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Production Hell: Full Metal Jacket
Posted on 11/6/24 at 3:03 pm
Posted on 11/6/24 at 3:03 pm
Say what you like about Critical Drinker's reviews these days, his "Production Hell" series is still fascinating and his latest entry touches on a M/TV favorite, Full Metal Jacket.
2
Posted on 11/6/24 at 4:02 pm to skrayper
Leon Vitali (RIP) has a bunch of stories from the shoot. Came to the Kubrick team as an actor in Barry Lyndon, stayed on as a production assistant (and sometimes actor) through Eyes Wide Shut, he recalls booking a standard amount of time for principal photography for FMJ - either 60 days, 8 weeks something like that, "And we all just laughed."
Knowing that Kubrick is always going to take 8 to 12 months or more. However, he booked every actor for the entire shoot, they were on set every day and he paid them for every day.
So, whatever else he was, he didn't waste folks' time off the clock.
Knowing that Kubrick is always going to take 8 to 12 months or more. However, he booked every actor for the entire shoot, they were on set every day and he paid them for every day.
So, whatever else he was, he didn't waste folks' time off the clock.
This post was edited on 11/6/24 at 4:12 pm
Posted on 11/6/24 at 4:49 pm to skrayper
quote:
Full Metal Jacket
The movie overall is really good, but the first 45 minutes was so good it makes the second half pale in comparison.
Posted on 11/6/24 at 6:21 pm to GeauxLSUGeaux
quote:It legitimately feels like its two completely different movies.
The movie overall is really good, but the first 45 minutes was so good it makes the second half pale in comparison.
Posted on 11/6/24 at 7:09 pm to BigBinBR
I think that was the point, while there were some serious parts in the first half mostly involving Pyle but overall it’s was pretty relaxed with some really funny scenes.
The second half starts out kind of tame with them just fricking around and messing with prostitutes. But once the shite hits the fan it doesn’t stop and the total hell that is war that is shown.
The second half starts out kind of tame with them just fricking around and messing with prostitutes. But once the shite hits the fan it doesn’t stop and the total hell that is war that is shown.
Posted on 11/6/24 at 7:17 pm to GeauxLSUGeaux
quote:
The movie overall is really good, but the first 45 minutes was so good it makes the second half pale in comparison.
I’ve come to appreciate the second half over time.
R. Lee Emery was such a force in the first half, that his absence in the Vietnam portion creates an emptiness. The second half is still excellent, just a completely different tone.
Posted on 11/6/24 at 9:46 pm to Ghost of Colby
quote:
The second half is still excellent, just a completely different tone.
Which, to be fair, is probably a pretty accurate depiction of the transition from boot camp & infantry school to actual combat.
Posted on 11/6/24 at 10:12 pm to skrayper
The prototype for FMJ is a film called The Boys in Company C. It was about a group of Marines going through recruit training and then shipping off to Vietnam. Ermey even played a drill instructor in that film. It was bifurcated the same way as FMJ.
Posted on 11/6/24 at 11:12 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:
The prototype for FMJ is a film called The Boys in Company C. It was about a group of Marines going through recruit training and then shipping off to Vietnam. Ermey even played a drill instructor in that film. It was bifurcated the same way as FMJ.
EXCELLENT movie. One of the first I saw when we got cable. I think the marching cadence was great.
“Sargent’s stripes just give him class,
He’s the Sargent kicked our arse.”
Posted on 11/7/24 at 5:16 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
The prototype for FMJ is a film called The Boys in Company C. It was about a group of Marines going through recruit training and then shipping off to Vietnam. Ermey even played a drill instructor in that film. It was bifurcated the same way as FMJ.
Ok, this is interesting. The story we always heard on FMJ was they had an actor for the drill instructor (ended being the crazy gunner in the helo) and Ermey was brought in as a consultant for his military experience and was so good they put him in the role.
That story just doesn’t jive as well now knowing that Ermey played a very similar role in a movie about 9 years before.
This post was edited on 11/7/24 at 5:18 am
Posted on 11/7/24 at 5:57 am to wareaglepete
quote:
That story just doesn’t jive as well now knowing that Ermey played a very similar role in a movie about 9 years before.
I think the story as told is reasonably accurate. However, I'm certain Kubrick saw the earlier film and, perhaps the more he worked with Ermey the less he could see someone else in the part.
Ermey wasn't an acting "novice" - in addition to The Boys in Company C, he was a helicopter pilot in Apocalypse Now!, had a role in a Jaws knockoff called Up From the Depths, and in Sidney Furie's Purple Hearts (shockingly as a Marine Gunnery Sergeant), all before FMJ.
This post was edited on 11/7/24 at 5:59 am
Posted on 11/7/24 at 6:03 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
Ermey wasn't an acting "novice" -
That’s what I was getting at. What I saw, they made it out like he was just a former military consulting and helping out.
Posted on 11/7/24 at 6:23 am to wareaglepete
quote:
What I saw, they made it out like he was just a former military consulting and helping out.
I think it is correct that he was hired, first and foremost, with his background as an actor just a plus (and the possibility he might play a background drill instructor or what have you).
But, Ermey even suggests he went out of his way to get the role, so there was likely some campaigning going on prior to the final casting of the film.
Posted on 11/7/24 at 7:26 am to GeauxLSUGeaux
quote:
The movie overall is really good, but the first 45 minutes was so good it makes the second half pale in comparison.
The older I get, the worse of a take this becomes to me. And I felt the exact same way for a long time. But the second half of FMJ is just as good, if not moreso, than the first for me now. It shows the brutality of war and what those guys went through, and how even in the end they are basically machines who are able to set aside the brutality of shooting the enemy in the head, or watching their friends die, etc....and sing Mickey Mouse songs.
The second half is also SUPER tense at times. Much moreso than the first half. And don't get me wrong, the first half is completely awesome, and infinitely more quotable. But the second half is legit great.
Plus, I mean come one...the second half has Animal fricking Mother.
Posted on 11/7/24 at 8:05 am to wareaglepete
quote:
Ok, this is interesting. The story we always heard on FMJ was they had an actor for the drill instructor (ended being the crazy gunner in the helo) and Ermey was brought in as a consultant for his military experience and was so good they put him in the role.
Im not sure if its been said but Ermey actually was a Senior DI in the Marine Corps. When I went through boot at MCRD San Diego back in the 90s, they had the smokey and duty belt he wore in the movie on display in the on base museum.
Posted on 11/7/24 at 9:35 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
The Boys in Company C
Great flick
Posted on 11/7/24 at 9:37 am to wareaglepete
quote:
they had an actor for the drill instructor (ended being the crazy gunner in the helo
Pretty sure this is wrong. The original DI was the General who dressed down Joker at the mass grave site.
Posted on 11/7/24 at 12:47 pm to LSUPERMAN
Almost 100% sure the helo gunner was supposed to have the role of Senior DI but Ermey interviewed all of the potential candidates for the role and he shot them all down and finally did a full on audition himself for the role in his uniform pretty well making it impossible for Kubrick to say no.
Posted on 11/7/24 at 1:27 pm to MWP
You are right. I swore I saw that somewhere but I obviously was wrong. Now I know and knowing is half the battle.
Posted on 11/7/24 at 1:36 pm to LSUPERMAN
If you get a chance, take a look at Matthew Modine’s book about the making of the film. Tons of pictures, stories, notes etc. He really chronicled the experience.
The book is out of print and quite expensive now
The book is out of print and quite expensive now
This post was edited on 11/7/24 at 1:40 pm
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