Gardens of stone should have been a great coppola film. Sweeney, his immediate superior and the sergeant above him james earl jones. But nope, sadly, gardens of stone was a tedious film which sucked the life out of me. Barnes, and it is quite simply a spectacular concoction imbued with potential brilliance. The birth and death of gerard gardens, and how local communities were decimated by the inner city road developments have been chronicled in paul sudburys film gardens of stone and ged fagans. Gardens of stone is another in the recently released collection of francis ford coppola films to make their way to dvd.
Other articles where gardens of stone is discussed. Made in 1987, some eight years after coppolas seminal vietnam epic, apocalypse now, this is another take on that controversial war, and is really the complete antithesis of that classic 1970s film. Barnes immerses his first time reader in a world filled with vivid cultures, unusual species, ancient mysteries, and. Centered around vietnam, a subject matter the director last explored in the phenomenal apocalypse now, youd think this would be a neat hidden gem in his filmography. The garden of stone is arlington national cemetery, its flowers the tombstones marking the graves of the nations heroes. In director francis ford coppolas homeland war drama gardens of stone 1987, a tightlyknit group of soldiers work as part of the 1st battalion 3rd infantry regiment at fort myer, virginia, in the famed old guard. Sweeney, mary stuart masterson, dean stockwell, laurence fishburne, elias koteas, sam bottoms. Sweeney is stationed under hazard, the vet aims to educate the youth about war. Gardens of stone can probably be best talked about in terms of character and character development as far as that goes, it is an old fashioned film. Sweeney is stationed at arlington instead of being sent to war overseas, he is befriended by sgt. Staring anjelica huston, james earl jones, james caan and dean stockwell. Gardens of stone was not a hit with the critics upon its release.
The two films, the garden of stones and the old man and his garden of stones were made nearly thirty years apart and both straddle and challenge notions of fiction and documentary. The movie has a great cast that includes james caan, anjelica huston, james earl jones, dean stockwell and several more people. It includes both the vast gardens of the chinese emperors and members of the imperial family, built for pleasure and to impress, and the more intimate gardens created by scholars, poets, former government officials, soldiers and merchants, made for reflection and escape from the outside. Watch gardens of stone online stream full movie directv.
Gardens of stone portrays vietnam era the new york. Unjustly underrated upon its release, gardens of stone is a quiet, respectful film filled with emotional power, exceptional acting especially by caan, and technical virtuosity. Movies like gardens of stone if you like gardens of stone you are looking for realistic, bleak and sincere movies about with vietnam war, soldier, military, military life, war, life is a bitch and wartime life themes of drama, romance and war genre shot in usa. And then there is the girl the kid would like to marry mary stuart masterson, and there is caans new girlfriend anjelica huston, who works for the. Gardens of stone takes you on a walk through these memorial parks, guiding you through works of art cast in stone, from small solitary monuments to some of the countrys most grand mausoleums. Though a seriously conceived film about the american experience in vietnam, gardens of stone has somehow wound up having the consistency and the kick of melted vanilla ice cream. Jan 10, 2008 the birth and death of gerard gardens, and how local communities were decimated by the inner city road developments have been chronicled in paul sudburys film gardens of stone and ged fagans. Gardens of stone 1987 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. The garden was completed in 1987 to demonstrate the friendship and union between kelowna and its sister city in kasugai, japan. Sweeney, dean stockwell, anjelica huston, james caan, james earl jones, mary stuart masterson. It is 1968 and they are very busy, engaged in the depressing ritual of ushering the bodies that have returned from the vietnam war into arlington national cemetery. James caan and james earl jones performed their roles as platoon sergeant. With james caan, anjelica huston, james earl jones, d.
Gardens of stone 1987 a veteran sergeant takes a young soldier under his wing in an insightful look at stateside military life during the vietnam war. A hardened korean and vietnam war veteran, sergeant first class clell hazard james caan. At the end outside the chapel just before willows casket is moved to the burial site wildman is seen in class a green uniform. Gardens of stone 1987 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and. Le film gardens of stone 1987 vostfr admin 20170421t17. Gardens of stone 1987 letterboxd social film discovery. The secret garden is the 1987 hallmark hall of fame madefortelevision film adaptation of frances hodgson burnetts 1911 novel the secret garden, aired on cbs november 30, 1987 and produced by rosemont productions limited. A sergeant must deal with his desires to save the lives of young soldiers being sent to vietnam. En 1987, francis ford coppola lui propose gardens of stone, l histoire. Gardens of stone is a 1987 american drama film directed by francis ford coppola, based on a novel of the same name by nicholas proffitt. It is a beautiful integration of stone, pathways, plants and water. Clell hazard, who has come to the sad conclusion that vietnam is unwinnable and that america should withdraw as soon as possible. The film stars gennie james, barret oliver, jadrien steele, billie whitelaw, michael hordern and sir derek jacobi.
Bbc liverpool local history memories of gerard gardens. That is why i use this film as a professional development tool to inspire. The movie has been described as a somber, critically acclaimed, meticulously paced drama about soldiers in arlington cemeterys honor guard during the. En 1987, francis ford coppola lui propose gardens of stone, lhistoire bouleversante. Coppola, one of the most efficient writers in hollywood, came to direct such a screenplay, one thats alternately lame and utterly confusing. Gardens of stone 1987 r 05051987 us drama, history 1h 51m user score. Rentbuy movie gardens of stone dvd now family video. A veteran sergeant at arlington national cemetery loves a newswoman opposed to the vietnam war. Read the stone movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on movies. Gardens of stone is a 1987 drama about the trials and tribulations of an arlington cemetery home guard during the vietnam war era. Gardens of stone internet movie firearms database guns. The garden of stones is the first installment in the echoes of empire fantasy series by mark t. Gardens of stone 1987 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Almost as much as apocalypse now, gardens of stone is a testament to what a director must occasionally endure to get a film done. Gardens of stone 1987 francis ford coppola synopsis. Gardens of stone is a 1987 vietnam warera drama directed by francis ford coppola. I thought this was a war film, its about the funerals of the armied forces. Apocalypse now 1979 remains one of the most visceral and influential war films ever made.
Post jobs, find pros, and collaborate commissionfree in our professional marketplace. It stars james caan, anjelica huston, james earl jones, d. Gardens of stone is a quiet, respectful film filled with emotional power, exceptional acting especially by caan, and technical virtuosity. Gardens of stone by francis ford coppola francis ford. Set during the vietnam war, this film follows the life of the group of soldiers assigned to duty at the arlington national cemetery. May 08, 1987 though a seriously conceived film about the american experience in vietnam, gardens of stone has somehow wound up having the consistency and the kick of melted vanilla ice cream.
A sergeant must deal with his desires to save the lives of young soldiers being sent to viet nam. Francis coppolas gardens of stone tells the stories of several relationships at this outpost far behind the front lines. A film about the vietnam war, but one set in washington, the central characters being part of the old guard providing the honor guard for funerals. Gardens of stone the thread about military accuracy in films reminded me of this film. Though there was no combat, there was one inspection scene that was spot on. Coppolas next project, the sombre gardens of stone.
Continuously denied the chance to teach the soldiers about his experiences, he settles for trying to help the son of an old army buddy. In this case the soldiers of the famed 3rd us infantry regiment the old guard. In this case, it was the death of his son in a boating accident during production that almost drove director francis ford coppola crazy. Sweeney, dean stockwell, anjelica huston, james caan, james earl jones, mary stuart masterson show embed code.
Clell hazard james caan is disheartened when he is stationed as a guard in arlington national. Released in 1987 as studios were making a number of vietnam war focused films, gardens of stone directed by francis ford coppola is a meditative story on the wars legacy. James caan and james earl jones performed their roles as platoon sergeant and sergeant. Khanjani compares parviz kimiavis two reality based films about an eccentric farmer who creates a garden composed of stones hanging off trees. Were toy soldiers, one of the professional soldiers says scornfully, as the daily schedule of burial details continues to grow. Coppolas next project, the sombre gardens of stone 1987, was a portrait of the soldiers assigned to guard duty at arlington national cemetery during the vietnam war, with caan as the sergeant in charge, anjelica huston as his girlfriend, and d. Clell hazard james caan is disheartened when he is stationed as a guard in arlington national cemetery instead of an instructor of new recruits during the vietnam war. Fact, fiction and eccentricity in parviz kimiavis images. The film is set in the 1960s at fort myer with the old guard. Unlike the many other vietnam war movies that were released in the mid1980s, this film focused on how the war affected the troops stationed in the united states. Watch gardens of stone full movie in hd visit movie 28368 a sergeant must deal with his desires to save the lives of young soldie.
Gardens of stone on dvd 043396088511 from sony pictures home entertainment. Comparisons to coppolas apocalypse now are unavoidable since the two films make for a striking contrast in tone and style. Continuously denied the chance to teach the soldiers about his experiences, he. It includes both the vast gardens of the chinese emperors and members of the imperial family, built for pleasure and to impress, and the more intimate gardens created by scholars, poets, former government officials, soldiers and merchants, made for reflection and escape from the outside world. I had the pleasure of seeing this film on post in ft campbell back in 1987 when it came out the perfect audience and. The chinese garden is a landscape garden style which has evolved over three thousand years. The garden is tended by the old guard, an elite army unit led by decorated veterans each and every one of whom would rather be on active duty. Vincent canby wrote of the film in the new york times, its a mystery why mr. Score francis ford coppola, angelica huston, james earl jones, james caan, lawrence fishburne, dean stockwellwhat a cast of heavy hitters. Gardens of stone 1987 r 0505 1987 us drama, history 1h 51m user score. Gardens of stone trailer 1987 vhs capture taken from x rental vhs tape please comment like and subscribe 2ombieboy. At the beginning of the movie in what turns out to be willows funeral, a shot of wildman shows him in dress blues.
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