Goodbye America
Encyclopedia
Goodbye America is a 1997
drama film
that examines how the closing of the U.S. naval base
at Subic Bay
, Philippines
affected the local Filipino
community and the Americans who had served there. Goodbye America is a United States
and Philippine co-production, and was directed by Thierry Notz.
), a longtime American sailor nearing the end of a tour of duty, is involved with a Filipina, Lisa Velasquez (Nannette Medved), a representative of the mayor
's office in nearby Olongapo City
. Lisa has to deal with the economic crisis
that the base's closing will bring to her community, as well as her own personal problems brought on by Hawk's imminent departure and the strained relationship of her mother, Anna (Daria Ramirez), and stepfather, Ed (James Brolin
).
Paul Bladon (Alexis Arquette
), another Navy Seal at the Subic Bay base, is the son of a U.S. Senator (Michael York
), who will be visiting Subic Bay for the base's closing ceremonies. Senator Bladon is bringing along Paul's American girlfriend Angela (Maureen Flannigan
), though Paul has fallen in love with a Filipina, Emma (Alma Concepcion), a former prostitute who now plans to marry Paul. The third Navy Seal, John Stryzack (Corin Nemec
), is furious over what he sees as America's betrayal
of its responsibilities in the Philippines; he winds up behind bars after a violent incident, but he plans to escape to assassinate Senator Bladon, whom he believes is responsible for the closing of the base.
1997 in film
-Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*...
drama film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
that examines how the closing of the U.S. naval base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
at Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
affected the local Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
community and the Americans who had served there. Goodbye America is a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Philippine co-production, and was directed by Thierry Notz.
Plot
As the U.S. Subic Bay naval base's operations slowly wind down and naval manpower begins to dwindle, Commander Hamilton (Wolfgang Bodison) relies on three U.S. Navy Seals to help keep the base secure. William Hawk (John Haymes NewtonJohn Haymes Newton
John Newton is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his regular roles on the television programs Superboy as Clark Kent in the show's first season and as Ryan McBride on the original Melrose Place.-Career:...
), a longtime American sailor nearing the end of a tour of duty, is involved with a Filipina, Lisa Velasquez (Nannette Medved), a representative of the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
's office in nearby Olongapo City
Olongapo City
The City of Olongapo is a highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 227,270 people in 50,300 households.-History:...
. Lisa has to deal with the economic crisis
Crisis
A crisis is any event that is, or expected to lead to, an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, community or whole society...
that the base's closing will bring to her community, as well as her own personal problems brought on by Hawk's imminent departure and the strained relationship of her mother, Anna (Daria Ramirez), and stepfather, Ed (James Brolin
James Brolin
James Brolin is an American actor, producer and director, best known for his roles in soap operas, movies, sitcoms, and television. He is the father of actor Josh Brolin and husband of singer/actress Barbra Streisand.-Early life:...
).
Paul Bladon (Alexis Arquette
Alexis Arquette
Alexis Arquette is an American trans woman, actress, musician, and cabaret performer.-Early life:...
), another Navy Seal at the Subic Bay base, is the son of a U.S. Senator (Michael York
Michael York (actor)
Michael York, OBE is an English actor.-Early life:York was born in Fulmer, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the son of Florence Edith May , a musician; and Joseph Gwynne Johnson, a Llandovery born Welsh ex-Royal Artillery British Army officer and executive with Marks and Spencer department stores...
), who will be visiting Subic Bay for the base's closing ceremonies. Senator Bladon is bringing along Paul's American girlfriend Angela (Maureen Flannigan
Maureen Flannigan
Maureen Osborne Flannagan , credited as Maureen Flannigan, is an American actress noted for her role as teenager Evie Ethel Garland TV sitcom Out of This World, which ran from 1987 to 1991 and also starred Donna Pescow. She began acting professionally in 1985.-Personal:She attended the University...
), though Paul has fallen in love with a Filipina, Emma (Alma Concepcion), a former prostitute who now plans to marry Paul. The third Navy Seal, John Stryzack (Corin Nemec
Corin Nemec
Corin "Corky" Nemec is an American actor. Nemec is known for playing the title character on Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Jonas Quinn on Stargate SG-1, and Harold Lauder in the ABC miniseries The Stand.-Personal life:Nemec's mother was a graphic artist as well as a painter, writer and poet...
), is furious over what he sees as America's betrayal
Betrayal
Betrayal is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations...
of its responsibilities in the Philippines; he winds up behind bars after a violent incident, but he plans to escape to assassinate Senator Bladon, whom he believes is responsible for the closing of the base.
Cast and characters
- Alexis ArquetteAlexis ArquetteAlexis Arquette is an American trans woman, actress, musician, and cabaret performer.-Early life:...
(Paul Bladen) - Alma Concepcion (Emma Salazar)
- Angel Aquino (Maria)
- Corin NemecCorin NemecCorin "Corky" Nemec is an American actor. Nemec is known for playing the title character on Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Jonas Quinn on Stargate SG-1, and Harold Lauder in the ABC miniseries The Stand.-Personal life:Nemec's mother was a graphic artist as well as a painter, writer and poet...
(John Stryzack) - James BrolinJames BrolinJames Brolin is an American actor, producer and director, best known for his roles in soap operas, movies, sitcoms, and television. He is the father of actor Josh Brolin and husband of singer/actress Barbra Streisand.-Early life:...
(Ed Johnson) - John Haymes NewtonJohn Haymes NewtonJohn Newton is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his regular roles on the television programs Superboy as Clark Kent in the show's first season and as Ryan McBride on the original Melrose Place.-Career:...
(William Hawk) - Maureen FlanniganMaureen FlanniganMaureen Osborne Flannagan , credited as Maureen Flannigan, is an American actress noted for her role as teenager Evie Ethel Garland TV sitcom Out of This World, which ran from 1987 to 1991 and also starred Donna Pescow. She began acting professionally in 1985.-Personal:She attended the University...
(Angela) - Michael J. Sarna (Large Sailor)
- Michael YorkMichael York (actor)Michael York, OBE is an English actor.-Early life:York was born in Fulmer, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the son of Florence Edith May , a musician; and Joseph Gwynne Johnson, a Llandovery born Welsh ex-Royal Artillery British Army officer and executive with Marks and Spencer department stores...
(Senator Bladon) - Nanette Medved (Lisa)
- Daria Ramirez (Anna)
- Rae Dawn ChongRae Dawn ChongRae Dawn Chong is a Canadian-American actress.-Life and career:Chong was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the daughter of Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong. She and her sister Robbi were raised by her grandmother, Tommy Chong's mother. Chong's father is of Chinese and Scottish-Irish ancestry and her...
(Danzig) - Wolfgang Bodison (Jack Hamilton)
Production credits
- Malou N. Santos - executive producer
- Charo Santos-Concio - executive producer
- Thierry Notz – director
- Michael D. Sellers – producer and screenwriter
- Pamela Vlastas - co-producer
- Trina Dayrit - co-producer
- Roy HayRoy HayRoy Hay is the guitarist/keyboardist with Culture Club, one of the more popular bands of the 1980s, fronted by Boy George. Hay, a trained pianist since the age of five under the tutelage of Ms Eileen Chick, replaced founding member Johnny Suede in 1981...
- composer (music score) - William Pleras - production designer
- Dan Reardon - line producer
- Robin Ray – casting
- Lorna Gordon - casting
- Ed Mitchell - casting
- Brent Shoenfield - editor
- Sharon Meir - cinematographer
- Ed Rue – sound and sound designer
- Robert Couttie - screenwriter
- Ricardo Lee - screenwriter
- Fred Bailey – screenwriter
- Kenneth De Leon - line producer
- Michael J. Sarna - second unit director