The Boys in Company C **** (1978, Stan Shaw, Andrew Stevens, James Canning, Michael Lembeck, Craig Wasson, James Whitmore Jr, R Lee Ermey, Scott Hylands) – Classic Movie Review 7791

Co-writer/ director Sidney J Furie turns in a powerful attack on the follies and horrors of war in the 1978 war drama The Boys in Company C, one of the first major films about the Vietnam conflict.

It is 1967 and five young green US Marines arrive at the induction centre to be pummelled into condition for a tour in Vietnam, undergoing the hell of boot camp training before being shipped out to the nightmare of Vietnam, in a tough, gripping, and exciting movie.

Stan Shaw is excellent as the recruits’ leader and the rest of the cast are fine, while the combat scenes are gruelling but particularly effective. Humour, the Philippines shooting and a fresh look at war-film clichés balance the onslaught of gore and strong language.

Also in the cast are Andrew Stevens, James Canning, Michael Lembeck, Craig Wasson, James Whitmore Jr, R Lee Ermey, Scott Hylands, Noble Willingham, Santos Morales, Drew Michaels and Karen Hilger.

The Boys in Company C is directed by Sidney J Furie, runs 127 minutes, is made by Golden Harvest Company and Good Times Films, released by Columbia, is written by Richard [Rick] Natkin and Sidney J Furie, is shot by Godfrey A Godar, is produced by Andre Morgan and is scored by Jaime Mendoza-Nava.

It predates Apocalypse Now by a year and the similar Full Metal Jacket, which also features R Lee Ermey, by a decade. Made by Golden Harvest, better known for their Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan films, it has been unfairly overshadowed by Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now, and Platoon.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7791

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