I haven't read the book, but it has a rating of 4.27/5 from over 20,000 ratings (Pat Conroy), so I'm going to presume it's pretty good.
The movie? Not so much.
Set in the 60's, it follows a 4th year cadet through training (specifically hazing) who is given the job of looking out for the first black cadet allowed into the institute.
He completely fails to do so, finds out there's a secret group forcing out people they don't like through torture (the first 70 minutes). He reads a diary that helpfully lists all the members of the last 30 years and blackmails all his problems away (the last 20 minutes). Oh, and his best friend betrays him. The end.
"Wild" Bill Paxton (as credited) is as mediocre as the movie, so at least he fits in? He appears with Judge Reinhold, who was in his last movie (Stripes), and first time appearing with Michael Biehn, who was the best soldier actor in the movie. Someone must have agreed, because the following year, he got the role of Kyle Reece in The Terminator (Bill would get a bit part, as would Rick Rossovich).
Filming took place in London, and Bill Paxton met his future (and second) wife Louise Newbury on a #37 bus there.
TLDR; what a stupid movie.
The movie? Not so much.
Set in the 60's, it follows a 4th year cadet through training (specifically hazing) who is given the job of looking out for the first black cadet allowed into the institute.
He completely fails to do so, finds out there's a secret group forcing out people they don't like through torture (the first 70 minutes). He reads a diary that helpfully lists all the members of the last 30 years and blackmails all his problems away (the last 20 minutes). Oh, and his best friend betrays him. The end.
"Wild" Bill Paxton (as credited) is as mediocre as the movie, so at least he fits in? He appears with Judge Reinhold, who was in his last movie (Stripes), and first time appearing with Michael Biehn, who was the best soldier actor in the movie. Someone must have agreed, because the following year, he got the role of Kyle Reece in The Terminator (Bill would get a bit part, as would Rick Rossovich).
Filming took place in London, and Bill Paxton met his future (and second) wife Louise Newbury on a #37 bus there.
TLDR; what a stupid movie.