Gardens of Stone

R

1987

1h 52m

Drama

List

44%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

56%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

Grizzled war veteran Sgt. Clell Hazard (James Caan) is disheartened when he is stationed as a guard in Arlington National Cemetery instead of an instructor of new recruits during the Vietnam War. When eager Pvt. Jackie Willow (D.B. Sweeney) is stationed under Hazard, the vet aims to educate the youth about war. Along with his old friend, Sgt. Maj. Goody Nelson (James Earl Jones), Hazard does his best to school Willow before he is deployed to Vietnam -- but both know that it may not be enough.

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Henry Sheehan

Chicago Reader

Bereft of that core, Gardens of Stone drifts off into decoration that’s intricate and highly accomplished, but strictly ornamental...

Rated: 2/4

May 10, 2022

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Seems to take its name not so much from the Arlington Memorial Cemetery, where much of the action takes place, but from the stiffness of the characters it portrays.

Dec 11, 2007

Full Review

Time Out

There's a pervasive and worrying sense of the central issues being gently but undeniably fudged.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Cathy Burke

United Press International

For want of a timeless message on the horrors of war, Coppola does indeed tell a compelling story of one man's battle on the homefront. Caan gives a stunning performance after a five-year absence from the movie screen.

Nov 8, 2016

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Subdued war drama on life on the home front during the Vietnam war.

Rated: B

May 20, 2012

Full Review

TV Guide

Unjustly underrated upon its release, Gardens of Stone is a quiet, respectful film filled with emotional power, exceptional acting (especially by Caan), and technical virtuosity.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 11, 2007

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Steve D

A lot of talent but little to show for it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/02/23

Full Review

Dale D

A dark and haunting movie about those that had to deal with the burial of America's battle dead. To me it was very thoughtful and realistic. I never understood why this movie was not reviewed better. One of James Caan's best roles in my opinion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/15/22

Full Review

Audience Member

The worst 01 hour: and 52 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It was the only movie I've ever walked out on in my life. It was dull and tedious.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

As a former service member, I am intrigued by the uniforms and how exact they were portrayed in this movie. Coppola is a real stickler for dress in his movies. I thought the movie was well done.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a GREAT film! Not top 100 all time, but worthy of seeing, if only for it is possibly the ONLY film to deal with the Vietnam War specifically, as opposed to a film set during the Vietnam War. Both Angelica Houston is and James Caan play wonderfully real characters who sharply portray the deep emotional, ethical, and personal struggles over Vietnam as felt by the people alive and in those situations at the time. Both LOVE, their country, their institutions, and the people used and destroyed by the conflict. I must see for all who wish to understand the conflict. Best Scene - Promotion! Coppola gets the "old Army" regardless of his Vietnam experience. JE Jones is the SNCO we all wish we had met.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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Francis Ford Coppola

Director

James Caan

Sgt. Clell Hazard

Anjelica Huston

Samantha Davis

James Earl Jones

Sgt. Maj."Goody"Nelson

D.B. Sweeney

Jackie Willow

Dean Stockwell

Capt. Homer Thomas

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Synopsis

Grizzled war veteran Sgt. Clell Hazard (James Caan) is disheartened when he is stationed as a guard in Arlington National Cemetery instead of an instructor of new recruits during the Vietnam War. When eager Pvt. Jackie Willow (D.B. Sweeney) is stationed under Hazard, the vet aims to educate the youth about war. Along with his old friend, Sgt. Maj. Goody Nelson (James Earl Jones), Hazard does his best to school Willow before he is deployed to Vietnam -- but both know that it may not be enough.

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Producer: Francis Ford Coppola, Michael I. Levy
Screenwriter: Ronald Bass
Production Co: ML Delphi Premier Productions, Zoetrope Studios, TriStar Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.4M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Surround

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