Gardens of Stone (1987)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

Ronald Bass (screenplay)
Nicholas Proffitt (novel)

Release Date:

8 May 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War | Romance

Tagline:

It was a dangerous time to be young. An impossible time to be a hero.

Plot:

A touching, insightful look at stateside military life during the Vietnam War at Ft. Meyer and Arlington National Cemetery (the Garden)...

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Sergeant | Vietnam | Vietnam War | Military

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

James Caan	...	Sgt. Clell Hazard
Anjelica Huston	...	Samantha Davis
James Earl Jones	...	Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
D.B. Sweeney	...	Jackie Willow
Dean Stockwell	...	Capt. Homer Thomas
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Rachel Feld
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Slasher Williams
Lonette McKee	...	Betty Rae
Sam Bottoms	...	Lt. Webber
Elias Koteas	...	Pete Deveber
Laurence Fishburne	...	Sgt. Flanagan (as Larry Fishburne)
Casey Siemaszko	...	Wildman
Peter Masterson	...	Col. Feld
Carlin Glynn	...	Mrs. Feld
Erik Holland	...	Col. Godwin

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-12/9 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Company:

ML Delphi Premier Productions

Trivia:

Mary Stuart Masterson's character's parents are played by her real-life parents, Peter Masterson and Carlin Glynn.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the scene of the Changing of the Guard you see the Tomb for the Unknown Soldier from the Vietnam War. This would not have been in place until after 1980, yet the Movie is set in the late 1960s.

Quotes:

"Goody" Nelson: Well, here's to us and those like us.
Clell Hazard: Damn few left.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hollywood Vietnam (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Georgy Girl

Coppola's "Other" Vietnam movie

This is a great movie and it makes a very interesting pairing with Apocalypse Now to achieve Coppola's complete take on the Vietnam war. While Apocalypse Now was a surrealistic view of the front lines and insanity of war, Gardens of Stone is pulls no punches with a realistic portrayal of the home front, which presented its own type of warfare during Vietnam. As the other reviewers said, the acting is top notch throughout. Caan and Jones are perfect, but I disagree with the comments about Masterson and Huston. Theirs are key supporting roles and critical to the success of the movie. Huston is especially good in her scenes with Caan to bring the story full circle. This is an overlooked gem and highly recommended.