An Officer and a Gentleman
Zack Mayo is an aloof, taciturn man who aspires to be a navy pilot. Once he arrives at training camp for his 13-week officer's course, Mayo runs afoul of abrasive, no-nonsense drill Sergeant Emil Foley. Mayo is an excellent cadet, but a little cold around the heart, so Foley rides him mercilessly, sensing that the young man would be prime officer material if he weren't so self-involved. Zack's affair with a working girl is likewise compromised by his unwillingness to give of himself.
Critics Sentiment
Zack breaks down admitting he has nowhere else to go
Sid Worley hangs himself after Lynette rejects him
The devastating drop from Zack helping Seeger succeed to Sid's tragic suicide represents the film's most jarring tonal shift from triumph to tragedy.
The film builds steadily through military training conflicts to an emotional peak during Zack's vulnerable breakdown, then crashes dramatically with Sid's suicide before recovering strongly for the satisfying romantic conclusion. Reviewers consistently praised the performances and realistic fight scenes while noting the film's successful blend of military drama with romantic elements.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 34
Richard Gere
Zack Mayo
Debra Winger
Paula Pokrifki
Louis Gossett Jr.
Sergeant Emil Foley
David Keith
Sid Worley
Robert Loggia
Byron Mayo
Lisa Blount
Lynette Pomeroy
Lisa Eilbacher
Casey Seeger
Harold Sylvester
Perryman
David Caruso
Topper Daniels
Grace Zabriskie
Esther Pokrifiki
Tony Plana
Emiliano Della Serra
Victor French
Joe Pokrifki
Tommy Petersen
Young Zack
Mara Scott-Wood
Bunny
David Greenfield
Schneider
Dennis Rucker
Donny
Jane Wilbur
Nellie Rufferwell
Buck Welcher
Thraxton
Vern Taylor
Tom Worley
Elizabeth Rogers
Betty Worley
Crew
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