The Walking Dead (1995 film)
Encyclopedia
The Walking Dead is a 1995
war film
written and directed by Preston A. Whitmore II
starring Allen Payne, Joe Morton
and Eddie Griffin
. The film depicts the lives of five marines who are all assigned to rescue to a group of POWs during the Vietnam War
in 1972. It opened to poor reviews and low box office receipts. Previews billed it as "the black experience in Vietnam".
The box-office gross was over six million dollars.
, short-timer Marines are dispatched by helicopter to conduct their last mission: to evacuate the survivors from a POW camp abandoned by the Viet Cong. The landing zone
- which they expect to be cold - is actually hot (under fire) and after a short fight, only four members of the rescue mission survive. They cannot call for help, because their radio is destroyed in the firefight. The platoon they planned to meet the next day is wiped out, except for one psychotic, kill-happy white soldier, who joins them. Only two members of the company have combat experience (Private Hoover Branche (Eddie Griffin
) and Corporal Pippins (Roger Floyd). The surviving soldiers conclude that they are expendable decoys, and as they strive to honor their dangerous assignment, scenes of the Marines' military experiences and their interactions with each other are interspersed with scenes of their civilian lives and (in some cases, ironic) reasons for enlisting, told via flashbacks.
. It consists mostly of Motown hits from the 1960s and 1970s, but also includes three newly recorded hip-hop songs exclusive to the soundtrack. The soundtrack failed to make it to the Billboard charts, but Scarface
's "Among the Walking Dead
" was a minor hit on the R&B and rap charts.
1995 in film
-Top grossing films:-Events:* March 22 - The Dogme 95 movement is officially announced in Paris by Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg.* March 28 - Actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett announce their plans for separation....
war film
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
written and directed by Preston A. Whitmore II
Preston A. Whitmore II
Preston Alexander Whitmore II is a US screenwriter, producer, and director. Preston is best known for his 2007 comedy-drama This Christmas. The film garnered Preston an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Directing in 2008.- Filmography :...
starring Allen Payne, Joe Morton
Joe Morton
Joseph Thomas "Joe" Morton, Jr. is an American stage, television, and film actor.-Early life:Morton was born in The Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York. He is the son of Evelyn, a secretary, and Joseph Thomas Morton, Sr., a U.S. army intelligence officer. Because of his father's...
and Eddie Griffin
Eddie Griffin
Edward James "Eddie" Griffin, Jr. is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his sitcom, Malcolm & Eddie along with co-star, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and his role in the 2002 comedy film Undercover Brother as the film’s title character.-Early life:Griffin was born in Kansas City,...
. The film depicts the lives of five marines who are all assigned to rescue to a group of POWs during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in 1972. It opened to poor reviews and low box office receipts. Previews billed it as "the black experience in Vietnam".
The box-office gross was over six million dollars.
Plot
In 1972 North VietnamNorth Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
, short-timer Marines are dispatched by helicopter to conduct their last mission: to evacuate the survivors from a POW camp abandoned by the Viet Cong. The landing zone
Landing Zone
A Landing Zone or "LZ" is a military term for any area where an aircraft can land.In the United States military, a landing zone is the actual point where aircraft land...
- which they expect to be cold - is actually hot (under fire) and after a short fight, only four members of the rescue mission survive. They cannot call for help, because their radio is destroyed in the firefight. The platoon they planned to meet the next day is wiped out, except for one psychotic, kill-happy white soldier, who joins them. Only two members of the company have combat experience (Private Hoover Branche (Eddie Griffin
Eddie Griffin
Edward James "Eddie" Griffin, Jr. is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his sitcom, Malcolm & Eddie along with co-star, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and his role in the 2002 comedy film Undercover Brother as the film’s title character.-Early life:Griffin was born in Kansas City,...
) and Corporal Pippins (Roger Floyd). The surviving soldiers conclude that they are expendable decoys, and as they strive to honor their dangerous assignment, scenes of the Marines' military experiences and their interactions with each other are interspersed with scenes of their civilian lives and (in some cases, ironic) reasons for enlisting, told via flashbacks.
Cast
- Allen Payne as Cole Evans
- Eddie GriffinEddie GriffinEdward James "Eddie" Griffin, Jr. is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his sitcom, Malcolm & Eddie along with co-star, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and his role in the 2002 comedy film Undercover Brother as the film’s title character.-Early life:Griffin was born in Kansas City,...
as Pvt. Hoover Brache - Joe MortonJoe MortonJoseph Thomas "Joe" Morton, Jr. is an American stage, television, and film actor.-Early life:Morton was born in The Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York. He is the son of Evelyn, a secretary, and Joseph Thomas Morton, Sr., a U.S. army intelligence officer. Because of his father's...
as Sgt. Barkley - Vonte Sweet as Pfc. Joe Brooks
- Roger Floyd as Cpl. Pippins
- Bernie MacBernie MacBernard Jeffrey McCullough , better known by his stage name, Bernie Mac, was an American actor and comedian. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L...
as Ray - Ion OvermanIon Overman-Life and career:Overman and made her acting debut in the 1995 movie The Walking Dead. In 2000, she was cast as Gabriela Garza in the daytime soap opera General Hospital, a character who also appeared in the General Hospital spinoff Port Charles...
as Shirley Evans - Kyley Jackman as Sandra Evans
- Jean-Claude La MarreJean-Claude La MarreJean-Claude La Marre is a Haitian-American writer, director, and film and television actor. His film credits include Malcolm X, Dead Presidents, Gang of Roses and Go For Broke. On television, he has guest-starred on New York Undercover, Law & Order, and NYPD Blue...
as Pvt. Earl Anderson (as Jean LaMarre) - Lena Sang as Barbra Jean
- Wendy Raquel RobinsonWendy Raquel RobinsonWendy Raquel Robinson is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as high school principal Regina Grier on the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as sports agent Tasha Mack on the CW/BET comedy-drama The Game....
as Celeste - Dana Point as Edna
- Doil Williams as Harold
- Damon JonesDamon JonesDamon Darron Jones is an American professional basketball player. A 6'3" point guard–shooting guard, he played college basketball for three years with the University of Houston Cougars before declaring early for the 1997 NBA Draft, but he went undrafted.-High school career:Jones played for...
as 2nd Lt. Duffy - Kevin JacksonKevin JacksonKevin Andre Jackson is the head wrestling coach at Iowa State University, having been hired in 2009 when Cael Sanderson quit the post and moved to Penn State University...
as Deuce
Soundtrack
The soundtrack album for the film was released on March 7, 1995 by Motown RecordsMotown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
. It consists mostly of Motown hits from the 1960s and 1970s, but also includes three newly recorded hip-hop songs exclusive to the soundtrack. The soundtrack failed to make it to the Billboard charts, but Scarface
Scarface (rapper)
Brad Terrence Jordan , better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, and recording artist from Houston, Texas and a member of the Geto Boys. He is originally from South Park, Houston.-Life and career:...
's "Among the Walking Dead
Among the Walking Dead
"Among the Walking Dead" is a single by Scarface from Motown Records's Walking Dead soundtrack. Produced by N.O. Joe, "Among the Walking Dead" featured an uncredited guest appearance by Scarface's group, Facemob...
" was a minor hit on the R&B and rap charts.
Track listing
- "How I Wish"- 4:49 (Queen LatifahQueen LatifahDana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
) - "Smiling Faces SometimesSmiling Faces Sometimes"Smiling Faces Sometimes" is a soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label. The song was originally recorded by the Temptations in 1971. Producer Norman Whitfield had the song re-recorded by the Undisputed Truth the same year, resulting in a number-three Billboard...
"- 3:13 (The Undisputed TruthThe Undisputed TruthThe Undisputed Truth was a 1970s Motown recording act, assembled by record producer Norman Whitfield as a means for being able to experiment with his psychedelic soul production techniques...
) - "What's Going OnWhat's Going On (song)"What's Going On" is a song written by Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Al Cleveland, and Marvin Gaye. It was the title track of Gaye's groundbreaking 1971 Motown album What's Going On, and it became a crossover hit single that reached #2 on the pop charts and #1 on the R&B charts...
"- 3:52 (Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
) - "Ooo Baby BabyOoo Baby Baby"Ooo Baby Baby" is a 1965 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla label, today considered the group's signature song. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the song #262 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time....
"- 2:43 (The MiraclesThe MiraclesThe Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
) - "The Tracks of My TearsThe Tracks of My Tears"The Tracks of My Tears" is a much recorded love ballad introduced in 1965 by The Miracles on Motown's' Tamla label. This song is considered to be among the finest recordings of The Miracles, and it sold over one million records within two years, making it The Miracles' fourth million-selling...
"- 3:01 (The Miracles) - "Cloud NineCloud Nine (The Temptations song)"Cloud Nine" is a 1968 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Motown label. It was the first of their singles to feature Dennis Edwards instead of David Ruffin in the lineup, was the first of producer Norman Whitfield's psychedelic soul tracks, and won Motown its first Grammy Award...
"- 3:36 (The TemptationsThe TemptationsThe Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
) - "Get Ready"- 2:47 (The Temptations)
- "I Heard It Through the GrapevineI Heard It through the Grapevine"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a landmark song in the history of Motown. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, the single was first recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles...
"- 5:53 (Marvin Gaye) - "War"- 3:26 (Edwin StarrEdwin StarrEdwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
) - "Among the Walking DeadAmong the Walking Dead"Among the Walking Dead" is a single by Scarface from Motown Records's Walking Dead soundtrack. Produced by N.O. Joe, "Among the Walking Dead" featured an uncredited guest appearance by Scarface's group, Facemob...
"- 3:39 (ScarfaceScarface (rapper)Brad Terrence Jordan , better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, and recording artist from Houston, Texas and a member of the Geto Boys. He is originally from South Park, Houston.-Life and career:...
) - "Conflict"- 4:33 (Whitehead Bros. and Big RubeBig RubeBig Rube is an American rapper and hip-hop producer. He is a first generation member of the Dungeon Family & Society of Soul. He is known for his spoken word intros and interludes for many of the Dungeon Family’s albums including Bubba Sparxxx, Goodie Mob, OutKast, & Witchdoctor...
)
External links
See also
- Wallace TerryWallace TerryWallace Houston Terry, II was an African American journalist and oral historian, best known for his book about black soldiers in Vietnam, Bloods: An Oral History of the Vietnam War , the first chapter of which served as a basis for the 1995 crime thriller Dead Presidents.Terry had a wide-ranging...
, who wrote award-winning, true-life accounts of African American soldiers who served in Vietnam