6.8/10
1,826
45 user 8 critic

Go Tell the Spartans (1978)

During the early 1960s, U.S. military advisers in South Vietnam discover the same challenges that plagued the French army in Indochina ten years prior.

Director:

Writers:

(novel),
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1 nomination. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Maj. Asa Barker
...
Cpl. Stephen Courcey
...
Sgt. Oleonowski
...
Capt. Alfred Olivetti
...
Lt. Raymond Hamilton
Dennis Howard ...
Cpl. Abraham Lincoln
...
Lt. Finley Wattsberg
Evan C. Kim ...
Cowboy (as Evan Kim)
John Megna ...
Cpl. Ackley
Hilly Hicks ...
Signalman Toffee
Dolph Sweet ...
Gen. Harnitz
...
Col. Minh
...
The Old Man
...
Butterfly
Tad Horino ...
One-eyed man
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Storyline

A unit of American military advisors in Vietnam prior to the major U.S. involvement find similarities between their helpless struggle against the Viet Cong and the doomed actions of a French unit at the same site a decade before in this bitter look at the beginnings of the Vietnam war. Written by Keith Loh <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Skirmishes, Ambushes And Boobytraps Explode Into The Most Savage War That Ever Scorched A Land See more »

Genres:

Action | Drama | War

Certificate:

See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

1 September 1978 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Die letzte Schlacht  »

Filming Locations:


Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Some of this film's foreign language title literal English translations are: France: "Le Merdier" ("The Mess"); Spain: "La Patrulla" ("The Patrol"); Austria: "Das tödliche Kommando" ("The Deadly Commando"); Denmark: "Til sidste mand" ("To the last man"); Sweden: "Siste utposten" ("Last Outpost"); West Germany: "Die letzte Schlacht" ("The Last Battle); Italy: "Vittorie perdute" ("Wins Lost"); Greece: "Vromikes nikes" ("Dirty Victories"); Finland: "Viimeinen viesti" ("The Last Post"); Portugal: "Avisem os espartanos" ("Notify the Spartans") and Hungary: "Vidd hírül a Spártaiaknak!" ("Bring news about it to the Spartans"). See more »

Goofs

None of the automatic or semi-automatic weapons eject any empty cartridge cases while being fired. See more »

Quotes

[last lines]
Cpl. Courcey: [to a wounded, one-eyed Viet Cong scout] I'm going home, Charlie... if they'll let me.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Hollywood Vietnam (2005) See more »

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User Reviews

 
A gripping movie about the futility of war.
5 January 2000 | by (Cameron Park.CA) – See all my reviews

This movie is one of the overlooked war movies. It tells a powerful story about how history repeats itself. The Americans find themselves falling into the same trap that the French fell into just a few years earlier. Their fears would be well founded in just a few brief years.

Burt Lancaster was great as the beleagured American Major. His fate at the end of the movie is one that every combat soldier must surely dread.

Taut direction, combined with a strong supporting cast and a literate plot makes this a must see for fans of the war movie genre. I would put it right up there with Platoon and Saving Private Ryan. A strong 3 1\2 stars.


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