Can you name this movie? (1 Viewer)

[Carnahan]

Last year I stumbled across a post on Kindertrauma (a site dedicated to all the pop culture stuff that freaked you out as a kid) concerning a war movie the poster had seen when young but had forgotten the title to. The post is as follows:

"I saw this movie on free T.V. in the NYC area in the mid-to-late ‘70s/early ‘80s as a kid on the weekend. I remember the ending only. Basically, it’s two men (prisoners or soldiers) struggling to make their way through the jungle to an escape army helicopter as they are pursued by the enemy. The prisoners are worse for wear as the helicopter lands with a soldier or two getting out to provide cover fire for the escapees. The returning fire proves overwhelming and the chopper leaves without being able to pick up our heroes. The movie ends with a freeze-frame of the men’s faces."

No one on the forum knew what it was, and I re-posted it over on IMDB without much luck. Can anyone here shine some light on it?

 

[lancer]

Last year I stumbled across a post on Kindertrauma (a site dedicated to all the pop culture stuff that freaked you out as a kid) concerning a war movie the poster had seen when young but had forgotten the title to. The post is as follows:

"I saw this movie on free T.V. in the NYC area in the mid-to-late ‘70s/early ‘80s as a kid on the weekend. I remember the ending only. Basically, it’s two men (prisoners or soldiers) struggling to make their way through the jungle to an escape army helicopter as they are pursued by the enemy. The prisoners are worse for wear as the helicopter lands with a soldier or two getting out to provide cover fire for the escapees. The returning fire proves overwhelming and the chopper leaves without being able to pick up our heroes. The movie ends with a freeze-frame of the men’s faces."

No one on the forum knew what it was, and I re-posted it over on IMDB without much luck. Can anyone here shine some light on it?

Sounds like a scene from the second Rambo movie, although it wasn't the closing scene. Rambo and an liberated PoW were about to get to the rescue chopper when the CIA misson commander cancelled the pick-up and the chopper left with Rambo and the PoW abandoned to the enemy. It was a 1985 movie. -- Al

 

[hsm]

uncommon valour?

 

[bradleyl30]

uncommon valour?

That is what I was thinking, as well.

 

[lancer]

The thing about 'Uncommon Valor' is that the rescued PoW's get on the chopper and get away at the end of the movie, and aren't left standing there. The story lines are similar enough to be confusing after 3 decades of memory, with UC being released in '83 and the Rambo movie in '85. Perhaps the gentleman is remembering the ending incorrectly or perhaps it is a different film entirely. At any rate, I am unfamilier with the freeze frame ending as described. -- Al

 

[theBaron]

The thing about 'Uncommon Valor' is that the rescued PoW's get on the chopper and get away at the end of the movie, and aren't left standing there. The story lines are similar enough to be confusing after 3 decades of memory, with UC being released in '83 and the Rambo movie in '85. Perhaps the gentleman is remembering the ending incorrectly or perhaps it is a different film entirely. At any rate, I am unfamilier with the freeze frame ending as described. -- Al

The scene Carnahan describes, though, does sound like the opening scene of "Uncommon Valor", doesn't it? It's been a long time since I've seen it, but doesn't it open with an attempted extraction that failed to collect everyone, and that was the background for Col. Rhodes personal mission years later to return and rescue the men left behind?

Of course, that scene has been used in a number of movies since then, too, hasn't it?

Prost!
Brad

 

[Carnahan]

Have to check out Uncommon Valor - been a while since I've seen it, so that may be the one.

 

[lancer]

The scene Carnahan describes, though, does sound like the opening scene of "Uncommon Valor", doesn't it? It's been a long time since I've seen it, but doesn't it open with an attempted extraction that failed to collect everyone, and that was the background for Col. Rhodes personal mission years later to return and rescue the men left behind?

Of course, that scene has been used in a number of movies since then, too, hasn't it?

Prost!
Brad

It is a common theme. And you are probably right about the opening of UV, I just don't remember. Been too long since I have seen either film. My memory is all befuddled by zombies and Gerhardts.:wink2:^&grin -- Al

 

[UKReb]

The thing about 'Uncommon Valor' is that the rescued PoW's get on the chopper and get away at the end of the movie, and aren't left standing there. The story lines are similar enough to be confusing after 3 decades of memory, with UC being released in '83 and the Rambo movie in '85. Perhaps the gentleman is remembering the ending incorrectly or perhaps it is a different film entirely. At any rate, I am unfamilier with the freeze frame ending as described. -- Al

Agree with Al the OPs description is certainly not the ending of Uncommon Valour which if I remember correctly is a scene between the Hackman and Stack characters. Hackman has learned from Stack's son- who has been rescued- that his son died in the Nam prison-subsequently and absolutely- no freeze frame ending.

A helicopter in the scene would probably pitch it to a modern war film- nearest I could come up with- albeit a slightly different ending- is the 1981 Vietnam allegory movie Southern Comfort directed by Walter Hill. In that gripping ending the last two remaining soldiers of a Louisiana National Guard Squad are running through the everglades escaping from Cajun trappers. Suddenly above them hovers a Huey, the scene changes to slow motion and increased volume on the soundtrack then concentrates on the two men's faces and finally freeze frames on a truck with US Army markings. Roll credits.

 

[damian]

Sounds a bit like the end of the Wild Geese when Richard burton shots the man he has to leave behind rather than leave him to the tender mercies of the Simbas