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IMDbPro

Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder

  • 1982
  • PG
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
276
YOUR RATING
Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder (1982)
DramaWar

During the Vietnam War, Brian Anderson (Dennis Christopher), a young Army medic, is stationed in Saigon. Initially apathetic and self-serving, he eventually has his heart won over by the chi... Read allDuring the Vietnam War, Brian Anderson (Dennis Christopher), a young Army medic, is stationed in Saigon. Initially apathetic and self-serving, he eventually has his heart won over by the children at a nearby orphanage where he does volunteer work. At first, a doctor named Katheri... Read allDuring the Vietnam War, Brian Anderson (Dennis Christopher), a young Army medic, is stationed in Saigon. Initially apathetic and self-serving, he eventually has his heart won over by the children at a nearby orphanage where he does volunteer work. At first, a doctor named Katherine Cross (Susan Saint James) has to persuade him to help the children. But soon, Brian wil... Read all

  • Director
    • Peter Werner
  • Writer
    • Paul G. Hensler
  • Stars
    • Dennis Christopher
    • Susan Saint James
    • Roger Aaron Brown
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    276
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Werner
    • Writer
      • Paul G. Hensler
    • Stars
      • Dennis Christopher
      • Susan Saint James
      • Roger Aaron Brown
    • 8User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast21

    Edit
    Dennis Christopher
    Dennis Christopher
    • Brian Anderson
    Susan Saint James
    Susan Saint James
    • Katherine Cross
    Roger Aaron Brown
    Roger Aaron Brown
    • Moses Drapper
    Robert Englund
    Robert Englund
    • Tripper
    James Whitmore Jr.
    • Major Flaherty
    Lisa Lu
    Lisa Lu
    • Sister Marie
    Shere Thu Thuy
    • Sister Hoa
    • (as Tu Thuy)
    Travis Swords
    • Allen Atkins
    Mai Thi Lien
    • Anh
    Truong Minh Hai
    • Duc
    Ken Metcalfe
    Ken Metcalfe
    • Captain Morris
    Marie Ashton
    • Peggy Dean
    Robert Howland
    • Bugsy Bodell
    Paul G. Hensler
    • Dr. Goldman
    Wynne Wicker
    • Immigration Woman
    • (as Wynne Dieppe)
    Paquito Salcedo
    Paquito Salcedo
    • Old Man
    Ronald Sully
    • Troy Banks
    Tom Joyner
    • Supply Sergeant
    • Director
      • Peter Werner
    • Writer
      • Paul G. Hensler
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    6.7276
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    Featured reviews

    Wizard-8

    Catch this one!

    I read that this movie did so poorly in its first regional release, the filmmakers withdrew it and decided not to make any more movies (!) Which is a real shame, because it's a very good movie. Christopher gives an excellent performance as a soldier who may not be physically strong, but is strong in spirit. This and BREAKING AWAY show what a great actor he is, and it's a real shame that he's never gotten such a meaty role since.

    A lot of the movie is fairly predictable (hero doesn't want to help at first, softens bit by bit, etc.), but it's believably done. The ending is a little sad, but also filled with the knowlege that the hero has triumped in a way.

    You better go and rent it now - it's only been issued on video once in the early 80s, and the remaining copies are disappearing from video stores...
    8oaksong

    Much better than many big budget films

    I saw this theatrically and was very taken with the realism. I served in Vietnam and this hit me much harder than Apocalypse Now or The Deer Hunter. It has much more heart., Anyone who calls this formulaic and doesn't say the same of Apocalypse Now isn't paying attention. West Side Story is formulaic, but when well performed that doesn't matter. The acting in this film was spot on across the board. Dennis Christopher's scenes with the kids were extremely heart felt. If you can this I can't recommend it highly enough.
    9dabraze

    Movie is still available

    This movie has been a personal favorite of mine almost since it was released, so I echo all of the positive reviews of this movie, especially the accuracy of the portrayal. The one negative review I saw was factually inaccurate and largely biased. Doubtful the reviewer ever served in the military; certainly not in Vietnam.

    Mainly, I wanted to post this review to say that the movie is currently available on YouTube, and has been--almost since the time YouTube went public (can't say if it has been continuously available). In the early days of YouTube, it was posted in separate 10 minute segments, as evidently they had a time limit on videos (most still had dial-up modems at the time), but now is available as a complete movie.

    I downloaded the movie from Y. T., so finally, after 35 years I have a personal copy. It made me very happy.
    3moonspinner55

    It may have some appeal for softies with a predisposition for such stories...

    At a Saigon Air Base in 1967, an unorthodox young medic (Dennis Christopher), who sells morphine and military supplies on the black market, is reprimanded and eventually demoted to the mortuary; a no-nonsense female doctor (Susan Saint James) takes a liking to him and sweetly blackmails him into delivering rations to a gaggle of Vietnamese children living with the nuns in a bombed-out orphanage. US-Japan co-production from The Sam Goldwyn Company was a tough sell in 1982, except possibly to leftover fans of "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness". The kids are certainly cute learning math and splashing together in the wash bins, but when a jealous child accuses the medic of having more than a brotherly interest in a mute 12-year-old girl, the narrative suddenly takes an unpleasant turn (there's nothing improper going on, but the implication hangs like a black cloud). Paul G. Hensler's screenplay, "suggested by a true story" (which likely means most of it is fictionalized), has some humor, but mostly a lot of phony melodrama--it's TV on the big screen. James Whitmore Jr. Comes on too strong as Christopher's superior (he doesn't seem to have any priorities except persecuting this kid), and Christopher is too brash and movie-cagey for us to gain much respect for him. Saint James gives the film's best performance; she looks great and is completely convincing as a doctor, although her Katherine seems an unlikely romantic partner for Christopher's cut-up. The film isn't well-produced or well-directed (by Peter Werner, who has not one iota of visual style); but, for the knick-knack-paddy-whack crowd, it may have some appeal. *1/2 from ****
    8webmaster-1616

    I've Seen This One

    Good movie, Ironic thing was, it was filmed 3 houses down from us when we lived in the Philippines. Father was retired air force. Supposed to be a Vietnam movie, but the entire thing is filmed in the Philippines. If you can find a copy, watch it, You'll enjoy it. Susan St. James and Dennis Christopher both act very well in this movie. First time I saw it I was young enough to not understand most of what I was seeing. However I've seen it since and enjoyed it very much. Its an old movie so it won't be easy to find. I've been looking for a copy again for a while without much luck. If Vietnam movies are your forte then you will enjoy this title if you can get ahold of it.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Band of Brothers (2001)
    War

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      About 38 minutes in, when Katherine clears the table to examine the baby, the boom mic is visible in the top left corner. In the same scene when the nun talks to Brian, the boom mic is visible at the top of the shot.
    • Soundtracks
      Questions And Answers
      Music by Maurice Jarre

      Lyrics by Norman Gimbel

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 5, 1982 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Japan
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Brian, soldado de primera clase
    • Filming locations
      • Metro Manila, Philippines
    • Production company
      • Sanrio Communications
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 48m(108 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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