The point of The Green Berets is made early in the movie. A skeptical reporter, George Beckworth, (David Janssen), asks why the U.S. is involved in Vietnam. Sgt. Muldoon, (Aldo Ray), shows him captured weapons from the enemy. They are a Chinese made machine gun, a Soviet made rifle, and ammunition from Czechoslovakia. He tosses them on a table, in front of Beckworth. After this, Beckworth, has a brief Q and A, with Colonel Kirby. Wayne’s character asks Beckworth, if he’s ever been to Southeast Asia. Beckworth says no and Kirby walks away.
The main point of the story is showing how war affects the country, where it is waged. The suffering of the people is shown, very dramatically. The courage is shown in the person of Capt. Nim, (George Takei), who is leading patrols against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese army. There are intense battle scenes with the green berets fiercely defending their outpost. This showing of bravery and sacrifice is most of the movie.
The other part is a commando mission, to capture the NVA general, who is in charge. This is done with the help of Col Cai, (Jack Soo). He persuades his sister-in-law, Lin, (Irene Tsu), to seduce the general. The heroes then go in and grab him. Jack Soo provides some comic relief in this film, particularly during the jumping from the plane. He later showed great comic skills as Yamana on Barney Miller.
There is another story about the bonding in war. It involves the relationship between Sgt. Peterson, (Jim Hutton) and Hamchunk, (Craig Jue), a war orphan. Peterson is a scrounger, getting things that make life in the military better for him. Hamchunk does the same but just to survive. He has a stray dog as company, until he befriends Peterson. One of the many parts of this movie, that is heartbreaking, is when the dog is killed, in an attack on the base. This only strengthens the bond between Peterson and Hamchunk. It is through this father/son bond, that Peterson becomes likeable.
John Wayne directed this film, with a little help from a good friend Mervyn Leroy. He was also assisted by Ray Kellogg, who was primarily a special effects man. Wayne had directed the Alamo and assisted on the movie, Big Jake. He had much stress and a box office failure with The Alamo. The Green Berets, was a success at the box office. This was despite the negative publicity, and bad reviews it received. John Wayne made this movie due to his strong support of the war. He was inspired to do it after he toured Vietnam, in 1966. This film proved that a movie, that was controversial, and starred John Wayne would make money. It kept Wayne’s image alive, for several more years.
The battle scenes in this movie are good. They are helped by the sound and visual effects done by Stanley Jones, Robert J. Miller and Sass Bedig. Their work is impactful, and gives a cinematic feel to war. There is a helicopter crash, that Col Kirby and some of his team survive. One man is shown on fire, terrified and running. Col Kirby can only look in despair.
The Green Berets puts forth the reason America was in Southeast Asia. It also shows a press man’s perspective. George Beckworth is a composite of many in the press corps, who wondered about or opposed the United States involvement in Vietnam. Beckworth’s perspective changes when seeing the horrors and the suffering of war. His viewpoint changes so much, that he helps in the defense of the outpost. The movie didn’t change too many people’s views. It was a bold move by John Wayne to make a movie about an unpopular war. The Green Berets showed that John Wayne stood for his beliefs.