Introduction

The Siege of Firebase Gloria is a 1989 Australian war film starring Wings Hauser and R. Lee Ermey that was filmed in the Philippines.

According to a question and answer period in Sydney, director Brian Trenchard-Smith said that R. Lee Ermey wrote the screenplay.

Outline

At the start of the Tet Offensive, a Marine unit on patrol stops at Firebase Gloria. When the base comes under attack the patrol remains to help in its defence.

The US Army soldiers and Marines are subjected to numerous attacks by the Viet Cong, but in the end hold the base with assistance from the 1st Cavalry Division.

While the Marines try to defend the base, the Viet Cong commander discovers that he is in a similar position: it was never his mission to win the battle, but to lead his men to their deaths in order to allow the North Vietnamese Army to take a more substantial role in the war.

he Americans are subsequently forced to abandon the base having lost too many men in the process of defending it.

In the end, the soldiers and commanders on both sides take stock of the loss of life for this single base.

Production & Filming Details

• Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith.
• Producers: Rod S.M. Confesor and D. Howard Grigsby.
• Writers: William L. Nagel and Tony Johnston.
• Music: Paul Schutze.
• Cinematography: Kevan Lind.
• Editor: Andrew Prowse.
• Distributor: Fries Entertainment.
• Release Date: 27 January 1989.
• Running Time: 95 minutes.
• Country: US and Australia.
• Language: English and Vietnamese.

YouTube Link