Craig Zablo

Red Dawn (1984)

Director: John Milius

Screenplay:  Kevin Reynolds, John Milius; story by Kevin Reynolds

Stars:  Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O’Neal, William Smith, Frank McRae, Lane Smith and Powers Boothe.

Tagline: In our time, no foreign army has ever occupied American soil. Until now.

The Plot…

The United States is surprised by a sneak attack.  The combined forces of the Soviet Union, Cuba and Nicaragua did the unthinkable.  Foreign paratroopers land across the midwest.  One groups touches down outside the small town of Calumet, Colorado.  The invaders come in blasting.

A group of teenagers, with a small amount of supplies and weapons escape into the mountains.  From their vantage point, they see their town taken over and learn that the World War III has begun.

As supplies run low, they learn that the war is raging.  The US military responded and turned back the advancement of foreign powers.  There is a current stalement and the nearest safe zone is 40 miles away.

When a couple of soldiers accidentally come across a few of the teens, they respond by killing the foreign fighters.  When the invaders discover their dead comrades, they respond by executing several townsfolk.

The teens decide they are through with just hiding.  They launch guerilla attacks on the invaders. They leave “Wolverines” signs behind after each attack. The Wolverines are surprisingly successful.  Word spreads and provides hope to the oppressed.  The leaders occupying the town decide that the  Wolverines must be caught and executed.

As World War III rages, what chance of survival do a ragtag group of teens have against the combined invading armies of three countries?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Red Dawn was the first film released with a MPAA PG-13 rating.

In the original screenplay there was a love story subplot between Jed (Patrick Swayze) and Toni (Jennifer Grey).  The subplot was cut. Swayze and Grey later appeared as lovers in Dirty Dancing.

A love scene between Lea Thompson and Powers Boothe’s characters was cut after preview audiences found the age difference uncomfortable.

Red Dawn features Charlie Sheen’s feature film debut.

I saw Red Dawn when it was first released.  I was a first year teacher.  The scene of the invading paratroopers landing outside the school was chilling.  I’ve watched the film several times over the years (and recently) — it still provides chills.

Red Dawn (1984) rates 4 of 5 stars.