Tribes (film)

Tribes

Screen-capture
Directed by Joseph Sargent
Written by Marvin Schwartz
Tracy Keenan Wynn
Starring Darren McGavin
Earl Holliman
Jan-Michael Vincent
Music by Al Capps
Marty Cooper
Cinematography Russell Metty
Edited by Patrick Kennedy
Production
company
Distributed by American Broadcasting Company
Release dates
 November 10, 1970
Running time
 90 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Tribes, also known as The Soldier Who Declared Peace (UK), is a 1970 television film, broadcast as an ABC Movie of the Week directed by Joseph Sargent. A big ratings success when it first aired November 10, 1970 (which happened to be the Marine Corps' 195th birthday), Tribes was later released theatrically in Britain and Europe under the title The Soldier Who Declared Peace. Tribes has been released on VHS, but, as of 2014 has not been released on DVD.

Plot

Tribes tells the story of Private Adrian (Jan-Michael Vincent), a young United States Marine Corps Vietnam war era draftee who, despite being an anti-war hippie, reluctantly reports to boot camp to fulfill his duty as an American. (This part of the movie's premise is factually inacccurate: In 1970--and prior, and after--one was drafted into the Army, and the only way in which a man could find himself in the Marine Corps was if he volunteered.)

Adrian excels as a leader though his pacifist ideology presents continuing conflicts between himself and his superiors. Adrian's drill instructor, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Drake (Darren McGavin), quickly recognizes Adrian's leadership qualities, but is conflicted as he grows to respect Adrian while also realizing that he represents everything Adrian opposes. At one point, Adrian points out that his love of meditation is similar to Drake's drawing to relax, indicating a sketch of a flying bird. Both are ways of finding freedom. Drake responds angrily, denying that he had drawn the picture.

Throughout the training, the Chief Drill Instructor (and Drake's superior), Master Sgt. Frank DePayster (Earl Holliman), takes an instant dislike to Adrian. He repeatedly argues with Drake about him, claiming that the fact that the man is performing all of his assigned tasks is not enough. He considers Adrian's attitude grounds enough for him to be set back and placed in the Motivational Platoon, a disciplinary unit for problem recruits. Drake disagrees and allows Adrian to graduate. However, DePayster had gone behind his back by filing a complaint against them both with the Company Commanding Officer. Without Drake's approval, the CO flunked Adrian and placed him in Motivational Platoon under DePayster. Drake accuses DePayster of carrying out a personal vendetta, to which DePayster replies "I'll forget I heard that." Drake takes the drawing of the bird from his desk drawer and hangs it up, thus signifying his own method of rebellion and freedom. The platoon graduates without Adrian. As Drake awaits a new batch of recruits, DePayster informs him that Adrian deserted during the night.

Cast

Awards

Tribes received three Primetime Emmy Awards for Sound Editing (Don Hall, Jack Jackson, Bob Weatherford and Dick Jensen, sound editors), Film Sound Mixing (Theodore Soderberg, mixer) and Original Teleplay (Marvin Schwartz and Tracy Keenan Wynn, writers). It was also nominated for Directorial Achievement in Drama (Joseph Sargent).

Tribes was ranked the 8th best boot camp movie by Screenjunkies [1]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-lists/10-best-boot-camp-movies/
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