|
Gardens of Stone (1987)
Starring James Caan, James Earl Jones, D.B. Sweeney, and Anjelica Huston. Cinematography by Jordan Cronenweth. Edited by Barry Malkin. Produced by Francis Coppola and Michael I. Levy. Written by Ronald Bass. Directed by Francis Coppola.
Sergeant Clell Hazard is a battle hardened soldier. He served his country in Korea and pulled two tours of duty in 1962 and 1965, only to find himself stationed at FortMyer in the ArlingtonNationalCemetery as part of the Old Guard. He desperately wants to go back into combat, but is used instead to participate in burial ceremonies for the honored dead. The experience has left him jaded and his views become more and more cynical every day. One day a young and enthusiastic recruit named Jackie Willow is assigned to serve under Hazard in the Old Guard. He also dreams of combat action and is frustrated with his assignment. Willow ends up being the son of one of Hazard’s old friends from his days in Korea and he respectfully takes Willow under his wing. But Willow’s perseverance pays off and he is soon shipped off to Vietnam where young men are returning home every day in body bags.
In 1985 Francis Ford Coppola was offered the role as director for an adaptation of Nicholas Proffitt’s novel Gardens of Stone. He accepted and production began in April of 1986. In order to effectively craft the film it was crucial that Coppola had the Army’s permission to film in the ArlingtonNationalCemetery. His history in military films got him the permission he needed and more. The Army provided Coppola with helicopters, uniforms, training, technical support, and hundreds of extras. They also opened up FortMyer and FortBelvoir for him to shoot in. The military provided everything he needed for authenticity in the picture, but one horrible event would lend to the already somber mood of the production. Shortly after production began Coppola’s son Gian-Carlo was killed in a boating accident. Choosing to find solace in his work Coppola continued with the production and brought the film in on time.
Gardens of Stone, set mostly stateside during the Vietnam War, can be seen as sort of a companion piece to Coppola’s own Apocalypse Now. While Apocalypse Now is steeped in the madness of war and an overall loss of reality, Gardens of Stone embraces the military and is rooted in human emotion. That’s not to say that it sheds Vietnam in a favorable light, quite the opposite really, but a respect is paid to the military and it’s tradition that is not present in Apocalypse Now. When Gardens of Stone hit theaters in May of 1987, it unfortunately proved to be yet another box office bust for Coppola. But ultimately it really is quite an exceptional picture, if only for the amazing production. The relationship dramas can be a bit hit and miss but overall it’s worth giving a look.
Budget: $???
Total US Gross: $5,262,047
Genre: War
Runtime: 112 Minutes
US Release Date: 5/8/87
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Awards: none
Tagline: 1968. It Was Happening 10,000 Miles Away, But It Changed What They Felt, How They Acted, Who They Loved. This Is The Story Of The War At Home. And The People Who Lived Through It.
Quote: “I am not a peacenik, Captain, I just don't agree with the reasons behind this particular war. And I feel if we're gonna fight it, we ought to goddamn fight it right.”
|
