| | | | Born On The Fourth Of July
(1989) |
fter his foray into the world of sarcastic talk show hosts who ridicule their callers in 'Talk Radio' (1988), Stone returned to his war-torn experiences with another masterpiece, the story of Ron Kovic's (Cruise) personal odyssey from the American dream through to the nightmare that was Vietnam.
Here was a proud Marine who gave half his body, manhood and future for the war, he would be the sole focal point in 'Born On The 4th Of July' an unrelenting moving account of his struggles through pain, courage and the burdens of patriotism.
Recreating two-thirds of the man's life, Stone's widescreen epic sees the young Ronnie at high school competing hard in the wrestling team, his desire for glory and success lead him to submit to the ultimate sacrifice.
After a visit from Tom Berenger's, uniformed Marine Sergeant at the high school, Kovic decides to leave his loved ones behind and enlist, just as his father had. The yankee doodle dandy patriotism he believes will prevail turns sour when Kovic is wounded and crippled in battle, what follows is his struggle to be accepted both in his own mind and on return to his homeland.
Society rages at their countries involvement in the war. President Nixon fails to act on the anger and bitterness seen across campus demo's, with alienated students protesting against conflict. Kovic returns to a mixed welcome, it seems he and other vets are part of the problem and his high school love (Sedgewick) is deeply involved in the rallies, they are reunited somewhat and through her he discovers the reality behind the war, and his mind begins to alter his views on the country he loves.
Portraying a character that has undoubtedly groomed him into the respected actor he is today, Tom Cruise is excellent, searching within his soul to feel the pain and anguish that is Kovic's life. The picture is justifiably long, chronicling the stages of positive shift in the characters mind, the camera-eye of Stone always ensuring dramatic quality with a knowledge of human spirit and behaviour.
"Escaping" to a remote Mexican town, a haven for outcast crippled vets, we encounter Kovic's kindred spirits, among them Willem Dafoe and Tom Sizemore, they introduce him to the alcohol soaked life they now wallow in, along with the dark skinned whores who in their own way help to exorcise the demons and uplift the deflated spirits of those shorn of precious manhood.
Cruise reaches dark recesses as the tears flow for real during his liaison with a Mexican whore, it is here in a oasis of hope in the desert that the character finally decides to face his predicament. The film won Best Director for Stone with Cruise being nominated for Best Actor, perhaps more importantly it illuminated the courage of Ronnie Kovic's journey from negative darkness into positive light.
Costing $40 million and exhausting its director and stars... 'Born...', was a huge success story, not only did it receive accolades from the film world it also helped Kovic to have his story told with due conviction and style. For Stone it was a return to the brutality of his own past, and like Cruise he too would feel the pain of Kovic's plight, the subject matter once again enabling all involved to create a film of some emotion. Stone and Kovic had reservations that Cruise had the depth required to pull off the role, the star had just finished 'Rain Man' and was confident that he had the right stuff for the part. Nominated for Best Actor, he had to dig deep to find the emotions to play this man at war with his own consciousness.
The Vietnam scenes on the sand dunes when his platoon are ambushed are handled with accuracy and zest by the director, using slow motion to dramatic effect, insisting the crew get the shots he wanted, chasing the sun with equipment as it faded and vanished beyond the horizon.
All performances are excellent, including an effective cameo for Willem Dafoe whose blunt statements and actions help the character to come to terms with his life.
 Don't forget that Born On The Fourth Of July is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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This was a proud film to be involved in for its creators, it never fails to engage the viewer, the realism is at times hard to take, as in the New York Casualties of War Vets Hospital where Kovic lies suspended. The appalling conditions with vomit and feces on the floors of the ward, needless to say with Oliver Stone that this set design was for real!.
The sufferance of the man (actually born 4th July) along with his family, friends and indeed America itself during these times is brought to life again by the mesmerizing Stone who pushed himself and Cruise all the way and retracted something very special.
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Ron Kovic himself appears in the parade at the beginning among the paralyzed veterens.  -Thanks to Brett Hardel
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The late Abbie Hoffman appeared in the film, as a speaker at an anti-war demonstration.
'Born..' grossed over $70 million at the box office.
The real Ron Kovic created waves when he admitted he was considering running against Robert Durnan for congress in Southern California.
Holly Marie Combs (Piper Halliwell in 'Charmed') played Jenny Kovic in this film -Thanks to Landi
Actress Ludica Jenny Ho appears in the parade at the start, and also appears in Tom Cruise's other film Rain Man. She plays the the lady sitting with Raymond in the casino. -Thanks to Muneeb
Three of the four Baldwins appear in this film: Steve Baldwin appears in the dance prom scene in the beginning. William Baldwin appears in the war scenes. Dan Baldwin appears in the very end standing right behind Tom Cruise, just before he is about to make his speech. -Thanks to Keira
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Born On The Fourth Of July or 80's Drama / Historic classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Outsiders ..... Elephant Man ..... Rain Man ..... Drugstore Cowboy ..... Stand By Me ..... Wall Street ..... Mask ..... Amadeus ..... Full Metal Jacket ..... Witness ..... Breakfast Club ..... Glory ..... Platoon ..... Scarface ..... Six Weeks ..... Urban Cowboy .....[More]
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Oliver Stone proposed that Tom Cruise take a drug to temporarily render him paralyzed from the waist down so he could experience the same thing Kovic did (the drug's effects would last about a week). Cruise was all for it... but his agent was not, and he was pushed to not take the experimental drug. -Thanks to Santiago Velasquez
Stone consulted several 60's activists including Jeff Nightbird and legendary hippie co-leader Abbie Hoffman, they were brought in to help everyone understand the feelings and dynamics of the peace movement.
Other possible names for the role of the veteran were Charlie Sheen, Nicholas Cage, Sean Penn and Al Pacino who would finally work with Stone on the American Football epic 'Any Given Sunday'.
Dale Dye was again involved and, as in 'Platoon', was the consultant and mental trainer in molding the US Army experience into Cruise. The director said "It was very important that Tom knew exactly what it was like to be a Marine... In the 60's, for kids like Ron, to be a Marine was to be the best, with Dale, we tried to instill in Tom that essence, which given Tom's nature, wasn't as difficult as it might have been".
Tom Cruise gave Holly a broach on set because she had the flu and she wore it on her leather jacket for years, until it was lost. -Thanks to Jenna-Jane
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|  |  |  | | Born On The Fourth Of July
Locations |
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 Featured Movie Location: The Kovics' Home
Wanna see the real life filming location used for The Kovics' Home in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at Private Residential Home, located in Dallas, Texas. [New! Show Google Map]
Ron's High School is Henderson Elementary at 2200 South Edgefield Avenue, Elmwood, Oak Cliff.
The parade in the beginning of the movie goes down the road of Broadway in North Massapequa. It passes the A and S Pork Store which is on the corner of Broadway and Pine Street, North Massapequa NY. [Thanks to Caryn Brienza]
Several of the bar scenes were filmed at 'Milo Butterfingers', a real sports bar at the corner of Greenville and Yale by the campus of Southern Methodist University. Throughout the bar are several film mementos and props. [Thanks to Chris Johnston]
The protests are led at Dallas Hall at Dedman College, Boaz Lane.
The protest was shot at SMU (Southern Methodist University) in Dallas. Dedman College is just the name of the general college within the University, much like "Cox Business School" is the name of the Business school within the University. [Thanks to Jason Hancock]
The Convention center supposed to be in Chicago is the Dallas Convention Center, 650 South Griffith Street.
The war material was shot in the Philippines and Mexico. The Vietnam firefight sequence where Ron is wounded was filmed at Fort Ilocandia in Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The exact location was approximately a quarter mile south of the resort hotel, which is located approximately 10 miles southwest of Laoag City right on the South China Sea. [Thanks to Dustin Birch]
The bar scene in Mexico was made inside the house of Marjo Villanueva in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. The sand dune scene was made in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. [Thanks to Frank Cimatu]
Can you help? Do you know any of the Dallas, Texas (or any other) filming locations used for Born On The Fourth Of July? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif) | Trailer, Commentary, Notes |
| Our
Comments: A new 16:9 Enhanced Remastered Special Edition |
| | ![[Letterbox -NOT 16:9 Enhanced]](lbx.gif) | | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette |
| Our
Comments: Collector's Edition |
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For the film, Stone felt he needed something extraordinary, he wanted John Williams, a master exponent of the theme soundtrack. The money eventually became available for Stone to get his man and the score is most effective when complimenting the more romantic images, or when Ronnie arrives home from the war, his mother runs down the ramp to greet him, neighbors appear from their houses to see him with the Long Island sky a backdrop framed by trees.
Other tracks used were Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl", American Pie and a performance in the film by jaded folk band Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians. The soundtrack CD is readily available.
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