Go Tell the Spartans

R

Released Sep 1, 1978

1 hr. 54 min.

War

History

Drama

List

67%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

The veteran major (Burt Lancaster) in charge of a U.S. advisory group follows futile orders to their tragic end in 1964.

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Steve D

Solid war film with good cast.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/20/24

Full Review

Nol P

I tried hard to watch, I tried hard to keep my attention up but this 1978 movie is just not interesting enough! Acting is just ok and story is just ok! Had one good funny full scene though with Singer and Lancaster and his explaining on his non gentlemanlike behavior that kept him at the major rank all these yrs. 2 of 5 stars at best I can give this! Onto something much more lively!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/02/24

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Alan D

There is no movie of the Vietnam war as authentic as this.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best Vietnam War movie, shot on a budget, with Burt Lancaster in one of his greatest roles. No sentimentalism here, just hardnosed, grim reality about the beginnings of our terrible adventure in Vietnam. A cult film, it has been re-released over the years, but is not yet easily available streaming, which is a shame.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It brought back the sad experience of the Vietnam War in a realistic manner. The film shows that this was not a winnable war back in the early adviser days. A good analogy was a grave yard that was made up of former French solders killed in the location of the battle in the film. .

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Focussing on realism and cohesion between actors, it's a solid cheap film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

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Ted Post

Director

Burt Lancaster

Maj. Asa Barker

Craig Wasson

Cpl. Courcey

Jonathan Goldsmith

Sgt. Oleonowski

Marc Singer

Capt. Olivetti

Joe Unger

Lt. Hamilton

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

[Go Tell the Spartans] contains a lot of statements that are meant to be prophetic in hindsight. It also considers the war in terms of countless earlier movies about earlier wars.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The big two Vietnam War flicks in 1978 were The Deer Hunter and Coming Home, which between them won eight Oscars (including Best Picture for Deer) -- less ballyhooed yet also deserving of attention were The Boys in Company C and Go Tell the Spartans.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 27, 2023

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Richard Freedman

Newhouse News Service

Go Tell the Spartans is the best movie so far lo come out of the Vietnam war. It is only 14 years too late.

Nov 5, 2019

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

A competent war film, to be sure, but there's no directorial commitment, no vision.

Rated: C

Apr 9, 2007

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 4, 2005

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

This is a solid and memorable film about American military involvement in Vietnam.

Jan 24, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

The veteran major (Burt Lancaster) in charge of a U.S. advisory group follows futile orders to their tragic end in 1964.

Director: Ted Post
Executive Producer: Michael F. Leone
Screenwriter: Daniel Ford, Wendell Mayes
Distributor: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Production Co: Mar Vista Productions, Spartan Productions Inc.
Rating: R
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 1, 1978, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Aug 30, 2005
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)