Paramount Pictures released An Officer and a Gentleman to theaters on August 13, 1982. Taylor Hackford directed the film starring Richard Gere, Debra Winger, and David Keith.
‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ Plot Summary
In An Officer and a Gentleman, Zack Mayo is a loner entering the Officer Candidate School to become a Navy pilot. Over the course of thirteen tortuous weeks, Mayo learns the importance of discipline, love and friendship. Along the way, his tough drill instructor, Sergeant Emil Foley, teaches him that no man can make it alone. Additionally, Foley warns his young recruit about the local girls who do anything to land themselves pilots for husbands. When finds one that he falls for, a fellow officer finds one with a decidedly different twist of fate.
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Paramount Pictures released An Officer and a Gentleman to theaters on August 13, 1982. Taylor Hackford directs the film which stars Richard Gere, Debra Winger, and David Keith.
I don’t see this film as a romantic story, in fact I couldn’t careless about the story between Zack or Paula. I see this as a story about a self absorbed outcast arsehole who ends up growing and being able to empathise with others, believe that he belongs and breaks free of his prior demons (which were fuelled by his father).
I find it hard to believe that Paula wasn’t trying to hook him, just as her friend successfully did with Sid. I just didn’t buy it and agree this was the most flawed part of the film.
Seeing Zack finally understanding what an opportunist he was and recognising that Foley was actually trying to help him was very satisfying and in my view the point of the film. I get the impression that the studio wanted to include the romantic interest to make it a Hollywood ending.
Watching Mayo grow up was indeed the best part of the film. It’s a very cool coming of age story, but from an adult’s point of view, where Mayo found himself at a crossroads and worked his way through it, with the help of an awesome mentor.
Hi Chad, yes Foley had Zack’s number from the beginning and when you reflect back on how hard he pushed him you can see that he wasn’t trying to get him to DOR at all, he wanted him to succeed. I also think Foley identified with Zack, being a non-commissioned officer himself and learning Zack had grown up in Suvic Bay with his ex navy father – see the tattoo scene – so definitely not your average clean cut post-college recruit going to officer school.
One thing that bugs me though, how the hell did he get through aerodynamics (even with the help of Sid over a few short weeks)? I don’t think so – he was clueless!