Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

***Born on the Fourth of July*** is a 1989 American biographical anti-war drama film based on the 1976 autobiography by Ron Kovic. Directed by Oliver Stone, and written by Stone and Kovic, it stars Tom Cruise, Kyra Sedgwick, Raymond J. Barry, Jerry Levine, Frank Whaley, and Willem Dafoe. The film depicts the life of Kovic (Cruise) over a 20-year period, detailing his childhood, his military service and paralysis during the Vietnam War, and his transition to anti-war activism. It is the second installment in Stone's trilogy of films about the Vietnam War, following *Platoon* (1986) and preceding *Heaven & Earth* (1993).

Producer Martin Bregman acquired the film rights to the book in 1976 and hired Stone, also a Vietnam veteran, to co-write the screenplay with Kovic, who would be played by Al Pacino. When Stone optioned the book in 1978, the film adaptation became mired in development hell after Pacino and Bregman left, which resulted in him and Kovic putting the film on hold. After the release of *Platoon*, the project was revived at Universal Pictures, with Stone attached to direct. Shot on locations in the Philippines, Texas and Inglewood, California, principal photography took place from October 1988 to December, lasting 65 days of filming. The film went over its initial $14 million production budget, and ended up costing $17.8 million after reshoots.

Upon release, *Born on the Fourth of July* was praised by critics for its story, Cruise's performance and Stone's direction. The film was successful at the box office as it grossed over $162 million worldwide, becoming the tenth highest-grossing film of 1989. At the 62nd Academy Awards, it received eight nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Cruise, his first nomination, and the film won for Best Director, Stone's second in that category, and Best Film Editing. The film also won four Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

## Shooting

* Filming was from October 10th, 1988 - December 14th, 1988.

## Cast

* Tom Cruise - Ron Kovic
* Bryan Larkin - Young Ron Kovic
* Raymond J. Barry - Mr. Kovic
* Caroline Kava - Mrs. Kovic
* Josh Evans - Tommy Kovic
* Seth Allen - Young Tommy Kovic
* Jamie Talisman - Jimmy Kovic
* Sean Stone - Young Jimmy Kovic
* Anne Bobby - Susanne Kovic
* Jenna von Oÿ - Young Susanne Kovic
* Samantha Larkin - Patty Kovic
* Erika Geminder - Young Patty
* Amanda Davis - Baby Patty
* Kevin Harvey Morse - Jackie Kovic
* John Getz - Marine Major
* David Warshofsky - Lieutenant
* Jason Gedrick - Martinez
* Michael Compotaro - Wilson
* Paul Abbott - Platoon
* Bill Allen - Platoon
* William Baldwin - Platoon
* Claude Brooks - Platoon
* Michael Guess - Platoon (as Michael Smith Guess)
* James Le Gros - Platoon (as James Legros)
* William Mapother - Platoon (as William R. Mapother)
* Christopher W. Mills - Platoon
* Byron Minns - Platoon
* Ben Wright - Platoon
* Markus Flanagan - Doctor
* R.D. Call - Chaplain
* John Falch - Corpsman
* Dan Furnad - Corpsman
* Fred Geise - Corpsman
* Greg Hackbarth - Corpsman
* Donald Wilson - Corpsman (as Don Wilson)
* Kyra Sedgwick - Donna
* Jessica Prunell - Young Donna
* Frank Whaley - Timmy
* Jason Klein - Young Timmy
* Jerry Levine - Steve Boyer
* Lane R. Davis - Young Steve
* Richard Panebianco - Joey Walsh
* Johnny Pinto - Young Joey (as John Pinto)
* Rob Camilletti - Tommy Finnelli
* J.R. Nutt - Young Tommy
* Stephen Baldwin - Billy Vorsovich
* Philip Amelio - Young Billy
* Michael McTighe - Danny Fantozzi
* Cody Beard - Young Danny
* Ryan Beadle - Ballplayer
* Harold Woloschin - Umpire
* Richard Grusin - Coach
* Tom Berenger - Recruiting Sergeant
* Richard Haus - 2nd Recruiting Sergeant
* Mel Allen - Himself (voice)
* Ed Lauter - Legion Commander
* Liz Moore - Fat Lady at Parade
* Sean McGraw - Young Donna's Father
* Oliver Stone - News Reporter
* Dale Dye - Infantry Colonel
* Norma Moore - Massapequa Mom
* Stacey Moseley - Young Donna's Friend
* Mike Miller - Neighbor
* Ellen Pasternack - Neighbor
* Joy Zapata - Neighbor
* Bob Tillotson - Truck Driver
* Corkey Ford - Marvin
* Rocky Carroll - Willie
* Sami Chester - Aide #2
* Chris Pedersen - Aide #3
* Chris Walker - Aide #4
* Willie Minor - Eddie
* David Herman - Patient #1
* Bruce MacVittie - Patient #2
* Damien Leake - Patient #3
* David Neidorf - Patient #4
* Paul Sanchez - Patient #5
* Richard Lubin - Patient #6
* Norman D. Wilson - Patient #7 (as Norm Wilson)
* Peter Benson - Patient #7
* Sergio Scognamiglio - Patient #8
* Billie Neal - Nurse Washington
* Richard Poe - Frankie
* Bob Gunton - Doctor #1
* Vivica A. Fox - Hooker (as Vivica Fox)
* Mark Moses - Optimistic Doctor
* Abbie Hoffman - Strike Organizer
* Jake Weber - Donna's Boyfriend
* Reg E. Cathey - Speaker
* Edie Brickell - Folksinger
* Keri Roebuck - Loudspeaker / Woman #1
* Geoff Garza - Young Radical
* Joseph P. Reidy - Student Organizer (as Joseph Reidy)
* Willem Dafoe - Charlie
* Tom Sizemore - Vet #1
* Andy Lauer - Vet #2 (as Andrew Lauer)
* Michael Wincott - Vet #3
* Ivan Kane - Villa Vet
* Ed Jupp Jr. - Villa Vet
* Michael Sulsona - Villa Vet
* Cordelia González - María Elena (as Cordelia Gonzalez)
* Karen Newman - Whore
* Begonya Plaza - Charlie's Whore (as Begonia Plaza)
* Edith Diaz - Madame
* Anthony Pena - Bartender
* Eduardo Ricaro - Cab Driver (as Eduardo Ricard)
* Holly Marie Combs - Jenny
* Mike Starr - Man #1 (Arthur's Bar)
* Beau Starr - Man #2
* Rick Masters - Man #3
* John Del Regno - Friend #1
* Gale Mayron - Friend #2
* Lisa Barnes - Friend #3
* Melinda Renna - Barmaid (as Melinda Ramos Renna)
* Tony Frank - Mr. Wilson
* Jayne Haynes - Mrs. Wilson
* Lili Taylor - Jamie Wilson
* Elbert Lewis - Cab Driver
* Peter Crombie - Undercover Vet
* Kevin G. McGuire - Paraplegic #1 (as Kevin McGuire)
* Ken Osborne - Paraplegic #2
* Alan Toy - Paraplegic #3
* Chuck Pfeiffer - Secret Service Agent
* Frank Girardeau - Agent #1
* William Wallace - Agent #2
* Chip Moody - Television Anchor
* Eagle Eye Cherry - Vet #1
* Brian Tarantina - Vet #2
* Frank Cavestani - Vet #3 / Vet #4
* Jimmy L. Parker - Vet #4
* William G. Knight - Chief Cop (as William Knight)
* David Carriere - Miami Hippie
* John William Galt - Fat Republican (as John Galt)
* Jack McGee - Democratic Delegate
* Kristel Otney - Woman #2
* Pamela S. Neill - Woman #3
* Jodi Long - Reporter #1
* Michelle Hurst - Reporter #2
* John C. McGinley - Official #1 (as John McGinley)
* Wayne Knight - Official #2
* Elizabeth Hoffman - Passerby #1
* Lucinda Jenney - Passerby #2
* Lorraine Morin-Torre - Passerby #3
* Annie McEnroe - Passerby #4
* Daniel Baldwin - Vet #1
* Réal Andrews - Vet #3 (as Real Andrews)

**Rest of cast listed alphabetically:**

* John Achorn
* Chris Adamec - Orderly (uncredited)
* Ran Barker - Bobby (uncredited)
* Theresa Bell - Democratic Conventioneer (uncredited)
* Greg Bransom - Spectator (uncredited)
* Lee Cogburn - Democratic Delegate (Democratic Convention) (uncredited)
* Dean Denton - Marine Recruiter (uncredited)
* Jedidiah Esparza - Parade Attendee (uncredited)
* Luv Adele Gaerlan - Girl Selling Barbecued Pork (uncredited)
* Kim Gelvin - Girl Musician on Float (uncredited)
* Allan Hale - Miami Convention Member (uncredited)
* Hillary Hickam - Prom Date (uncredited)
* Alan Kazdoy - Convention Delegate (uncredited)
* Ron Kovic - Parade Veteran (uncredited)
* Don Kruizinga - Parade Veteran (uncredited)
* Gary A. Leland - Secret Service Agent (uncredited)
* Dean Mauro - Conventioneer (uncredited)
* Maureen Mendoza - Little Girl (uncredited)
* Mark Miller - Soldier (uncredited)
* Fred Moon - DNC Delegate (uncredited)
* Íce Mrozek - Syracuse Friend (uncredited)
* Nick Nicholson - Soldier (uncredited)
* Steven Novak - Secret Service Agent (uncredited)
* Keith V. Otto - College Protester (uncredited)
* Bud Sabatino - Father at Parade (uncredited)
* Lee Shapiro - High School Student (uncredited)
* Delia Sheppard - Protesting War Widow (uncredited)
* Christopher Robin Smith - FBI Agent (Republican National Convention) (uncredited)
* E. Lee Smith - Vietnam Veteran (uncredited)
* Berto Spoor - Soldier (uncredited)
* Marvin Frank Stone III - Parade Attendee (uncredited)
* Henry Strzalkowski
* Craig Taylor - Protester (uncredited)
* Steve Thomas - Gazebo Speech Attendee (uncredited)
* Alan Vafides - Navy Corpsman (uncredited)
* Mark Edward Walters - Parade Attendee (uncredited)
* Kevin Watkins - Protester (uncredited)
* Claude Whitscell - Prom Date (uncredited)

### Archival footage

* John F. Kennedy
* Richard M. Nixon