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Director of Cold War film ‘Red Dawn’ said movie’s success taught him lesson about liberal Hollywood
Fox News ^ | November 30 ,2024 | Scott Whitlock

Posted on 12/02/2024 4:48:25 AM PST by C19fan

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic Cold War thriller "Red Dawn," a film by a Hollywood conservative that showcased patriotism, a love for the American military and warned of the dangers of gun control. Yet, it also taught the man behind the movie a deep lesson about the mentality of liberal Hollywood.

Amanda Milius, the daughter of the film’s director, spoke to Fox News Digital about the film’s 40th anniversary, its legacy, and what the movie revealed to her dad. Released in 1984, "Red Dawn" told the story of the Soviet Union invading America and fighting a conventional land battle within the USA. It starred some of the most popular actors of the day and has gone on to be regarded as a cultural touchstone of the Cold War era.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: classicmovie; coldwar; filmclassic; hollywood; johnmilius; milius; movies; reagan; russia
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To: V_TWIN

Part of the remake was filmed a few blocks from my house. I finally saw it many years later. It was completely forgettable.

The original is seared in my mind. In fact, Red Dawn was the first DVD movie I ever bought.


41 posted on 12/02/2024 6:04:08 AM PST by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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To: rlmorel

Peter carried a full size fighting sword and it is assumed that everyone would have carried a knife since that was the personal eating utensil individuals carried.


42 posted on 12/02/2024 6:05:56 AM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: xkaydet65

Did the plot center around the Cubans or the Russians?


43 posted on 12/02/2024 6:05:59 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: beef
Those were they days, back when the libs thought Russia was the good guys.

True that. That's because back then the Russians were communist.

44 posted on 12/02/2024 6:06:26 AM PST by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: ansel12

Once again, the main protagonist was Cuba. Stick to the plot and don’t make it different than what it was to suit your fancy.


45 posted on 12/02/2024 6:08:26 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: BobL

Orange Man Bad. Lefties created a narrative where Trump hated Ukraine and loved Russia.


46 posted on 12/02/2024 6:12:45 AM PST by AppyPappy (If Hitler were alive today and criticized Trump, would he still be Hitler?)
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To: philman_36

Here is the plot of the movie, your trying to turn it into an invasion of the United States by Cuba, is worse than the remakes’s using North Korea, the author of the article is correct to use his language.

Red Dawn is a 1984 American action drama film directed by John Milius with a screenplay by Milius and Kevin Reynolds. The film depicts a fictional World War III centering on a military invasion of the United States by an alliance of Soviet, Warsaw Pact, and Communist Latin American states.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dawn

It is the dawn of World War III. In the western mountains of America, a group of teenagers band together to defend their town, and their country, from invading Soviet forces.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087985/plotsummary/

In an alternate 1980s, the United States stands alone as communism grows stronger. When Soviet soldiers invade a small Colorado town, brothers Jed (Patrick Swayze) and Matt Eckert (Charlie Sheen) escape with friends to the forest. With their father, Tom (Harry Dean Stanton), a prisoner of the invading army, the children decide to fight against the Soviets.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1017321-red_dawn


47 posted on 12/02/2024 6:19:46 AM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: philman_36

In the 1984 film, Russia and Cuba are the invading forces. In the 2012 remake, the North Koreans are the only nation that invades the United States.

The original (as usual) is the better movie.


48 posted on 12/02/2024 6:29:17 AM PST by CFW (uic)
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To: ansel12

Somebody’s interpretation of the movie is your argument?


49 posted on 12/02/2024 6:35:11 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: CFW

The question is, who was the main military commander in charge of the invasion in the movie? A Cuban or a Russian?


50 posted on 12/02/2024 6:40:49 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: C19fan

Glad the movie was made, the reaction speaks volumes.


51 posted on 12/02/2024 6:50:13 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: C19fan; All
John Milius gave us Jeremiah Johnson, Dirty Harry, Apocalypse Now, Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, HBO's series Rome and wrote all the Russian sequences of Hunt for Red October.

He gave us the lines "Charlie don't surf," "I love the smell of napalm in the morning," "Go ahead, make my day," "Ask yourself one question, 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do you, punk?"

He wrote Robert Shaw's USS Indianapolis monologue from Jaws, and came up with the opening and closing scenes in Saving Private Ryan at Normandy cemetery and "Did I live a good life?"

He originated the idea for the UFC, designed the Octagon, and his name was critical to its initial fundraising.

He was a lifelong conservative and NRA member in the most liberal community on Earth (Hollyweird). A true original and national treasure.

52 posted on 12/02/2024 6:50:43 AM PST by montag813
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To: philman_36

Look at your post, you think the author of the article never even watched Red Dawn, you seem really off.

To: C19fan
...Red Dawn” told the story of the Soviet Union invading America...
Somebody obviously never watched the movie.
7 posted on 12/2/2024, 6:07:19 AM by philman_36


53 posted on 12/02/2024 6:51:14 AM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: ansel12
Wah, wah! Somebody questioned me.
That's all I hear from you.
54 posted on 12/02/2024 6:54:00 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: philman_36

The invasion force in CO was both Soviets and Cubans.
There were Russians/Soviets stationed in town. It was Russians driving the tank that came up to the store shortly after the invasion.

The commander at the end was Cuban. The second in command was the Soviet/Russian. They both lamented about their experiences in previous conflicts they were involved in.

I have probably seen the original movie at least half a dozen times. The cast was similar to the group of young actors in the movie The Outsiders. It was one of Tom Cruise’s first movies. Before he was a big star. Powers Booth was a well known actor. As was Patrick Swazey. Charlie Sheen was relatively unknown.


55 posted on 12/02/2024 6:55:49 AM PST by woodbutcher1963
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To: philman_36

Finally you are revealing that you just wanted to troll the thread, that wasn’t clear at first.


56 posted on 12/02/2024 7:01:10 AM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: woodbutcher1963
The invasion force in CO was both Soviets and Cubans.
And? Were the Russians acting advantageously after the initial successful invasion by the Cubans?

...shortly after the invasion.
Same question. Taking advantage of a situation.

57 posted on 12/02/2024 7:06:02 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: ansel12

Ah, the troll accusation. Ever your fall back position.


58 posted on 12/02/2024 7:06:47 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: C19fan

“Avenge me!!!”


59 posted on 12/02/2024 7:08:07 AM PST by NonValueAdded (First, I was a clinger, then deplorable, now I'm garbage. Feel the love?)
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To: C19fan

Milius’ problem had a lot more to do with him alternating between hits and flops than anything else. Also he didn’t change with the times. He came up as part of the New Hollywood crowd when the suits weren’t sure why all these auteur directors were making so much money so they just wrote blank checks. But the auteur era ended when Jaws and Star Wars (both basically Roger Corman style exploitation flicks, only with budget) were huge hits and Sorcerer flopped. The suits could understand exploitation with a budget, and the free checks ended. But Milius didn’t get that the 70s were over and the suits were guarding the hen-house again. So he found himself mostly out, and more out with every flop.


60 posted on 12/02/2024 7:15:37 AM PST by discostu (like a dog being shown a card trick)
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