Good Morning Vietnam is a classic military/comedy film. The movie focuses on Adrian Cronauer (Robin Williams), a radio personality who is sent to Vietnam to bring a little comedy back into the lives of the deployed U.S. troops.
Williams’ portrayal of Cronauer depicts the radio presenter’s efforts to brings laughs and delights to the troops, despite opposition from his superior officer, Sergeant Major Dickerson (J.T. Walsh), who is not happy with Cronauer’s personal take on the war. As the movie goes on, Dickerson attempts to censor Cronauer’s broadcasts while Cronauer goes on to meet a Vietnamese girl named Trinh (Chintara Sukapatana), who shows him some of the human costs of war.
Below are some of the best scenes from the film:
#1 – “First Broadcast”
“GOOOOOOOOOD MORNING VIETNAAAAAAAAMMMM!,” William’s character Cronauer says, delivering the iconic sign-on in his first broadcast in Vietnam. The line serves as one of the most memorable from the movie. Williams then launches into his comedic radio monologue, riffing on military jargon.
#2 – “Reinstate the Man”
After reprimanding Cronauer for misconduct, the military broadcast station is inundated by complaints from the troops upset about not being able to hear Cronauer’s broadcasts. Pressured by the morale backlash, Cronauer’s superior Brig. Gen. Taylor orders his reinstatement.
#3 – “In More Dire Need”
Williams’ witty humor comes into play this scene when Sgt. Dickerson welcomes Cronauer back into his office. Cronauer responds, “I’ve missed you.”
The witty remark comes moments before Dickerson lets Cronauer know that his friendship with a South Vietnamese man would result in his removal from the airwaves as the man is linked to Viet Cong terrorism.
#4 – “Confronting Phan Duc To”
In this scene, Cronauer confronts his South Vietnamese friend over his Viet Cong ties and comes face to face with some of the destruction inflicted by America during the war. Cronauer and his friend argue over the betrayal of trust in the Vietnamese man’s Viet Cong ties. The tense scene is only undercut by Cronauer as he remarks, “Five months in Saigon and my best friend turns out to be a VC. This will NOT look good on a resume.”
#5 – “Final Sign Off”
Even though Cronauer left his duty, and a new man took his role, he doesn’t let the audience get the last of him without a good laugh. In his final sign off, Williams’ character again makes light of the conflict in Vietnam and riffs about some of the same humorous yet controversial commentary that hurt his tenure as a radio broadcaster for the troops.
