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 an invasion of the United States by an alliance of Soviet, Warsaw Pact, and Latin American states. The story follows a group of teenage guerillas, known as the Wolverines, in Soviet-occupied Colorado. The film stars Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson and Jennifer Grey, with supporting roles played by Ben Johnson, Darren Dalton, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O'Neal, William Smith and Powers Boothe.
Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film became a commercial success, grossing $38 million against a budget of $17 million. It was the first film to be released in the U.S. with a PG-13 rating under the modified rating system introduced on July 1, 1984. A remake was released in 2012.
Plot
In the town of Calumet, Colorado, a high school class is suddenly interrupted by a Soviet invasion. The students, including brothers Jed and Matt Eckert, escape the chaos as Soviet paratroopers attack them; Soviet, Cuban and Nicaraguan troops proceed to occupy Calumet. Jed and Matt, along with their friends Robert, Danny, Daryl and Arturo flee into the countryside after arming themselves at a store run by Robert's father. Encountering a Soviet roadblock, they are saved by a U.S. helicopter. After several weeks in the forests, the group learn that Mr. Eckert is held at a re-education camp at Calumet's drive-in. Visiting the camp, they speak to him through a fence and learn that Mrs. Eckert is dead; he orders the group to avenge him.
The group visit the Mason family in occupied territory and learn that Robert's father was executed by the occupiers. The Masons ask Jed and Matt to take care of their granddaughters, Toni and Erica. Banding together, the group begins to attack the occupational forces, calling themselves the "Wolverines" after their high school mascot. The occupiers respond with brutal reprisals, which kill Mr. Eckert and Arturo's father but do little to deter the Wolverines. They meet USAF pilot Andrew Tanner, who informs them of the current state of the war.
Tanner assists the Wolverines in their guerrilla operations, which lead to increased reprisals by occupational forces against civilians. Visiting the front lines of the war, Tanner and Arturo are killed in the crossfire of a tank battle between Soviet and American forces. Daryl is arrested by the KGB after his father betrays him. After torturing him, they force-feed Daryl a tracking device, and release him to rejoin the Wolverines. Soviet troops go into the forests carrying radio triangulation equipment, but are ambushed by the Wolverines, who trace the source of the signal to Daryl; confessing the truth, he pleads for mercy, but is killed by a hardened Robert as the others cannot kill their friend.
Shortly thereafter, the remaining Wolverines are ambushed by Soviet gunships, killing Toni and Robert. Jed and Matt decide to attack the occupational forces in Calumet to distract them while Danny and Erica escape. The plan works, but Jed and Matt are mortally wounded. They are discovered by a Cuban officer who lets them go; the brothers reach a bench in the park, holding each other as they die. Danny and Erica trek through the Rocky Mountains and reach American-held territory. In the closing scene, a plaque is seen in the mountains. It is fenced off and an American flag flies nearby, implying the United States won the war. The plaque states that: In the early days of World War III, guerrillas, mostly children, placed the names of their lost upon this rock. They fought here alone and gave up their lives, so "that this nation shall not perish from the earth."
Cast
Production
Ten Soldiers
Originally called Ten Soldiers, it was written by Kevin Reynolds. It was set in the near future as a combined force of Russians and Cubans launched an invasion of the Southwestern U.S.. Ten children take to the hills when their small town is captured, turning into a skilled and lethal guerrilla band.
Producer Barry Beckerman read the script, and, in the words of Peter Bart, "thought it had the potential to become a tough, taut, 'art' picture made on a modest budget that could possibly break out to find a wider audience." His father Sidney Beckerman helped him pay a $5,000 option. Reynolds wanted to direct but the Beckermans wanted someone more established. Walter Hill briefly considered the script before turning it down, as did several other directors.
