Can a 1988 crime thriller turn a military base into a diamond smuggling hub?
In short: In the 1988 action film The Presidio, a routine murder investigation at a San Francisco Army base spirals into a complex conspiracy. When a military police officer is killed, an estranged detective and a lieutenant colonel must overcome past grievances to uncover a smuggling ring involving Vietnam-era veterans and hidden diamonds.
Directed by Peter Hyams, The Presidio stars Sean Connery as Lieutenant Colonel Alan Caldwell and Mark Harmon as Jay Austin, an SFPD detective and former military policeman. The plot centers on the murder of Patti Jean Lynch, an MP killed while investigating a break-in at the Presidio Army base. The investigation reveals that the crime was linked to a larger scheme involving a Tokarev 7.62mm pistol and a civilian holding company owner named Arthur Peale.
The narrative hinges on the shared history of the characters, many of whom served together in Vietnam. As Austin and Caldwell reluctantly team up, they discover that the break-in was an attempt to retrieve a water bottle smuggled from the Philippines. Inside the bottle, the conspirators had hidden diamonds. The operation involved a network of former military associates, including George Spota and retired Sergeant Major Ross Maclure, who used their connections to facilitate the illicit transport of goods through military channels.
Despite its high-profile cast, the film faced significant critical headwinds. It holds a 41% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 31 out of 100 on Metacritic, with critics often noting that while the film is competently directed, it lacks the compelling edge of its genre peers. Commercially, it debuted at number four at the domestic box office, ultimately grossing $51.9 million worldwide. The film concludes with a somber military funeral for Maclure, who is caught in the crossfire of the final confrontation, and a tentative reconciliation between Caldwell and Austin, who begins a relationship with Caldwell's daughter, Donna.
The film serves as a snapshot of late-80s action cinema, blending procedural investigation with character-driven drama. While it did not achieve critical acclaim, it remains a notable example of the era's focus on military-themed thrillers and the lingering shadows of the Vietnam War on domestic storytelling.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Presidio (film)
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