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  • The Long Read
    • Machiavelli on Hong Kong
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    • The Hidden Leader
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  • Walter's Blog.
  • Home
  • Introduction
  • About Walter
    • 1980 Joining Up - Grafton Street >
      • Arrival and First Impressions
      • First Week
      • Training
      • Passing Out
    • Yaumati Cowboy >
      • Getting on the Streets
      • Tempo of the City
      • Jumpers, pill poppers and the indoor BBQ
      • Into a Minefield.
    • Why Tango in Paris, when you can Foxtrot in Kowloon? >
      • Baptism By Fire
      • Kai Tak with Mrs Thatcher.
      • Home; The Boy Returns
  • 1984 - 1986
    • PTU Instructor & Getting Hitched
    • Having a go: SDU
    • Starting a Chernobyl family
    • EOD - Don't touch anything
    • Semen Stains and the rules
  • 1987 to 1992 - Should I Stay or Go?
    • Blue Lights, Sirens & Grenades
    • Drugs, Broken Kids & A Plane Crash
    • 600 Happy Meals Please!
    • Hong Kong's Best Insurance
  • Crime in Hong Kong
    • Falling Crime Rates - Why?
    • Triads
  • History of Hong Kong Policing
    • History 1841 to 1941
    • History 1945 to 1967
    • Anatomy of the 50 cent Riot - 1966
    • The Fall of a Commissioner.
    • History 1967 to 1980
    • Three Wise Men from the West
    • The Blue Berets.
    • The African Korps and other tribes.
    • Getting About - Transport.
    • A Pub in every station
    • Bullshit Bingo & Meetings
    • Godber - The one who nearly got away.
  • Top 20 Films
    • 2001 - A Space Odyssey.
    • The Godfather.
    • Blade Runner
    • Kes
    • Star Wars
    • Aliens
    • Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    • The Life of Brian
    • Dr Strangelove.
    • Infernal Affairs
    • Bridge on the River Kwai.
    • This Is Spinal Tap.
    • Chung King Express
    • An Officer and a Gentleman
    • PTU
    • Contact
    • Saving Private Ryan
    • Family Guy Star Wars
    • Zulu
    • Hard Day's Night
  • The Long Read
    • Machiavelli on Hong Kong
    • War in Ukraine - the narrative and other stuff.
    • The Hidden Leader
    • The Big Game
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An Officer and A Gentleman

Picture
I rediscovered this movie after about 20 years since my first viewing the USA. That was on a cold damp day in San Francisco with a mainly black audience. They went mental when Drill Sergeant Foley adjusted Zack’s (Richard Gere)  manhood with a kick. I felt the pain.


For years I always saw this movie as a romance story with a happy ending. Viewing it recently I released it is much more gritty.  It touches on some delicate issues. The story of Sid and Lynette is heart-wrenching. A small town girl seeking to trap her man with fake claims of pregnancy.  Only to reject him when she discovers he’s not going to be a navy pilot. What a mercenary bitch. It does not end well for Sid. 


The girls in the movie are seeking to have some fun and escape their humdrum existence. The undercurrent of resentment that permeates Paula’s life is because her Mum had an affair with an officer candidate. Paula is a product of that liaison. This adds tension.  Her stepfather is less than impressed when Zack turns up. But Zack is no ordinary officer candidate. His past is also checkered.


The ending is happy. I defy you not to be elated. 


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