John Wayne's 1968 war film remains one of cinema's most polarizing and debated projects.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Released at the height of the Vietnam War, The Green Berets was a deliberate, pro-military response to growing anti-war sentiment. Despite securing full Department of Defense cooperation and achieving box office success, the film faced scathing critical reception, with many reviewers mocking its simplistic narrative and perceived propaganda.

John Wayne, driven by a desire to honor the Special Forces, produced and co-directed the film alongside Ray Kellogg. He purchased the rights to Robin Moore's 1965 novel for $35,000 plus 5% of profits. Wayne sought and received extensive military support from President Lyndon B. Johnson and the Department of Defense, which provided helicopters, transport aircraft, and authentic uniforms. Filming took place during the summer of 1967 at Fort Benning, Georgia, where a massive set was constructed to replicate a South Vietnamese camp, later largely destroyed by explosives for the film's climax.

The film's narrative follows Colonel Mike Kirby and his team as they navigate the complexities of the conflict, including a fictionalized mission to kidnap a North Vietnamese general. While Wayne insisted his goal was to glorify the soldiers rather than debate the war's politics, the film was widely viewed as a staunchly anti-communist statement. Critics, however, were largely unimpressed. Roger Ebert famously placed it on his 'Most Hated' list, describing it as an outdated, cliché-ridden production that treated the war like a Western. Other critics, such as Renata Adler, attacked the film's perceived dishonesty and lack of artistic merit.

The film's legacy is marked by its reception as a cultural flashpoint. While it found commercial success, it was frequently protested and became a target for later filmmakers; Oliver Stone's Platoon was written partly as a reaction to it. Interestingly, the film's production also impacted other media, as George Takei's involvement forced him to miss Star Trek episodes, leading to the elevation of Walter Koenig's character, Pavel Chekov. Ultimately, the film remains a curious artifact of 1960s American cinema, illustrating the deep divide between the pro-military establishment and the critical consensus of the era.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Why Steven Spielberg's 1979 war comedy was once dismissed as a box office disaster
• A war film decades in the making, finally restored to its creator's original vision
• The 1949 war film that brought real Iwo Jima veterans onto the big screen
• How a 1984 action film turned a Californian student's name into a Vietnam hero
• A Hollywood war film that turned real-life commandos into fictionalized, brawling outcasts
• The Green Hornet's long road to the screen involved decades of development hell
• How a heavily fictionalized musical became a global box-office phenomenon
• Can a medieval legend about honor and fate be reimagined for the modern screen?
• How a 1952 circus epic captured the final golden age of the big top
• Why did a 1999 supernatural prison drama become a global box office sensation?
• How a 1936 musical biopic became the most expensive, extravagant production in MGM history.
• Why a 1986 French film about a lonely summer became a cinematic masterpiece

More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics