An Officer and a Gentleman

Look closely this is not a movie about the military but about life. More specifically about being lucky enough to find one self when you're young. A movie about status, social mobility, class, relationships, troubled young men and women, suicide, and love.This is also about the card game as Ernest Hemingway would have described it that is played out between men and women whereby men attempt to seduce women and women wish to be valued for more than as prostitutes. And how some times that game can end in true love, but some times it can unleash forces beyond our control that can even kill.The main protagonist is Mayo played by Richard Geer. A navy brat with a troubled history.Who's not a team player because he's been hustled for so long and hustling for so long that he doesn't know when to recognize in life when you can start trusting people. His best friend is played by David Keith as Sid Sorley a troubled kid who has all sorts of emotional baggage who begins swimming in the deep end of the pool called the game of love before he's even aware of it. As we will find out later this has tragic results.I'm not afraid to admit that I began to tear up as I saw where this movie was headed. Sid Sorley is a great kid. He's an all American kid who got carried away having what began as a sexual vacation. Young-men who are immature are known to do this. What I found especially tragic is that the women who wants to marry him and whom he later is willing to give up everything for both carry a common psychic scar. They both lost sibling in the Vietnam war. Sid a nice kid is unwilling to open up about this as well as other emotional problems hes having.This is very sad to me because medical as well as testimonial evidence is now coming to light that shows that the families and children of veterans of not just the Vietnam war but possibly all wars some times inherit emotional scars from their families service to our country. If you don't believe me check out a book titled, 30 months with my father, by the daughter of a Vietnam vet and visit her website. I must admit I just found out about this book a few days ago and look forward to reading it I may up date this review after reading this book.I teared up as I saw the inevitable closing in around Sid Sorley. Military bases must have there share of young men and women like him. Kids really who have an emotional roller coaster in their heads cascading out of control that threatens to destroy them. And they have no one to trust no one to talk to. They must feel so emotionally stranded, so hopeless, so alone. The darkness chasing after them wanting to grasp them in it's eternal embrace. And the hart breaking thing is that they are the best and the brightest we have as a society to offer.I felt greatly for Sid Sorley he just wanted to be loved for who he was he was an emotionally damaged kid. who commits suicide. Sadly, suicide in our society is completely misunderstood. People think that it is the act of a coward. An act of volition. It isn't suicide occurs according to the medical data in people who have 95% of the time a preexisting mental illness. Their are chemicals in the brain and spinal column that if they ever dip below a certain level anyone no matter how tough you think they are, how religious, disciplined, will begin to have suicidal thoughts. This is why I ached as I saw Sorley hurt so much for no good resason. Modern medicne now has medications which prevent this from happening. Theirs therapy. I wept as Sorley needlessly killed himself how easily it could have been avoided if he had just been under the care of a professional.But this movie is to some extent about the redeeming power of true love the love felt between Richard Geer's character and the beautiful girl next door female lead. I cheered as I'm sure you did when he swept her up and carried her away like some dime store romance novel hero. Mayo who has emotional issues do to the suicide of his mother, his raising and intimacy issues do to being raised 'on top of the raunciest whore house in the Philipine Island.' Overcomes his issues and shows maturity in sweeping his love away.But that's not even my favorite scene. Mine is when Geer wakes up after a night of love making and find his now girlfriend making breakfast in the kitchen. This demonstrates that love is not always an epic quest depicted in romance movies or novels. It is for more ordinary people, well, more ordinary waking up and realizing that some one cares for you because they made breakfast. I love the conversation that ensues in that scene that was when they had both stopped playing cards and were really falling in love. This is a wonderful movie. About very adult topics if it's suitable it could be shown at the H.S. senior level or college freshman level.

Highly recommend

An Officer and a Gentleman is a movie that puts the audience where they belong. It is a struggle for self-actualization in which the female characters are intelligent and the male characters discover their mistakes.Recognize that this is a movie about life, not the military, and that the plot has more to do than you might imagine with one's chance in finding oneself in their youth. This film explores themes of love, romance, problematic adolescence, suicide, class, and social mobility.The cast is outstanding, and the film is made to a very high standard. Wait till it's over before getting up. Even if it may be expected, the ending is sincere and rather charming, embracing the fairy-tale feel that viewers will undoubtedly desire.

This movie is a definite must watch. You will for sure put it on your favorites list, and watch multiple times.

Bought this for movie night as it an old favorite! Never disappoints this house!

I like the start which felt unusual and rich context for the protagonist, the ending was equally dramatic and storybook romance material.

Richard Gere was so handsome and this is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. It made me fall in love with Richard Gere and the Navy as a young girl.

Even if this is slightly dated fare (except those explicit sex scenes with Gere and Winger!) I gave this overall disc a 5 star rating for a general favoritism to this early 80's movie and a nicely detailed not too talky commentary by Director Taylor Hackford.I saw AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN in the theatre when I was just 15 very fortunate, indeed, the local suburban movie house allowed a small group of boys - obviously under 17 - to witness the R-rated move without an adult.But, I became a fan of Richard Gere and, of course, Debra Winger who not surprisingly became a sex symbol in the eyes of any teenager after seeing this one. Besides, you could tell too: She was a serious actress.At the time of this 1982 release Lou Gossett Jr. nailed what would become the typical drill Sergeant role eventually saved for ex real life drill Sergeant R Lee Ermey.Taylor Hackford mentions an ‘accident’ that occurred during filming that put the entire cast and crew on hold forcing the Director to offer an ultimatum to cast member who was, basically, at fault for 'her' own mishap. Makeup was applied but bruise is visible (it is), Hackford explains, in first scene she filmed after 'hospital stay' (well, I find that stuff interesting). Hackford also mentions Gere and Winger worked and 'pushed' each other well, more than the stories that they did not get along.I, personally, could not believe how well I remembered this movie finding myself quoting lines like I had just seen it last week which is nowhere near true. I hadn't seen AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN in over 15 yrs (on AMC - probably HORRIBLY cut up) which did remind me I had probably watched this another 10 times on cable one summer when still a teenager.Too bad Lisa Blount was given that "Way to go Paula..." line. And they chose to keep it in. People still yell at her to this day for that bad choice/cheesy line!Still, overall, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN is surprisingly entertaining love story, action movie without a gun shot fired! So much happens, including my favorite (kind of sappy scene, yes) scene with Mayo helping "Ohhh, Seeegar" (Lisa Eilbacher, looking stunningly NOT all that attractive) over the training wall. Gets me every time. It even gets to Sgt. Foley.

Great movie, fast delivery, perfect..!

Love this movie, I watch it most days

Great to watch these old movies came on time

Arrived early and as advertised.. good value for money

Richard Gere als nicht passender Gentleman, der Offizier werden will, passt eigentlich wie Faust aufs Auge. Doch in ein Offizier und Gentleman ist alles passend gemacht. Die Karaktere sind glaubwürdig, das Semper fi ohne grossen amerikanischen Pathos umgesetzt und selbst ein trauriges Erlebnis, welches ich nicht weiter erörtern will, wird sehr realistisch und glaubhaft dargestellt. Immer wieder ein Leckerbissen, Richard Gere, sein federnder Gang und das alles in weisser Offiziersuniform, einfach toll für einen Mädelsabend oder allein zu hause mit einem netten Glas Wein und einer kuscheligen Decke.