Movie Review - - Film: 'Good Morning, Vietnam' - NYTimes.com Movie Review By VINCENT CANBY Published: December 23, 1987 LEAD: THE time of ''Good Morning, Vietnam'' is 1965. Adrian Cronauer (Robin Williams), an Armed Forces Radio disk jockey previously stationed in Crete, lands in Saigon to breathe a little life into the local programming. Until Cronauer's arrival, the AFR Saigon station has depended largely on the music of Mantovani and Percy Faith and helpful hints on how to withdraw books from the THE time of ''Good Morning, Vietnam'' is 1965. Adrian Cronauer (Robin Williams), an Armed Forces Radio disk jockey previously stationed in Crete, lands in Saigon to breathe a little life into the local programming. Until Cronauer's arrival, the AFR Saigon station has depended largely on the music of Mantovani and Percy Faith and helpful hints on how to withdraw books from the Army's lending libraries, interrupted from time to time by sanitized newscasts.

Though behind-the-lines sabotage is on the rise, and huge numbers of additional troops are arriving daily, the programming of the Saigon station reflects a prescribed sunniness that has less to do with the increasingly grim reality of Vietnam than with that of a giant rec room for pre-teens of the 1950's. At the top of the charts in this never-never land: ''Around the World in 80 Days.'' Within several days of taking over his dawn show, Adrian Cronauer has become the biggest, most controversial personality in Vietnam. Out the window have gone Mantovani, Percy Faith, Bing Crosby and Perry Como, to be replaced by the raucous laments and urgent innuendoes of James Brown, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and Wayne Fontana, among others. Between recordings, in his on-air monologues, Adrian Cronauer floats down the stream of his own manic consciousness. He talks about sex, the drama inherent in weather forecasts in the tropics, body functions, Army regulations, politics and Richard Nixon, then the former Vice President.

At frequent intervals, he conducts interviews with characters inhabiting the dark side of his brain, including an Army fashion designer who's distraught about the material used for camouflage uniforms. ''Why not plaids and stripes?'' asks the petulant designer. ''When you go into battle, clash!'' When in top form, Cronauer appears to be speaking in tongues, most of them all too familiar. At one time or another, he sends up just about every race, color, creed and sexual preference. The Army brass is upset, but his service listeners love him. Here, at last, is someone who knows the difference between a police action and a war. Reality has gained a precarious beachhead. ''Good Morning, Vietnam,'' directed by Barry Levinson (''Diner,'' ''Tin Men'') succeeds in doing something that's very rare in movies, being about a character who really is as funny as he's supposed to be to most of the people sharing the fiction with him. It's also a breakthrough for Mr. Williams, who, for the first time in movies, gets a chance to exercise his restless, full-frontal comic intelligence. Since making his film debut in Robert Altman's ''Popeye'' seven years ago, Mr.

Williams has appeared in five movies, including George Roy Hill's ''World According to Garp'' and Paul Mazursky's ''Moscow on the Hudson.'' Each film has had its endearing moments, but there was always the feeling that an oddball natural resource was being inefficiently used, as if Arnold Schwarzenegger had been asked to host ''Masterpiece Theater.'' Just how much of the fresh, cheeky Williams brilliance was going up the chimney can now be seen in ''Good Morning, Vietnam.'' The movie, which opens today at the Loew's 84th Street Sixplex and Cinema 2, is very much a star vehicle, but it's an exceptionally strong one. Mitch Markowitz's screenplay, based loosely on the experiences of a real-life Vietnam disk jockey, skids over a melodramatic subplot that would be fatal to any other movie. Though Mr. Williams is the film's life as well as its conscience, Mr. Levinson knows how to present the star without exploiting him to a point of diminishing returns. ''Good Morning, Vietnam'' surrounds Mr.

Williams with an especially strong cast of supporting actors, including two recruits from ''Tin Men.'' They are Bruno Kirby, as a polka-loving officer who longs to replace Adrian Cronauer as the station's star disk jockey (''In my heart I know I'm funny,'' he says after his first disastrous broadcast), and J. T. Walsh, as a sergeant major who's offended by Cronauer's loose ways with regulations. Also commendable are Noble Willingham, who plays a remarkably free-thinking general, one of Cronauer's biggest fans; Forest Whitaker, as Cronauer's sidekick; Cu Ba Nguyen, as a Saigon bar-owner with a most singular sexual preference; Chintara Sukapatana, as a young Vietnamese woman whom Adrian lusts after, and Tung Thanh Tran, as her brother. It's meant as praise for both the director and writer to say that several of the film's best sequences (aside from Mr. Williams's monologues) give every indication of having been improvised, though to what extent I've no idea. In one, Cronauer takes over an English class for Vietnamese civilians and proceeds to teach them the nuances lurking within the most commonplace American obscenities.

In another, the disk jockey is suddenly confronted by his public in the persons of a truckload of soldiers heading into combat. Mr. Levinson, who appreciates the Williams monologues as much as theater audiences will, provides them with a context that enriches their meaning without upstaging them, cross-cutting between Cronauer, broadcasting from his antiseptic radio studio, and the tormented, sometimes scenic Vietnamese countryside where his voice is being heard. Make no mistake about it: Mr. Williams's performance, though it's full of uproarious comedy, is the work of an accomplished actor. ''Good Morning, Vietnam'' is one man's tour de force. MAKING (AIR)WAVES - GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM, directed by Barry Levinson; written by Mitch Markowitz; director of photography, Peter Sova; edited by Stu Linder; music by Alex North; production designer, Roy Walker; produced by Mark Johnson and Larry Brezner; released by Touchstone Pictures in association with Silver Screen Partners III. At Loews 84th Street Six, at Broadway; Cinema 2, Third Avenue at 60th Street. Running time: 120 minutes.

This film is rated R. Adrian Cronauer...Robin Williams Edward Garlick...Forest Whitaker Tuan...Tung Thanh Tran Trinh...Chintara Sukapatana Lieut. Steven Hauk...Bruno Kirby Marty Lee Dreiwitz...Robert Wuhl Sgt. Maj. Dickerson...J. T. Walsh Gen. Taylor...Noble Willingham Pvt. Abersold...Richard Edson Phil McPherson...Juney Smith A Review of Barry Levinson's Directed Movie "Good Morning, Vietnam" | Kibin A Review of Barry Levinson's Directed Movie "Good Morning, Vietnam" Sign Up & Access Essays Already a member? Login here Pages: 4 This preview is partially blurred. Sign up to view the full document. Sign Up & Access Essays Already a member? Login here End of preview Upgrade to view the full document This is an unformatted preview.

Sign up to view the full document End of preview Upgrade to view the full document The movie Good Morning Vietnam Directed by Barry Levinson andwritten by Mitch Markowitz Had a solid view that was portrayed in many ways onthe roles of the North Vietnamese South Vietnamese and American Soldiers Italso depicted a clear picture of the Vietnamese Civilians and Viet Cong Thefilm began with a clear-cut portrayal of American Soldiers within the confoundsof an office and the discrepancies amongst the high ranking and higher rankingOfficers Robin Williams is introduced into the Movie as a humorous man meant tobe a radio DJ for the American Soldiers fighting outside the Office Thehigh-ranking officials in charge of the News broadcastings limited AdrianCronauer played by Robin Williams to broadcast the most mild of new about thewar to the soldiers the very same soldiers who were fighting the war In thiswas the film maker practically hands over to the audience the fact that highranking officials wanted to virtually blind-sight listeners into thinking thatthe war is only being fought in the hillsthat it is in fact not real tothem but very distant By doing this he shows how by using propaganda thenews controlled out view American view and the soldiers views on the warthat we were fighting Misleading the masses to believe what the handful ofmajor leaders felt was

 necessary for the masses to believe by keeping themmal-informed and blissfully ignorant of the actual situations at hand Alongwith the portrayal of misconception within the confounds of the Vietnam War thefilmmaker successfully was able to serve the audience with the sight ofindividuals within each army confound He created the antithesis of thefaceless mass propaganda that Dictators such as Hitler used to create asubhuman tag for their targets Consider the fact that when a student readsabout mass casualties in a war decades before their time they only see thenumber or statistic and not the hundreds and thousands of men woman andchildren who each came from a home who left their loved ones and theindividual loss each family suffered @Kibin is a lifesaver for my essay right now!!

- Sandra Slivka, student @ UC Berkeley Wow, this is the best essay help I've ever received! - Camvu Pham, student @ U of M If I'd known about @Kibin in college, I would have gotten much more sleep - Jen Soust, alumni @ UCLA Good Morning, Vietnam Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb 68 out of 75 people found the following review useful: A great morale booster!

from United States 15 March 2002 Vietnam without a doubt was a dark period in our history.Any comedy film surrounding Vietnam would indeed have to be done delicately.This movie pulls it off.What amazes me most about the film is the flawless, improvisational radio dialog from Robin Williams.This,as most of you may know,was completely unscripted to allow Williams an opportunity to work his magic.Also,it had to be timely,for the movie is,of course,set in 1965.The fact that he was able to do this is nothing short of amazing.The supporting cast was also incredible,with great performances by Forrest Whitaker,Bruno Kirby,and the late J.T.Walsh as "Sergeant Major Dickerson",the man you love to hate.Although some of the horror that was Vietnam is here,it's only giving you a taste of it,as it concentrates more on the Williams character's quest to make our beloved soldiers forget their horror,at least for a while.Highly recommended. Was the above review useful to you?

39 out of 47 people found the following review useful: The definitive Robin Williams film from Norwich, England 6 May 1999 There never has been, and probably never will be, another film which shows both sides of Williams to such a great degree. As the wise-cracking disc-jockey, Williams shows his undisputed wild comedic talent, but the bomb scene and scenes of rural Vietnam life, truly allow Williams to such his dramatic acting ability. They look at the conflict, without getting in too deep. A superb cast as well including Bruno Kirby and the late great J.T. Walsh gives a solid backdrop, and are beautiful foils to Williams. Overall, a wonderful movie, add it to your collection. Was the above review useful to you? 25 out of 29 people found the following review useful: Effective movie that is neither too funny nor too grim from Topeka, Kansas, USA 30 July 2006 I just sat through a DVD of this movie,the second(?)time I'd seen this film.

The last time I could recall seeing this,it was on pay-per-view television in a hotel(the Red Lion I think it was) room,August of 1988,so my memories of this film could use a refreshing. I'm glad I got refreshed. In 1965,Airman Adrian Cronauer(Robin Williams,in the first of his four Academy Award nominations)is brought on to do an Armed Forces Radio stint in Vietnam. Behind the microphone,Cronauer lets loose,much to the surprise and delight of many of the troops and servicemen around the area of combat. His combination of off-the-wall humor,impressions,sound gags and quick wit,mixed with his love of free-wheeling Rock music of the era,is pretty much welcomed in the area,save for a few angry sorts: a Napoleon-complexed intermediate CO named Hauk(Bruno Kirby,unrecognizable but for the voice) and a stiff-lipped,quietly vindictive middle commander named Dickerson(J.T.Walsh,so good here it would seem like this typecast him).

As this is going on,Cronauer becomes smitten with a local girl(Chinatra Sukapatra,spelling?)and befriends her brother(Tung Thanh Tran),which leads the popular DJ down a road of self-discovery. With excellent support from Forrest Whitaker(one of my favorites!he ends up sort of counter-balancing Williams' manic frenzy with nerdish normalcy as his buddy/assistant/guide),Richard Edson,Noble Winnigham,Robert Wuhl and Cu Ba Nguyen(as the oily GI bar proprietor)among others,this film,directed by Barry Levinson(whose work hasn't been this good in what feels like forever,certainly not since Avalon or Rain Man) and written by Mitch Markowitz,it is arguable one of the deftest films to create and maintain a balance between the horrors and inhumanity of war and the humor and pathos that are very much present in it. Robin Williams' fans may get much more out of this that those who aren't,but I think even many of those who don't consider themselves fanciers of his talents should be able to appreciate this.

The images were powerful enough that they stuck with me some after the first time I saw GMV and after a second time I feel like can appreciate even more out of this movie. Was the above review useful to you? 30 out of 42 people found the following review useful: Robin Williams does his thing well in this comedy that makes us think. ***1/2 (out of four) GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM / (1987) ***1/2 (out of four) By Blake French: Robin Williams is about as good as they come at doing stand up comedy, and in "Good Morning, Vietnam" director Berry Levinson gives him everything he needs to make the film go above and beyond the average satire. From his outgoing sense of humor, to his aggressive personality, and dozens of vocal effects, he portrays his character with interactive zest. Who can resist the awakening voice of Williams on the radio yelling "Good Morning Vietnam." This is a film that conquers the test of time. "Good Morning, Vietnam" tells the story of a lively disc jockey who gets a job on Armed Forced Radio during the Vietnam War.

Robin Williams is the fast-talking Adrian Cronauer, and who better to play the part than he. Although this character is one-dimensional (we are never informed on his background, marital status, where he comes from, what he did before we meet), as the movie continues he gradually begins to change into a deeper, more meaningful person. The story moves along smoothly; the narrative through-line is consistent as each scene relates to the next. Although little momentum or suspense can be noticed, the film does have several underlining themes, often viewed upon in a Stanley Kubrick style: sarcastic and uncompromising. We see how much a little humor and jazz can greatly enlighten the hard-core atmosphere of the military during Vietnam, and how it can thoroughly confuse the bleeding heart officials. The film hangs by the skin of its teeth for active conflict tension. Beyond people objecting to the actions of Williams' character, there is just not a lot of tension within the story, and at some points my interest wandered. "Good Morning, Vietnam" is merely a portrait of Robin Williams releasing his perennial comedy, and unfortunately that does happen to get old quite quickly; the majority of an audience can only watch the humor for so long until it becomes old and somewhat stale.

"Good Morning, Vietnam" is definitely not a flawless film, but we do empathize for the main character, the scenes effectively capture the attitude and mood during the war, and the dialogue and writing feel accurate and involving. Barry Levinson has directed a marvelous comedy, one that is not all about making us laugh, but also makes us think. Was the above review useful to you? 24 out of 32 people found the following review useful: good morning and (a very good) day from Portland, Oregon, USA 12 January 2006 "Good Morning, Vietnam" is truly Robin Williams at his best. As anarchic DJ Adrian Cronauer in 1965 Saigon, he makes sure that you never stop laughing. I really liked what he did with the tape of Richard Nixon's speech, and then his comment about the bombing of a restaurant. Most amazing is that he ad-libbed the whole thing (but hey, that's Robin Williams). Maybe Cronauer wasn't that wacky in real life, but every one of Williams' comments makes the movie worthwhile.

The soundtrack even includes his monologues (you'll go crazy over the imitation of Lyndon Johnson, and the commentary from "Roosevelt E. Roosevelt"). A comedy classic in every sense. Was the above review useful to you? 19 out of 23 people found the following review useful: Funny and real from Denmark 29 October 2005 Let me be perfectly frank and say right away that I watched this to experience Robin Williams at his best. That guy has so much comedic talent, it's unreal. I mostly got what I expected from this movie... but I found that it also contained some truths about the Vietnam war. The movie has plenty to offer on both fronts. Any fan of Williams' comedy will definitely enjoy it, and I think most war-movie buffs will too... if they can keep an open mind, and accept a slightly different approach to the genre. The way the seriousness of war is underplayed for most of the film really works to enhance the effect of it when it is shoved right in our faces, when we are forced to acknowledge it.

We forget how serious and all-consuming war is, just like Adrian had(not necessarily the real one, I know nothing of him except of what the film told me, and as far as I understand, that's not that accurate a portrayal of him), only to be confronted with it. More effective than several big war movies. The plot is very good. The pacing is great, the movie keeps moving pretty much all through the film. The characters are well-written and credible. The acting is good pretty much all-round, and Williams proves once again that he can do drama just as well as comedy. The humor is typical Robin Williams. A very good film, and an unusual war movie. I recommend this to fans of Robin Williams and war movies. 7/10 Was the above review useful to you? 15 out of 18 people found the following review useful: Really smart and somewhat humbling film that entertains and amuses. from Hampshire, England 23 September 2008 Made at a time when films on the Vietnam war were being produced by America at a healthy rate, Good Morning, Vietnam comes across as the sort that falls into both 'types' that were being produced at the time.

Platoon got under the skin of Vietnam, telling the events from an individual's perspective through voiceovers without relying on a lot of causality, rather the everyday tasks and events that occur. Full Metal Jacket was an interesting beast in the sense most of its more intense scenes didn't actually happen in Vietnam but rather at home on the training ground. But both were in a sensible tradition and took attention away from the Reaganism inspired 'action' films that were Rambo: First Blood Part II and the like. Good Morning, Vietnam falls into both these sorts of Vietnam war films. On one hand it is a serious film about the war and deals with serious issues such as morale and how dangerous conflict with the enemy actually is without doing what Rambo did by turning the war genre into a sub-division of the action genre. At one point in the film, DJ and lead character of the film Adrian Cronauer (Williams) finds himself in a hostile area out in the jungle and you do feel the shift in atmosphere the film briefly moves into in the sense this guy is not a soldier but he is in a dangerous position and he isn't equipped with how to get through it.

There is another scene in which a street side bomb goes off and Adrian is caught up in the middle of it, further reminding us of the war zone and cleverly shifting the aura. But the film does fall into the genre of comedy and while it does so, it never distracts us from the fact this is taking place during a war unlike First Blood: Part II which could really have been an action film set amongst any backdrop. Good Morning, Vietnam does not ignore its comedy roots either and gives us genuinely entertaining disc jockey rants from Williams who shines with his animation and ad-libbing, further reminding us of a later film of his, Aladdin, and how he really was the star of that piece. The best parts of Good Morning, Vietnam actually raise issues to do with oppositional reading. As a character, Adrian is one of those charismatic individuals who is perhaps more focused on entertaining his audience first but when repercussions to do with that want to entertain arise, it is an oppositional reading to something that seems innocent enough. There are a couple of scenes and incidences that deal with this theme of oppositional reading. One that springs to mind takes place in a bar in which Adrian has brought a Vietnamese friend whom he teaches in an English class.

The trouble is, it's a G.I. bar and certain soldiers have an issue with the Vietnamese person being there. It is Adrian's carefree and relaxed attitude to letting the individual come with him to the bar that has upset certain others around him, resulting in an oppositional opinion on whether the Vietnamese person should be allowed there. One says he can, others say he can't and conflict erupts. This battle is constantly going on within the boundaries of the radio studio and exists between Adrian and the censors who blank out all the bad news such as deaths and bombings, failing to deliver the real news, and instead keep morale from going below a certain point. Adrian's style of giving the people what they should hear in a charismatic style also rubs off spawning a sub-story revolving around a small school that teaches Vietnamese people the English language. Before hand, they were learning very basic words and phrases but after Adrian takes over, New York City slang or 'jargon' is the name of the game and while you wouldn't find English as a foreign language classes doing this sort of thing, Adrian brings his charismatic style to a class, turning it from formal to informal.

The theme here is that he's giving them exactly what he feels they need to know, not what the curriculum demand they know. It is the same with the radio station and the news censorship; giving people what they have a right to know vs. what a higher power say they should know. The principal foil for Adrian is Lt. Steven Hauk (Kirby) who is against Adrian's style of parody and constant joking but when he is put on air, the best he can do is adopt the voice and role of a Frenchman as he mocks and plods his way through airtime. It is a battle that the oppositional readers loose since morale falls drastically after Adrian is taken off and he is forced to be reinstated because of this. Good Morning, Vietnam carries a pumping soundtrack which is what you'd expect for a film about a DJ and an emphasis on radio and its constant referencing to popular culture, gliding from The Wizard of Oz to Eleanor Roosevelt makes Williams' scenes consistently fun to watch. But other than this, it gives some political stances without ever feeling forced with the 'Wonderful World' montage over wartime action and juxtaposes James Brown's music over other scenes of wartime action.

The film is a success in comedy and drama, a rarity of sorts given Dr. Strangelove supposedly set the standards. Was the above review useful to you? 13 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Goooooooooooooooooooood Morning Preston Sturges from Buffalo, New York 30 June 2009 It finally hit me when I watched Good Morning Vietnam what this film reminded me of. It was the famous Preston Sturges classic, Sullivan's Travels which coincidentally as it turns out is one of my favorite films. Both the real life Adrian Cronauer and Joel McCrea's fictional John L. Sullivan have to come to the same realization, that what they do matters a great deal. In Sullivan's Travels it's to the movie going public in general, in the case of Cronauer it's to the GIs in Vietnam stuck in a war where no one could ever know who the enemy was. A few laughs from a comic genius was necessary to get them through the day in their very cockeyed world. Adrian Cronauer was a real life person, but if he didn't bear a resemblance to Robin Williams, he should have.

One of the great comic masters of any era in entertainment, Robin Williams is given full range for his zany sense of humor to work its magic with Cronauer. He's ably abetted and assisted by the other staff members of Armed Forces Radio Forest Whitaker and Robert Wuhl. Bruno Kirby is great as the clueless lieutenant in charge and so is J.T. Walsh who represents the limits of the military mind as the sergeant major out to get Williams by hook or very dirty crook. Williams himself doesn't understand the complexities of the Vietnam situation. That fact is brought home to him graphically when he's betrayed by his own innate decency. Next to Williams my favorite in the cast is Noble Willingham who plays the general who has overall charge of Armed Forces Radio there. He's a tough, but compassionate military man, the exact opposite of J.T. Walsh whom he has to reign in. Good Morning Vietnam is a frank portrayal of a war experience told with humor and irony through the eyes of Robin Williams. Preston Sturges would have absolutely adored this film. Was the above review useful to you?

10 out of 10 people found the following review useful: The best--Williams behind the mic--is 11 stars, but the movie as a whole is a kind of slick formula otherwise 13 September 2014 Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) A lighthearted but deadly serious anti-war film, actually. This is of course a Robin Williams movie so that it is his schtick, brilliant and inspired, that makes it soar. The best of it, including the famous riff when he first gets on the air as the new Saigon DJ, is hilarious and breathtaking. There is a plot, sort of, as he goes through a rise and fall at the military radio station, but it's more about his shining moments behind the microphone than anything else. The "else" in this movie is, however, most of the movie. That is, Williams has a serious role as an offbeat renegade in a chaotic world surrounded by a range of sensible and very insensible officers and colleagues.

At the most extreme, when we see a Vietnamese village firebombed while Louis Armstrong sings "It's a Wonderful World," the sentiment is so cloying it makes you cry, and you're not sure why because you know it's just over the top manipulation. Likewise when Williams is caught in a traffic jam with other military vehicles and he warms up the soldiers by humanizing everyone and making them feel like they really should be back home. Which they should be, as we know in retrospect. So the movie has another side that's kind of sentimental and simplistic, whatever its good pacifist intentions. Williams is a decent actorI'm not one of those who thinks he's brilliant outside of his funny rolesand so it holds up pretty well. But the plot line keeps the movie from really finding pathos, or comedy, or warmth, or tragedy of a dramatic kind, in the scenes outside the radio station. And I think that's what it intended. For those who don't know, it's worth adding that the main character, Adrian Cronauer, was a real person, and still ishe's a staunch Republican (Williams was not, to be sure) and an innovator in radio in Vietnam.

He also co-wrote the screenplay, I assume working on the scenes that he would know best rather than the larger saccharine plot aspects. A great story, and the real Cronauer deserves credit for inspiring it, and helping it along. He was, along with most of us, "Godsmacked" when he heard the news of Williams's death. Was the above review useful to you? 8 out of 10 people found the following review useful: A perfect showcase for Robin Williams' unique improv 25 October 2007 *** This review may contain spoilers *** Good Morning, Vietnam is undoubtedly the film that propelled Robin Williams to the A-list. Beforehand he was only known as Mork from Ork, and the films he'd been asked to appear in (except perhaps Moscow on the Hudson) were ones not really giving him an opportunity to flex his true muscles as an actor. But GMV changed all that, because it was the first time Williams had been given a character that finally allowed him to showcase his unique brand of improv. In this case, a DJ. Its what Williams does with the part that makes GMV so compelling. His live-wire performance transforms the entire movie.

Without Williams, GMV would be a considerably lesser film than it is. Barry Levinson's film is rather unique because it was the first (and only) one to add a bit of comedy into the Vietnam War. Taking a leaf out of MASH's book, it uses the conflict in Saigon as a backdrop for William's barnstorming impressions and impersonations. And for the most part, its a sweet package. Williams plays Adrian Cronauer, a funny man shipped to Saigon to be the new host of a morning radio show. Adrian's irreverent antics in front of the mike raises a few eyebrows among the straight-arrow US military, but the troops love him! All the while, Adrian gets to know Vietnamese culture up close and personal. Something that leads to romance, friendship and eventually a betrayal that changes Adrian's life forever. It was the decision to put Robin Williams at the centre that makes Good Morning, Vietnam such a great movie. Williams is a master of improvisation. He can slip from one impersonation to the next effortlessly. And the best part is, none of it is scripted. Williams improvises routines right out of thin air.

You know he's just making this up as he's going along, and its a remarkable thing to see. Levinson knows Williams needs no script or cue cards to work from. All he does is position the camera in front of Williams behind the mike, give him the line Good Morning, Vietnam and then go from there. And its like watching a comic whirlwind. Any scene with him on his radio show provides non-stop laughs. He has seldom been better in anything else. What I also liked about GMV is its humorous approach to the misguided Vietnam conflict. Its when it tries to be a little more serious and dramatic that the film falls down. Yes the war in Vietnam was a terrible tragedy. Especially because it represented the American's sabre-rattling mentality at its narrowest. But the dramatic elements offer nothing particularly enlightening about the war. The comedy elements however do. When Good Morning, Vietnam is funny its very funny. But when it tries to make serious points it slows the film right down. Its Williams irreverent commentaries on the conflict that give the film its life.

Even when he's doing impressions of Richard Nixon and even Elmer Fudd there's a thinly disguised veil of contempt against the US military's participation in the Vietnam War. They're wrapped up in sharply satirical comic material, but they make more of an impact than the film's outright heavy-handed approach. Subtlety makes all the difference. Robin Williams is the heart and soul of the entire picture of course. Whether he's delivering manic rapid-fire monologues on the air to teaching native Vietnamese the hip aspects of the English language, he holds the attention whenever he's around. He was deservedly nominated for an Oscar. An Oscar he should have won really. Levinson surrounds Williams with talented character actors. The most engaging are Forest Whitaker and Noble Willingham. Whitaker plays Edward, a timid young man who learns to loosen up after spending time in Adrian's company. And Willingham plays Gen. Taylor, the only one among the top brass who takes a shine to Adrian's unorthodox methods. He brings depth to what could have been an easily clichéd character. On the downside, JT Walsh plays exactly the type of character Willingham is so skillful at avoiding.

A pompous, self-important bureaucrat who takes an instant dislike to Adrian's free-thinking spirit. I have to admit I found it a bit hard to swallow that Walsh's character Sgt Major Dickerson (tee-hee!) would actually try to get Adrian killed in VC territory. No matter how much he hated him. His is an unnecessary character really. The film could have done just as well, and arguably better without him. Nethertheless, the ending is still quite sad when Adrian winds up being shipped back to the US because one of his Vietnamese friends is a terrorist. Williams performance is so faultless that even when you can see the mechanicals of the plot clicking into place, you still feel sadness for him. His closing message is the perfect blend of cutting humour and acute pathos. Good Morning, Vietnam would have been better if it had stayed true to the comic route. But despite a few bumps in the screenplay, Robin Williams' quite excellent (even virtuoso) performance keeps things remarkably on course. He made a questionable detour into sentimental schmaltz in the following 90s, but this film shows you what Robin Williams can be capable of when given the right material to work with. Was the above review useful to you?

Page 1 of 14: Good Morning Vietnam, (1987) - YouTube Good Morning Vietnam, (1987) Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Oct 4, 2013 Good Morning, Vietnam is a 1987 American war-comedy film written by Mitch Markowitz and directed by Barry Levinson. Set in Saigon in 1965, during the Vietnam War, the film stars Robin Williams as a radio DJ on Armed Forces Radio Service, who proves hugely popular with the troops, but infuriates his superiors with what they call his "irreverent tendency". The story is loosely based on the experiences of AFRS radio DJ Adrian Cronauer. Most of Williams' radio broadcasts were improvised. Williams was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The film is number 100 on "AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs".

Category Good Morning, Vietnam - Wikiquote Good Morning, Vietnam Writen by Mitch Markowitz and Directed by Barry Levinson The wrong man. In the wrong place. At the right time. Contents 6 External links Airman First Class Adrian Cronauer[ edit ] Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how the VP is such a VIP , shouldn't we keep the PC on the QT ? 'Cause if it leaks to the VC he could end up MIA , and then we'd all be put on KP . The Mississippi River broke through a protective dike today. What is a protective dike? Is that a large woman standing near the river going [in Butch voice] "Don't go near there!" [in Girly voice] "But Betty-" [in Butch voice] "Don't go near there! Get away from the river! Stay away from there." I know, we can't use the word "dyke." You can't even say "lesbian", it's "women in comfortable shoes." Thank you very much. [as Walter Cronkite ] I just want to begin by saying to Roosevelt E. Roosevelt, what it is, what it shall be, what it was.

The weather out there today is hot and shitty with continued hot and shitty in the afternoon. Tomorrow a chance of continued crappy with a pissy weather front coming down from the north. Basically, it's hotter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut. [to Trinh] You know, you're very beautiful. You're also very quiet. And I'm not used to girls being that quiet unless they're medicated. Normally I go out with girls who talk so much you could hook them up to a wind turbine and they could power a small New Hampshire town. Sometimes you got to specifically go out of your way to get into trouble. It's called fun. Hey, we're back. That last few seconds of silence was Marcel Marceau's newest hit single, "Walkin' In The Wind." And now, here are the headlines. Here they come at you right now. Pope actually found to be Jewish. Liberace is Anastasia, and Ethel Merman jams Russian radar. The East Germans, today, claimed that the Berlin Wall was a fraternity prank. Also the Pope decided today to release Vatican-related bath products. An incredible thing, yes, it's the new Pope-on-a-Rope. That's right.

Pope-on-a-Rope. Wash with it, go straight to heaven. Thank you! Meanwhile, Ethel Merman managed to jam Russian radar, she was quoted as singing [loud and off-key] "Oh, IIII've got a feeeeeliiiing... that loooove is here to staaaaay!". When asked for a statement, the Russians simply replied [with a Russian accent], "What the hell was that?" Here's a news flash: Today President Lyndon Johnson passed a highway beautification bill. The bill basically said that his daughters could not drive in a convertible on public highways. You're a very attractive man, Abersold. Don't think I haven't noticed. I'm saying I'm through, Ed. I'm tired of people tellin' me what I can't say. "This news isn't official." "That comment is too sarcastic." I can't even make fun of Richard Nixon, and there's a man who is screaming out to be made fun of. So, fuck it. [As camp fashion consultant] Thank you. I think this fall, the discerning GI is gonna be wearing green in the jungle. Why? Because it matches with the green!

The leaves, they fall upon the helmets, says yes to me. Five months in Vietnam and my best friend is a V.C. THIS WILL NOT LOOK GOOD ON A RESUMÉ! Private First Class Edward Garlick[ edit ] My whole life passed before my eyes, and it wasn't even interesting to me.... It zoomed right by, just the way they say it does. Stamp collections, pulling chickweeds from my dad's dichondra plants, arranging rakes by sizes for my mom in the garage. Even encapsulated in two seconds, my life is dull. I find that very alarming. Dreiwitz[ edit ] What is the appeal of Joey Bishop ? I mean, the man's not funny. I know funny, and he's not funny. Don't get me wrong- he seems like a nice guy- but my father's a nice guy and he's not funny either! Joey Bishop. I wish someone would explain this one to me. BG Taylor: How ya doin'? General Taylor. Adrian: Hiya, General. Adrian Cronauer. BG Taylor: Real pleasure. If you have any problems, you come see me. I'm the tallest hog in the trough around here.

[Brigadier General Taylor pauses, looking at Garlick with concern.] BG Taylor: Garlick, have you put on some weight? PFC Garlick: Uh, I don't think so, sir. BG Taylor: Why, son, the shadow of your ass would weigh twenty pounds. PFC Garlick: I'll work on that, sir! [BG Taylor waves in acknowledgement as he walks away.] Garlick: You're not supposed to address the general saying "hiya." Adrian: What's that, a new rule? Garlick: No, old rule. SGM Dickerson: United States Air Force- the hat does give you away. This is not military issue, Airman. What sort of uniform is that? A1C Adrian Cronauer: Cretan camouflage. If you want to blend into a crowd of drunken Greeks there's nothing better. Dickerson: That is humor. I recognize that. I also recognize your species of soldier. I had a guy like you in the field one time- he blew himself to pieces, but not before his humor cost the lives of three very fine individuals.[Cronauer starts to speak] You shut your fuckin' hole!

You're in Southeast Asia now, pal, you got your cushy little assignment. There's nothing I can do about that. In time, you will make me forget it. You stay out of my way there'll be no problem. But if you toy with me, I'll burn you so bad you'll wish you died as a child. Am I being fairly clear? Adrian: Yes, sir. Dickerson: Sir! I work for a living, Airman! You will address me as Sergeant Major Dickerson! Adrian: Yes, Sergeant Major Dickerson. [Dickerson glares at Cronauer and leaves] Adrian:[to Garlick and Hauk] He reminds me a lot of Donna Reed, especially around the eyes. Adrian: What's the demilitarized zone? It sounds like something out of the Wizard of Oz. Adrian as Glinda: Oh no don't go in there! Adrian as Soldier: Ohhh wee ohh. Ho Chi Minh . Adrian as Glinda: Oh look you've landed in Saigon. You're among the little people now. Adrian as Munchkin: We represent the ARVN army, the ARVN army. Oh no! Follow the Ho Chi Minh trail !

Follow the Ho Chi Minh trail! Adrain as Witch: Oh! I'll get you my pretty! Adrian: Oh my God! It's the wicked Witch of the North! It's Hanoi Hannah! Adrain as Witch: Now, little GI, you and your little Toto too! Adrian: We've got our traffic report up there on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. How's it going up there? Adrian as Reporter: Well, Adrian, it's not going exactly well. There's a water buffalo jackknifed up there. It's not a very pretty picture, there's horns everywhere. I dunno what to say, we're gonna maybe drop in a little napalm there, try to cook him down, have a little barbecue. Adrian as Camp Fashion Consultant: I want to tell you something. You know, this whole camouflage thing, for me, doesn't work very well. Adrian: Why is that? Adrian as Camp Fashion Consultant: Because you go in the jungle, I can't see you. You know, it's like wearing stripes and plaid. For me, I want to do something different. You know, you go in the jungle, make a statement.

If you're going to fight, clash. You know what I mean? 2LT Hauk: First of all, don't make fun of the weather here, and don't say the weather is the same all the time here, because it's not. In fact, it's two degrees cooler today than yesterday. Adrian: Two degrees colder? [gasps] Me without my muff. Hauk: Okay, who do we have slated for live entertainment in November? Phil: Well, we originally wanted Bob Hope, but it turns out he won't come. Hauk: Why not? Garlick: He doesn't play police actions, just wars. Bob likes a big room, sir. [The group laughs] Hauk: That is not funny! Abersold: How about if it escalated? Hauk: How about if what escalated? Abersold: The Vietnam conflict. Hauk: The Vietnam conflict. We are not going to escalate a whole war just so we can book a big name comedian! Dickerson: Talk. Adrian: These two behemoths were physically abusing a Vietnamese national.

I thought since we're here to defend the c- Dickerson: So you started a brawl, turned the place upside down- real intelligent solution. Do you have any idea how ridiculous it makes me look to have a man under my command start a fucking bar brawl? [Pauses, glaring at Garlick, who is watching from another room. Garlick promptly disappears.] You're not gonna last long here, pal. Adrian: You can always send me back to Crete. Dickerson: Oh, you think this is a joke! I can come up with alternatives other than Crete- I'm real good at stuff like that. I got people stuck in places they haven't even considered how to get out of yet. You don't think I can come up with somethin' good? Can you envision some fairly unattractive alternatives? Adrian: Not without slides. Dickerson: A bar brawl, that's one, Cronauer. You better stay cool. You better not get involved in anything. You better not even come in range of anything that happens. Or your ass is grass and I'm a lawnmower. Am I being fairly clear? Adrian: Yes, sir. Dickerson: Sir!

Do you see anything on this uniform indicating an officer? [Pointing to his rank insignia] What does three up and three down mean to you, Airman? Adrian: End of an inning? Dickerson: Sergeant Major. Now you get the hell out of here right now! Adrian: Once again we've got our friend from military intelligence. Can you tell us what you've found out about the enemy since you've been here? Adrian as Gomer: We found out that we can't find them. They're out there, and we're having a major difficulty in finding the enemy. Adrian: Well, what do you use to look for them? Adrian as Gomer: Well, we ask people, 'Are you the enemy? And whoever says yes, we shoot them. [Pause] It's very difficult to find a Vietnamese man named Charlie. They're all named Nyugen or Doh or things like that. It's very difficult for me. Adrian: Is it true that you're actually-- that you're actually too close to some of the nerve agents they were testing? Adrian as Gomer: Nerve… uh, gas? Adrian: Yes, have you used any?

Adrian as Gomer: Well, once, yes, on myself. And it had no-- WOAH! WOAH! No effect on me. I've had no actual-- WOAH! SHE-HOO! WOAH! WOAH! Big dogs! Big dogs landing on my face! Adrian: I don't know what that means. Hauk: Where you do imagine you're going? Adrian: Just gonna get a little something to eat. Hauk: You don't have time. You'll stay here and drink instant beverages or something. We promised our listening audience Nixon highlights by 4 PM. Adrian: I've been on the air for four hours. I'm a little hungry. Hauk: That's a joke, right? I get it. Adrian: Nooo, I'm actually hungry. Hauk: Well I'm actually giving you an order. [Walks out.] Adrian: Oh it's an order. In that case gentlemen. Let's edit. Nixon: Therefore, there is no place for neutrality or a neutralist sentiment in South Vietnam.

As I leave Vietnam today there is no doubt, certainly, in my mind that the Viet Cong will be defeated and this war will be won. Asia does involve, I think, very appropriately as you have suggested, give and take. Adrian: Well I-- I really didn't make that suggestion, sir, I'm sorry. Nixon: The United States has no right to give-- Hauk: Why would Cronauer's voice be on this tape? Abersold: I don't know, Lieutenant. Nixon: --territory to the communists. Adrian: Mr. Nixon, thank you for that concise political commentary, but I think I'd like to delve into something slightly more personal for the men in the field. How would you describe your testicles? [Hauk turns to the radio in horror] Nixon: That they're soft, and that they're shallow and they have no purpose. Hauk: Oh, my God. Adrian: What are you saying, sir? Hauk: Oh, my God. Nixon: That they lack the physical strength. Adrian: How would you describe your sex life with your wife Pat? Nixon: It is unexciting sometimes.

Adrian: Well, have you considered, possibly, a sex change. There is an operation that can transform you Hauk: Please don't do this to me. Please don't do this to me. Adrian: --into a female Great Dane or possibly a very well hung Chihuahua. Mr. Nixon, while you've been in Vietnam, its rumored that you've smoked marijuana. Are you planning to take some of the marijuana home back to the United States? How would you do that? Nixon: By plane. By helicopter and also by automobile. Adrian: Can you please do your impersonation of Mister Ed for us? Hauk: (running into the control room) Cut this thing off! I said cut it off! (Bangs on the tape machine and stops the tape) Where's Cronauer? Marty: Still eating sir. Hauk: I want to see him ASAP. Marty: What's that? Hauk: As soon as possible! Marty: VG sir. Garlick: [into the mic] We interrupt this press conference to bring you this emergency performance of the Benny Goodman Orchestra. Hauk: Sir, the man has got an irreverent tendency.

He did a very off-color parody of former VP Nixon. Brigadier General Taylor: I thought it was hilarious. Hauk: Respectfully, sir, the former VP is a good man and a decent man. Brigadier General Taylor: Bullshit! I know Nixon personally. He lugs a trainload of shit behind him that would fertilize the Sinai. Why, I wouldn't buy an apple cider from the son of a bitch and I consider him a good, close, personal friend! [Adrian sees the story about the bombing that he witnessed and he starts taking it to the control room, going past the two censors] Censor #1: What do you think you're doing? You know you're forbidden to read anything not checked by this office. Adrian: What's there to check? I was there. Censor #1: Airman, you know the rules. If this is a legitimate news story, it must go through proper channels. Adrian: Listen, Tweedledee , it's an actual event. [referring to the blood on his shirt] What do you think this came from? Shaving? It's the truth. I just want to report the truth.

It'll be a nice change of pace. Dickerson: What's going on here? Adrian: Sir, will you listen to me? SGM Dickerson: [reads the story] This is not official news, Airman. As far as I'm concerned, it didn't happen. Adrian: It did happen. SGM Dickerson: You shut your mouth! Adrian: What are you afraid of Dickerson? People might find out there's a war going on? SGM Dickerson: This news is not official. Adrian: You want everyone going under the assumption it's perfectly safe here, don'tcha? Well, it's not. The fighting's not just in the hills, it's downtown. It's a couple of fucking BLOCKS! SGM Dickerson: I SAID IT IS NONE OF YOUR GODDAMN BUSINESS! Adrian: I see your point. I'm sorry. I guess I get inside, hit these air conditioners, I get a little dizzy. Thanks for setting me straight. Brigadier General Taylor: I think I see a pattern forming here. Dreiwitz: Sir, these letters are unequivocal!

Uh, e.g., [reads a letter] "Hey, Hauk. Eat a bag of shit. You suck." That's pretty much to the point, sir, not much gray area in this one. PFC Garlick: We got one positive call from some guy in Wichita, who thought that Hauk's comedy was "visionary and interesting." The other eleven hundred calls say that the man can't do comedy to save his dick! [pause] That's a direct quote, sir. Phil: I've taken ninety calls this morning-- they just don't like Hauk. PFC Garlick: From a Marine in Danang: "Captain Hauk sucks the sweat off a dead man's balls." I have no idea what that means, sir, but it seems very negative to me. Brigadier General Taylor: I think the troops are trying to tell us something, fellas. PFC Garlick: Gentlemen! Hey guys, guess who the hell I got in here. Adrian: Oh no, don't do this shit. Soldier 1: Groucho Marx! PFC Garlick: Come on. Come on, come on, come on! Guess again.

Adrian: Oh bag it, bag it, Garlick. PFC Garlick: The fellow I got in here is the gentleman, the one and the only... Adrian: Oh, you're a dead man. PFC Garlick: The king of the airwaves, Adrian Cronauer! Adrian: Listen, I gave you my friendship, and my trust. And now they tell me that my best friend is the goddamn enemy! Tuan: Enemy? What is enemy? You killing my own people so many miles from your home. We're not the enemy! You the enemy! Adrian: You used me to kill two people! Two people died in that fuckin' bar! Tuan: Big fucking deal! My mother's dead. And my older brother, he's dead. Shot by Americans. My neighbor, dead. His wife, dead. Why? Because we're not human to them. We're only little Vietnamese. And I'm stupid enough to save your bullshit life at An Lac. SGM Dickerson: Ten-hut. BG Taylor: At ease. [Turns to Adrian] Cronauer, I'm sorry as hell about this thing. Goddamnit, I like you, son.

I like what you do. Most of all, I like what you've done for the men. [Pauses, glancing at SGM Dickerson] But fact's a fact. This could give the Army a black eye. I'm not gonna cover for you this time, son. A1C Adrian Cronauer: Sir- what about the show? BG Taylor: We'll handle it. I'm sorry, son. [BG Taylor leaves SGM Dickerson's office; there is a long pause. Cronauer looks at Dickerson, at a loss for words.] A1C Adrian Cronauer: Why'd you do this? SGM Dickerson: I don't like your style, your politics or your sense of humor. I don't like what you say or how you say it. From now on the fighting men of Vietnam will hear exactly what they're supposed to hear. You're on a DC-8 out of Tan Sun Nhut Airport tomorrow morning- I recommend you pack quietly. That's all I have for you, Airman. [SGM Dickerson sits down at his desk, returning to his paperwork.

Cronauer heads for the door, but halts suddenly and turns and leans back into the office.] A1C Adrian Cronauer: You know? [SGM Dickerson looks up] You are in more dire need of a blowjob than any other white man in history. [Cronauer closes the office door and leaves; Dickerson gets up to pursue him, but BG Taylor is waiting in the hallway.] BG Taylor: Whoa, there, Dick. Put the brakes on. I wanted to wait until Airman had left to talk with you. Dick, I'm transferring you. SGM Dickerson: [Startled] Transferring me, sir? BG Taylor: Mm-hmm. SGM Dickerson: Where to, sir? BG Taylor: You're goin' to Guam. SGM Dickerson: Guam?! Sir, there's nothing goin' on in Guam! Why Guam? BG Taylor: Dick, I've covered for you a lot of times, 'cause I thought you was a little crazy. But you're not crazy, you're mean. And this is just radio. [BG Taylor walks away, leaving a stunned Dickerson behind him.

As he presses the button for an elevator and gets inside, Taylor starts laughing.] BG Taylor: "More dire need of a blowjob than any other white man in history". That's funny.

Question: Who directed the film 'Good Morning Vietnam'?
Answer: Barry Levinson