RED DAWN

US, 1984, 110 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Darren Dalton, Jennifer Grey, Brad Savage, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O' Neal, William Smith, Powers Boothe.
Directed by John Milius.

Red Dawn was directed and co-written by John Milius. It was attacked severely on its release as being one of the most Right-wing films to emerge from the United States in the '80s. Milius was a screenwriter (Jeremiah Johnson, Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, Apocalypse Now) who moved into direction (Dillinger, The Wind and the Lion). In 1982 he made Conan the Barbarian - and glorified the power of brute strength and might. This theme has been strong with Milius and occurred in Uncommon Valor which he produced and now is a focus of Red Dawn.

The film is based on a fictional inscription on 'Partisan Rock' portrayed in the film: 'In the early days of World War III, a handful of guerrillas, mostly children, fought and died alone here so that their nation might not perish from the earth.'

The film is spectacularly made - though not so well acted. The group of young actors (many of them appeared together in Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders) show their jingoistic style - but the film's atmosphere is so heightened that (at least for a non-U.S. audience) they are not persuasive. The film presupposes an invasion situation in the United States, led by Russians, Cubans and Soviet allies. Milius said that he based his story on partisan movements in Europe in World War Two. A great amount of detailed attention has gone into the recreating of the battle situation and the Soviet occupation.

An arresting example of film-making from the early 80s and from the Reagan United States.

1. The impact of the film in the '80s? For an American audience? Non-Americans? Entertainment, propaganda? Judging the 80s in retrospect?

2. For American audiences, world-wide audiences? The validity of such patriotic response to invasion and occupation? The emotional response, propaganda? An aggressive attitude towards the U.S. enemies (valid for the peace situation of the '80s?)

3. Entertainment: the hypothesis, the making such an occupation realistic? The adage of 'Who proves too much proves nothing'? The political situation, nuclear situation?

4. The use of nuclear weapons with the consequent invasion of the United States? The fear responses and their being visualised credibly?

5. A morale-boosting film - the quotation from Partisan Rock? The theme of the legendary rough-rider and his loyalty? The macho background of the film, loyalty to the flag, the blend of aggression and sensitivity? Toughness and tears? Life and death?

6. John Milius and his belief in the United States, its strength? Accusations of his being too macho? Evident in the film? His admiration for Right King leaders - of the Conan, Genghis Khan style? His convictions? Models, heroes, legend? Military solutions? 'Our land'? The principles of resistance - modelled on similar resistance of World War Two? The political setting as explained - credible, the references to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan? The parallels drawn with Afghanistan - mountainous countryside, rebel forces resisting occupation? The political theory about Cuba and its Russian alliance? The references to Nicaragua and Angola? The memory of Vietnam and the defeat? How well did the political theory and observation of world situations justify the stances taken?

7. The hypothesis of invasion and its effect? Immediate reactions, coping? Possible ways of acting? The memory of the interned father and his call 'Avenge me'?

8. The community and its attitudes? The contrast with the communists? The Soviets and their barbarity? The presence of the Cubans? Officials, soldiers, invasion situation, concentration camps? The point of the Cuban leader and his growing disgust with the invaders?

9. The opening and the ordinary American Colorado town? Colorado and its scenery? The Mid West and its look? The school? The class about history, the irony of the discussions about Genghis Khan? The parachutes coming from the sky? The invasion? The children looking - and sudden death? The escape, the effective creating of the atmosphere? A red dawn?

10. The invasion, war, the explosive situation, deaths? The manoeuvres in the town, on the planes? The occupation, the shops, the camps and the brainwashing, the Soviet propaganda throughout the town? People hiding in their homes, secrecy? Headquarters and discussions? Tanks, planes, helicopters?

11. The focus on the group? How well did they work together? The delineation of characters, establishment of personalities? Sufficient to distinguish each member and his action? Typical young men? The impact of the invasion, their escape, the encounter with the father and the gasoline (and his later death), going to the mountains, setting themselves up, the question of leadership and the taking of stances, the clashes, decisions, hunting skills and coping, animals, food? The rituals being established - pledges, the drinking of blood? The background of their sports work together? The name they gave themselves. Wolverines? The symbolism of the young wolves? The visit to the concentration camp, the encounter with the father and his plea for vengeance, the executions? Going to town, the talk with the girl at the soda fountain, to Mason and his home, the taking of the girls, their participation in the campaigns? The reactions amongst each other, the raids and the effects, Andy and his presence, strategies, death? Their being taken, tortured? Jed and his brother, loyalties, Robert and his hardness and vengeance? The Mayor's son and betrayal?

12. The father and his plea for vengeance from the camp? Mason and his wife and their exhortation? The Mayor and his arguments with the authorities? Watching the executions?

13. Andy and his arrival, background, beliefs, story, death?

14. The portrait of the Cuban leader - and his growing disillusion?

15. The details of campaigns, warfare - conventional weapons, making do with horses and natural weapons: the stuff of legend?

16. The overall effect: enjoyment, emotional response, the credibility of this kind of scenario?