Hamburger Hill
Action, Drama, War
Lionsgate  (1987) 110 mins R

6.5 (6,061 votes)
War at its worst. Men at their best.

Vietnam, 1969. Hill 937. 10 days. 70% casualties. Those are the facts--this is the story.

The men of Bravo Company are facing a battle that's all up hill...up Hamburger Hill. Fourteen war-weary soldiers are battling for a mud-covered mound of earth so named because it chews up soldiers like chopped meat. They are fighting for their country, their fellow soldiers and their lives. War is hell, but this is worse. Hamburger Hill tells it the way it was, the it really was. It's a raw, gritty and totally unrelenting dramatic depiction of one of the fiercest battles in America's bloodiest war. Dodge the gunfire. Get caught behind enemy lines. Go into battle beside the brave young men who fought and died. Feel their desperation and futility. This happened. Hamburger Hill--war at its worst, men at their...

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Cast and Crew
Anthony Barrile  ......  Vincent 'Alphabet' Languilli
Michael Boatman  ......  Motown (as Michael Patrick Boatman)
Don Cheadle  ......  Pvt. Washburn
Michael Dolan  ......  Murphy
Don James  ......  McDaniel / Mac
Dylan McDermott  ......  Sgt. Frantz
Director  .....  John Irvin
Producer  .....  Marcia Nasatir; Jim Carabatsos; James Carabatsos
Writer  .....  Jim Carabatsos; James Carabatsos
Notes
Filming Locations:
Philippines (more)

Trivia:
Some of the extras during filming were US Marines stationed in the Subic Bay, Philippines area. (more)

Goofs:
Anachronisms: Although the practice of subduing unit shoulder patches was officially adopted during the Vietnam war, there were some units that refused to subdue their patches because of unit pride. The 101st Airborne Division was the major one that never subdued their shoulder patches. The 101st did not subdue the patch until BDUs started to be worn. After WWII, veterans of the 101st would wear the screaming eagle patch reversed when worn as an overseas patch on the right shoulder. This was so the eagle would never face to the rear. (signifying retreating). The patches were unofficial and the patches were soon only worn on off duty clothing or by retirees in parade uniforms. (more)

Quotes:
Galvan: We're Airborne. We don't start fights, we *finish* 'em! (more)