film handles the question well, and it shows us both. The film covers a new U.S. captain joining a platoon that is set up on a hill with orders to protect a small village. The story of how he must earn the right to be called the captain of such a motely group, and how the men themselves must struggle about just what they are fighting for in this war, is extremely moving. The writers choose to represent many different attitudes, all of which were present in the war: fear, reluctance, discontent, indifference, and honor. Each character is painted vividly and with wonderful acting, and through their tragedy and suffering, the viewer gets a better understanding of what went on during America's darkest hour.

    On the other hand, this film also contains some nicely-directed action sequences that know how to get the heart-beat going. They don't neccessarily glorify war, but they are very Rambo-esque, and made in an effort to satisfy action fans. It is the essence of these action scenes, combined with the human characters who have to pick up the pieces of each battle and move on with their daily, emotional struggles, that really makes this film tick.

    This film was directed by Chuck's brother Aaron Norris, who lost a brother to the Vietnam War. Indeed, this must have been a difficult film to shoot because of that, but he certainly paid his brother a fitting tribute in this underrated war epic.

    **** out of ****
    6lost-in-limbo

    "There's been enough killing for one day".

    After making his directorial debut with his brother Chuck Norris with "Braddock: Missing in Action III" (1988), his follow-up would be another Vietnam War feature with Cannon productions starring Michael Dudikoff. The man with the poker face. All jokes aside. Norris' presentation might feel like a poor man's version of Stone's "Platoon", but it turned out to be a very solid nitty gritty portrayal of a war that was hard for the soldiers to come to grips with (nothing but pure propaganda). The performances are acceptably creditable (Robert F Lyons, Michael DeLorenzo, Brian Libby and William Smith chew it up in a major role) and a convincing Dudikoff actually brought across some emotional weight to the part. The script really does illustrate the dramas along with the horror in some arresting scenes ("What do you say to a girl with her arm shot off?") --- especially the transformation of Dudikoff's character throughout his duty, where at the beginning he was naïve to how things work but after an incident that sees him hospitalized he returns an improved soldier, better equipped for the experience and from this starts to gain respect. Comradely is formed. Norris' direction moves at a fast clip, if quite clichéd (cue in the patriotic sounding score) but the impulsive action is competently staged and fairly exciting in its tension fuelled fire-fights with glorious slow-motion and graphic violence. Pockets here, pockets there which leads up to the big explosive assault ala "Platoon" style. Filmed in South Africa, Norris gets a real earthy and humid authenticity which has you also caught in the thick of it. Despite the low-budget it's reasonably well-presented.
    6deanocware

    Welcome Back to the Country Club

    Unlike all of the Sundance film Festival critics on IMDb who give everything a one that isn't Star Wars or Rocky, I felt this was a very genuine and realistic look at a small platoon in Vietnam. Not only was the scope of the movie fairly accurate for what a platoon would have been tasked with doing in Vietnam but I believe everyone in the film played their role well. Obviously there were some tropes and stereotypes but that is an any movie to lend it dramatic affect. If you want to watch a fairly straightforward but nonetheless poignant film about being a soldier in Vietnam then I would recommend the movie. If you want to watch a cinematic masterpiece that only uses Vietnam as a backdrop then just go watch Apocalypse Now.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of the few films made by Cannon Film Distributors that wasn't produced by either Menahem Golan or Yoram Globus.
    • Goofs
      At the 43 min mark the VC and NVA the GIs using mortars. The sound effect was a incorrect. Mortars do not produce a whistle.
    • Quotes

      Raymond Bacera: Death is the ultimate alarm clock man, Wakes you up.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Remo, Rambo, Reagan and Reds: The Eighties Action Movie Explosion (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Out on the Fenceline
      Written and Performed by Fontaine Brown

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Platoon Leader?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nam
    • Filming locations
      • Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    • Production companies
      • Cannon International
      • Breton Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,348,771
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,348,771
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Michael Dudikoff in Platoon Leader (1988)
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