Rewatchables Reference

• The barracks introduction scene – 'Lighten up, Francis,' 'Lee Harvey, you are a bad man,' 'Chicks dig me' monologue.
• The first 12 minutes establishing Winger as a lovable loser.
• Going to General Barnicke's house – Murray and PJ Soles with the spatula, all improvised at 3am.
• The graduation ceremony routine.

• The 'you're going nowhere, John' girlfriend speech – may have invented the trope, ripped off for 40 years.
• John Candy's first appearance with long hair and cigarette.
• Judge Reinhold era (Fast Times, Stripes, 'Beverly Hills Cop').
• The Murray-Ramis buddy team chemistry.
• Warren Oates as Sergeant Hulka.
• Sean Young and PJ Soles as the two MPs.

• The treatment of women – peeping through binoculars and shower holes, consistent with the Porky's era.
• The final third – Czechoslovakia plot is incoherent.
• The obvious homophobia throughout.

• Originally 'Cheech and Chong Join the Army' – they wanted creative control, so it fell through.
• Columbia pushed for Dennis Quaid instead of Ramis; Murray refused.
• Kim Basinger was offered the PJ Soles part but her agent wanted too much money.

• Conrad Dunn as Francis/Psycho (winner) – 'Lighten up, Francis'.
• John Diehl (later in 'Miami Vice').
• Donald Gibb/Ogre (later in Revenge of the Nerds, 'Bloodsport').

• Conrad Dunn as Francis – just going for it.
• Harold Ramis – overacting with faces behind Bill Murray.

• John Candy as Ox – all-timer performance.
• Judge Reinhold – high batting average for very few lines.

• Young Tom Cruise as Francis – did similar intensity in Taps the same year.
• Sean Penn as Francis.

• The military loved the movie and gave the crew extensive access at Fort Knox.
• Warren Oates chipped a tooth – actors dragged him through mud for a genuine reaction.
• Murray's suitcase hit was real – they kept it in.
• Basic training haircuts were a surprise for the actors.
• Murray and Sean Young reportedly did not get along.

• Bill Murray – No, Ghostbusters was his apex.
• Harold Ramis – possibly yes, this made him a movie star.
• Military comedies – Yes, along with Private Benjamin and Officer and a Gentleman.
• Warren Oates – Yes.
• Mud wrestling in a movie – Yes.

• Why didn't Murray and Ramis have to get military haircuts like everyone else?
• Why were Winger and Ziskey promoted to the EM50 project just for showing up late?
• The EM50 was unimpressive – looks like a Winnebago.

• Is the movie better if it just ends with the graduation ceremony?
• How did they end up in Czechoslovakia and why does any of it work out?

• The basketball hoop from Murray's apartment (Bill Simmons).
• The spatula from the General's house scene, framed (Brian Koppelman).

Bill Murray – not even a debate.