Go Tell The Spartans

Lost in the shuffle between THE DEER HUNTER and APOCALYPSE NOW, this neat little war movie tells of the US presence in Vietnam in 1964, with advisor Lancaster commanding a small group of combat "advisors." Lancaster is ordered to send a platoon of Vietnamese militia (old men with shotguns, commanded by Communist-hating mercenary Kim) and a squad of Americans under green lieutenant Unger to garrison an old French stronghold. A veteran of three wars, Lancaster argues that the site is of no value and that all putting troops there will accomplish is enticing the Viet Cong to mass for an attack. He is overruled on the grounds that the French abandoned the spot and lost ...