‘Warfare’ on the Mind? Gene Hackman and Patrick Swayze Come Together in This Emotional Vietnam War Thriller You Have To Revisit -

By the time America entered the early ‘80s, public sentiment toward Vietnam War veterans had greatly shifted. After years of veterans being used as scapegoats for people’s anger towards the injustices of the war, the feeling had evolved into a complex mix of regret and honor for their sacrifice defending the nation. As Hollywood began to depict the veterans in a more positive light, the 1983 action war thriller Uncommon Valor went above and beyond in reflecting the greater sacrifice of American troops.

Uncommon Valor’s director, the recently departed Ted Kotcheff, had already filmed Sylvester Stallone’s troubled war veteran running from a deadly run-in in First Blood just one year prior. In contrast to the original Rambo installment’s bleak tone, Kotcheff produced a far more uplifting Vietnam-centric tale with Gene Hackman delivering a rare mix of aggressiveness and heart as the leader of a band of Marines on a deadly rescue mission. Unlike the ensemble men of action pictures that came before it, including The Dirty Dozen, the power of Uncommon Valor comes from the core bond of brotherhood between Hackman and his group of ragtag veterans.

What Is ‘Uncommon Valor’ About?

Hackman plays former US Marine Colonel Jason Rhodes, a veteran of the Korean War whose son Frank never returned home from South Vietnam in 1972. Obsessed with bringing Frank home, Rhodes spends the next ten years following every lead possible to find his son’s whereabouts behind enemy lines. Once he pinpoints a prison camp in Laos as his son’s location, however, the US government declines any assistance in raiding the territory.

Undeterred, Rhodes recruits Vietnam veterans who served in Frank’s unit, including tunnel rat Wilkes (Fred Ward), demolition man Blaster (Reb Brown), and the larger-than-life machine gunner Sailor (Randall “Tex” Cobb), among others. Additionally, the men are aided by the strong-willed but combat-inexperienced Kevin Scott (Patrick Swayze), who has his private reasons for joining Rhodes’ deadly rescue mission. Backed financially by a benefactor (Robert Stack) seeking his missing son in combat, Rhodes’ team undergoes intense training for the mission and faces numerous obstacles that force them to switch up their plans of action.

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“Good morning, Vietnam! Hey, this is not a test. This is rock and roll.”

At times, Uncommon Valor plays like a far superior version of Rambo: First Blood Part II. Both films featured soldiers in the ‘80s pursuing American prisoners of war in Vietnam as government bureaucrats disavow their mission. Where Rambo leaned on war politics and mindless action for popcorn entertainment, Uncommon Valor emphasizes the bond between men of war while remaining haunted by the dark memories of it. Though there’s plenty of action in the third act with the rescue mission itself, the tone is more lighthearted and interesting during the middle act, when Rhodes puts the men through rigorous exercises and a simulated prison camp. Every character has their own unique personality, ranging from the serious PTSD of Ward to the more gung-ho attitudes of Brown and Cobb. Despite everyone’s differences, they all share the sole purpose of saving their brothers in arms.

‘Uncommon Valor’ Was Patrick Swayze’s Breakout Movie

For the Oscar-winning actor known for playing such hardened leading men, the role of Rhodes in Uncommon Valor is Hackman’s most emotionally gripping role in an action-thriller ever. His obsession with finding his son is just as haunting as the Vietnam War itself, with Hackman at times pulling back the aggressiveness to play more human and less professional. From the moment he is introduced in bed dreaming of his young son wanting to lie next to him after having a nightmare, the Rhodes character already gives you a window into his broken heart. Though Hackman dials up the aggressiveness in the action scenes and training sequences, he’s at his best when he gives his men the motivation to fight through their challenges. Among his standout scenes involves Rhodes comforting a PTSD-ridden Wilkes about his fallen platoon having to be piled into trucks during the Korean War and how he dealt with the trauma. Such soft moments are a reminder of Hackman’s greatness as an actor by bringing subtle emotions to his performances.

Uncommon Valor is also a breakthrough performance for the young Swayze early in his career. The star of Red Dawn and Dirty Dancing foreshadowed his prominence as a domineering leading man in Hollywood as the youngest of Hackman’s marines who clashes with the other veterans. Though he is treated as the inexperienced rookie of the group, Swayze holds his own against Hackman and the cast. His martial arts river fight sequence with Cobb’s Sailor during the training sequence feels like the stepping stone to his iconic performance in Road House which would come later in the decade. Swayze’s fiery intensity as well as his physicality in the training sequences and the battles on the field showcase his natural on-screen charisma that would make him a generational megastar.

Uncommon Valor is an emotionally gripping action film unique to the era. It puts tight character relationships and respect for the Vietnam veterans over non-stop action and thrills. Unlike the downbeat final act of First Blood, this film leaves the audience with their heads held high.