FILM REFERENCE
TITLE: PLATOON
RELEASE YEAR: 1986
RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 19, 1986
DIRECTOR: OLIVER STONE
WRITER: OLIVER STONE
PRODUCER: ARNOLD KOPELSON
CINEMATOGRAPHY: ROBERT RICHARDSON
EDITING: CLAIRE SIMPSON
PRODUCTION DESIGN: BRUNO RUBEO
PRODUCTION COMPANY: HEMDALE FILM CORPORATION
DISTRIBUTION: ORION PICTURES
GENRE: DRAMA · WAR
CAST
CHARLIE SHEEN — Chris Taylor
TOM BERENGER — Sgt. Bob Barnes
WILLEM DAFOE — Sgt. Elias
JOHN C. McGINLEY — Sgt. O’Neill
FOREST WHITAKER — Big Harold
KEITH DAVID — King
FRANCESCO QUINN — Rhah
KEVIN DILLON — Bunny
REGGIE JOHNSON — Junior
RICHARD EDSON — Sal
THE STORY
Platoon begins in September 1967 as Chris Taylor arrives in Vietnam and joins an infantry unit operating near the Cambodian border.
Taylor quickly discovers that combat is defined not only by fighting the enemy but also by exhaustion, fear, uncertainty, and the difficult relationship between the soldiers themselves. The men patrol through the jungle, establish night ambushes, and live under conditions that steadily wear down their physical and psychological resilience.
Two opposing figures emerge within the platoon. Sergeant Elias represents a more restrained and compassionate approach to his men, while Sergeant Barnes is increasingly ruthless and willing to cross moral boundaries in the pursuit of victory.
As the conflict between the two sergeants intensifies, Taylor is forced to confront the darker realities of the war and the possibility that survival may require choices that challenge his own sense of morality.
TRIVIA & BEHIND THE SCENES
Oliver Stone Served in Vietnam
Oliver Stone drew heavily from his own experience as a U.S. Army infantryman in Vietnam. He served in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968, and his experiences became a major foundation for the screenplay.
Stone later stated that Charlie Sheen’s Chris Taylor was partly modeled on himself, while the characters of Barnes and Elias were inspired by men he encountered during the war.
Filmed in the Philippines
Although Platoon is set in Vietnam, principal photography took place in the Philippines. Production ran from March through late May 1986, with much of the filming conducted in jungle environments.
The Philippine locations provided the tropical terrain required for the film while allowing Stone to create a physically demanding environment for the cast.
The Cast Underwent Military Training
Before filming, the actors underwent a rigorous thirteen-day training period in the Philippines under Captain Dale Dye, a Vietnam veteran.
The actors slept in foxholes they dug themselves, ate cold field rations, learned weapons and squad procedures, and conducted long patrols carrying full equipment.
Stone wanted the training to create the physical exhaustion and attitude he associated with infantrymen operating in combat.
Stone’s Vietnam Experience
Stone originally conceived the idea for Platoon in 1969 and wrote the screenplay in 1976, several years after returning from Vietnam.
The film therefore emerged from personal experience rather than from research alone, contributing to its unusually detailed depiction of infantry life.
The Jungle Production
The production itself was physically difficult. Stone recalled dangerous helicopter operations, monsoon conditions, and a crew member suffering a near-fatal viper bite during filming.
Approximately 250 crew members worked on the production, with most of the crew being Filipino.
A Vietnam War Film Made by a Veteran
Platoon became one of the major American films to address the Vietnam War directly from the perspective of the infantryman.
Its production history and Stone’s military background helped distinguish the film from earlier Hollywood treatments of the conflict.
AWARDS & LEGACY
Platoon received eight Academy Award nominations and won four Oscars at the 59th Academy Awards.
The film won Best Picture, Best Director for Oliver Stone, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound. Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe were both nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, while Robert Richardson received a nomination for Best Cinematography and Oliver Stone for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.
The film was also ranked No. 86 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Movies 10th Anniversary Edition.
Platoon remains one of the defining American films about the Vietnam War and established Oliver Stone as one of the most prominent filmmakers to address the conflict.
CARE
• Machine wash cold, inside out.
• Do not bleach.
• Do not iron directly over the print.
• Wash with similar colors.
IMPORTANT
This is a contemporary H354 T-shirt featuring a graphic interpretation of the movie itself does not represented as an original promotional or production garment.
