This movie accomplished two things-first, it made John Wayne a superstar. It also made Wayne the patron saint of the Marine Corps. My stepfather served in the corps in WW2. I served much later in the Cold War. I can't relate to the Marine experience of WW2. Therefore, I can't relate to the movie. Back then, WW2, boot camp was four weeks shorter than when I went through. Back then, DI's could do whatever they wanted without consequences. In my day, if a DIgot in a fistfight with a recruit, as seen in the movie, it would heavily damage the career. Besides, the DI's I knew were a lot like R. Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket than the DI's seeen in this movie. So, the movie is a shrug of the shoulders for me. If you're a Duke fan, or a Marine, a must see, otherwise, well, how interested are you in WW2 Marines?
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