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Charlie Sheen excepted the role of Taylor after his brother Emilio Estevez turned dow n the part. Chalie had experienced the jungles of the Philippines, where the movie was filmed, when he stayed there with his father during the making of Apocalypse Now.
Sgt. Barnes was based directly on the sergeant Oliver Stone served under during the war. The scar Berenger wears was applied daily.
The 30 actor crew of Bravo Company went through a thirteen day training of their own. Dale Dye, a 42 year old former Marine captain, oversaw this harsh training that took place in 100 degree temperatures and high humidity. The actors hauled M-16 rifles and 60 pound backpacks. This training made the actors "grunts". "We didn't even have to act. We were there." says Berenger.
Stone was just like Taylor. He came from a middle-class family and dropped out of college before enlisting. "My first day in Vietnam," Stone recalls, "I realized, like Chris in Platoon, that I'd made a terrible mistake. It was on-the-job training: "Here's your machete, kid:you cut point. Nobody was motivated, except to get out. Survival was the key. It wasn't very romantic."
The shooting by Taylor at a one legged man to make him dance, saving the Vietnamese girl from sexual attack, and the fright by Taylor when facing the enemy on his first-ever night patrol, are all events also based on Stone's time in Vietnam.
The finale was also based on a battle that Stone took place in on New Year's Day just outside Cambodia.
Stone also briefly appears in the movie in an uncredited role during the New Year's Day attack. He portrays an officer in the bunker that was destroyed by a Vietnames soldier's suicide attack. (1 hour 43 minutes)
Platoon was #2 on Variety's list of 1987's top box office hits.
Not only did Platoon win Best Picture of 1986 from the Academy Awards, but also from the Golden Globes, British Academy Awards, and the Independent Spirit Awards.
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