Full Metal Jacket

[Gavalaar1980]

Hi all,

This is random but I really find the movie Full Metal Jacket excellent (for the first half only, the second half is mediocre in my opinion but it's a classic war film nonetheless). I really think R.Lee Ermey should have won an Oscar for his acting; it's actually a scandal that he wasn't even nominated. Does anyone else agree with me here?

The entire movie was filmed in East England, as most of you are no doubt aware. Apparently one or two scenes were filmed on the Norfolk Broads. However, I've done extensive Google searches to try and ascertain exactly where in Norfolk and which scenes specifically, but to no avail. I was wondering if any of you folks know the answer to this conundrum? I'm Norfolk born and bred so that's why I'm interested!

Cheers,

Gavin.

[Tim Marlow]

Might be of some help Gav…

http://movie-locations.com/movies/f/Full-Metal-Jacket.php

[Tim Marlow]

Bit more here.

https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/hollywood-news/where-was-full-metal-jacket-filmed-full-metal-jacket-filming-locations.html

Unfortunately nothing on Reelstreets. Pity because that is a great site for film buffs, showing then and now shots of literally hundreds of classic film sets.

[minitnkr]

The scene where he's interviewed by a journalist is special to me as a close friend had a similar experience in VietNam where he was clearly wheezing due to an asthma attack & complained to the news person he was drafted in spite of his poor health.

[langy71]

If memory serves, the 'sniper' scene in the supposed city of Hue, Vietnam, towards the end of the movie was filmed at Beckton Gas works, they had to fly in loads of palm trees and sand to dress the set.
And the basic training section was filmed at Bassingbourn army barracks in Cambridgeshire, the big give away is that all the road markings indicate that we drive on the left hand side not the right.. a friend once told me that it was his regiment that were used to fill out the various P.T. scenes, and his claim to fame is that he can be seen doing star jumps in the background of a few scenes.

[Gavalaar1980]

The scene where he's interviewed by a journalist is special to me as a close friend had a similar experience in VietNam where he was clearly wheezing due to an asthma attack & complained to the news person he was drafted in spite of his poor health.

Interesting. I assume they moved the goalposts and relaxed their rigid medical pre requisites for recruits in order to get a higher volume of troops to the frontline?

[Gavalaar1980]

If memory serves, the 'sniper' scene in the supposed city of Hue, Vietnam, towards the end of the movie was filmed at Beckton Gas works, they had to fly in loads of palm trees and sand to dress the set.
And the basic training section was filmed at Bassingbourn army barracks in Cambridgeshire, the big give away is that all the road markings indicate that we drive on the left hand side not the right.. a friend once told me that it was his regiment that were used to fill out the various P.T. scenes, and his claim to fame is that he can be seen doing star jumps in the background of a few scenes.

Yeah, that would make sense. Most of the recruits in the basic training scenes didn't have dialogue so they needed to make the numbers up with extras. The drill sergeant didn't even have a script; virtually all his dialogue was improvised!

[Peter Gillson]

Hi

I cannot help with your query, but ghe film poster artwork was by a british artist called Philip Castle, who also painted the poster for Krubrick's film Clockwork Orange. i had the good fortune to visit Philips house and saw his studio where he had the original helmet which he used for reference. the nearedt I got to the film was holding that helmet!

it iwell worth checking Philip's work:

https://airbrushinformation.net/2017/06/22/philip-castle/

his two book airflow and airshow include some of his aircraft work which is outstanding.
peter

[minitnkr]

Yeah Gavin, another right handed friend had a fused right hand trigger finger due to a dropped transmission. He was drafted & told he would be trained to shoot left handed, which he was. Luckily, his automotive mechanic skills were recognized so he spent his year in VN working motor pool & saw no close combat. Physical, mental, & arrest record standards varied by local draft boards to meet quotas during this period. Some judges who sat on draft boards would offer expunged records if you volunteered for the draft or enlisted.