Stripes (1981)

Director:

Ivan Reitman

Writers:

Len Blum (written by) &
Daniel Goldberg (written by) ...

Release Date:

26 June 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War

Tagline:

The story of a man who wanted to keep the world safe for democracy...and meet girls

Plot:

Two friends who are dissatisfied with their jobs decide to join the army for a bit of fun.

Plot Keywords:

Army | Basic Training | Czechoslovakia | Rescue | Graduation

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Dec. 14

3:00 PM

AMC

Cast

Bill Murray	...	John
Harold Ramis	...	Russell
Warren Oates	...	Sgt. Hulka
P.J. Soles	...	Stella
Sean Young	...	Louise
John Candy	...	Ox
John Larroquette	...	Capt. Stillman
John Voldstad	...	Stillman's Aide
John Diehl	...	Cruiser
Lance LeGault	...	Col. Glass
Roberta Leighton	...	Anita
Conrad Dunn	...	Psycho
Judge Reinhold	...	Elmo
Antone Pagan	...	Hector
Glenn-Michael Jones	...	Leon

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use. (extended edition)

Runtime:

106 min | USA:126 min (extended version) | Spain:117 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian | Polish

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba) (original rating) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) | Finland:K-12 (cut) (1981) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (extended version) (2005) | Canada:14A (Manitoba/Ontario) (extended version) (2005) | Spain:13 | Finland:K-11 (uncut) (2005) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M | Norway:16 (1981) | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Argentina:Atp | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The last sentence the platoon shouts during their performance at graduation, "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog", is a sentence that was popularly used to test typewriters and telegraph machines because it contains every letter of the alphabet at least once.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the platoon is performing their impromptu drill in front of the General, some camera shots reveal an overcast day with no shadows while others show sunny, bright weather.

Quotes:

Col. Glass: [menacingly] You screw this up, Stillman... and I'll have you assigned to a weather station above the Artic Circle! You got that?
Captain Stillman: [contrite] Yes, sir... thank you, sir.
Col. Glass: Good.
[turns and leaves]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Old School' Orientation (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Do Wah Diddy Diddy

Great Murray

May be THE classic Bill Murray movie, with Murray, Ramis, Candy and other oddballs making it in the Army. There are three general sequences - Murray pre-Army, basic training, and the mission (occurring after Murray and Ramis "borrow" Army test vehicle with their MP girlfriends). Each of the sequences are funny, I personally like Murray pre-Army best and the mission least. Warren Oates as "Sgt. Hulka" is a modern classic. Over twenty years later and this is still the reigning service comedy.