Red Dawn (1984 movie)
| Red Dawn | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John Milius |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by | Kevin Reynolds |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Ric Waite |
| Edited by | Thom Noble |
| Music by | Basil Poledouris |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | MGM/UA Entertainment Company |
Release date |
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Running time | 114 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages |
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| Budget | $17 million |
| Box office | $38 million |
Red Dawn is a 1984 American war action movie. It was released in August 1984 with both good and bad reviews. It starred Patrick Swayze, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen and Jennifer Grey. The movie is set in an alternative 1980s in which the United States is invaded by the Soviet Union and its Cuban and Nicaraguan allies. World War III is mentioned in the movie, but is not fully explained. The story follows a group of American high school students who resist the occupation with guerrilla warfare, calling themselves Wolverines, after their high school mascot. The movie was the first to use a rating of PG-13. The movie did very well at the box office.
Blue: The United States and its allies Canada, the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China.
Red: The Soviet Union and its allies Cuba and Nicaragua.
Green: The neutral countries of Western Europe.
The arrows show the invasion routes, and the red dots show the cities that were destroyed by nuclear weapons which are Washington D.C., Omaha (Nebraska), Kansas City (Missouri) and Beijing (China).
Plot
The film is set during a fictional World War III in which the Soviet Union, Cuba, and Nicaragua invade the United States. NATO has been dissolved, and several countries are occupied by Soviet-led forces.
The story begins in the small town of Calumet, Colorado. Soviet and Cuban paratroopers suddenly land near a high school and attack the town. Brothers Jed and Matt Eckert escape into the mountains with their friends Robert, Danny, Daryl, and Aardvark. They take weapons, food, and camping supplies with them and hide in the wilderness.
After several weeks, the group returns to Calumet. They learn that their fathers are being held in a prisoner-of-war camp. The occupation forces later order the prisoners to be executed. In response, the young people begin a guerrilla war against the occupiers. They call themselves the "Wolverines", after their school's mascot.
The Wolverines are later joined by United States Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Tanner, who tells them that several American cities have been destroyed by nuclear weapons. Soviet forces control much of the central United States, but American forces have stopped their advance. Both sides avoid using more nuclear weapons because of the danger of nuclear fallout.
Tanner helps the Wolverines carry out attacks against Soviet forces. However, he and Aardvark are killed during a battle. Daryl is captured and forced by the KGB to carry a tracking device so the Soviets can find the group. The Wolverines discover the plan, and Daryl is killed.
The remaining Wolverines try to reach American forces but are attacked by Soviet helicopters. Robert and Toni are killed. Jed and Matt attack the Soviet headquarters in Calumet to give Danny and Erica time to escape. Jed and Matt are badly wounded, but Soviet Colonel Bella allows them to leave.
The film ends with Erica explaining that American forces eventually pushed the Soviet forces out of the United States. A memorial to the Wolverines is shown on a rock, honoring those who died fighting the invasion.
References
- 1 2 "Red Dawn (1984)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on January 22, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ↑ Goldstein, Patrick (August 16, 1984). "'RED DAWN' IS MILIUS' KIND OF MOVIE: JOHN MILIUS". Los Angeles Times. p. i1.
Other websites
