An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

The second film in our dual-memorium pairing pays tribute to Louis Gossett Jr. in a film that earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Directed by Taylor Hackford, 1982's "An Officer and a Gentleman" tells the story of Zack Mayo (Richard Gere), son of a rear admiral who never wanted to be a father. Mayo decides to enlist in the Naval Aviator program, ruled over by a tyrannical Drill Instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley (Gossett Jr.). There he meets and befriends fellow candidate Sid Worley (David Keith), and the two of them meet Paula Pokrifki (Debra Winger) and Lynnette Pomeroy (Lisa Blount). Foley and Pomeroy, and Mayo and Pokrifki, begin a whirlwind romance, all the while trying to survive the training doled out by Foley. Throughout their 13 weeks, Mayo, Worley, and their fellow cadets experience every conceivable type of hardship and must overcome every obstacle thrown in their path, although Worley and Mayo have more to overcome than most. Ultimately, some fall by the wayside before graduation, and some relationships fail in the face of reality. Ultimately, those who deserve to continue along the path to becoming a pilot succeed, and some relationships stand the test as well. Also starring Robert Loggia and David Caruso! Plus, the trio unveil which two actors, whose lives were lost too soon, will be singled out in the next pairing!