An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
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A determined Navy candidate faces the rigors of training and the complexities of love while navigating a demanding military environment.
The story
Zack Mayo, a United States Navy Aviation Officer Candidate, begins his rigorous training at Aviation Officer Candidate School. While he finds a connection with Paula, a local woman, he must also contend with the intense and demanding instruction of Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley. As Zack navigates the physical and mental challenges of the program, he must decide what he is willing to sacrifice to achieve his dream of becoming a jet pilot while managing the complications of his burgeoning relationship with Paula.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After his mother's suicide, Zack Mayo joins the Navy to become a jet pilot. At Aviation Officer Candidate School, he is mentored by the strict Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley. Zack begins a relationship with Paula, a local woman, while his classmate Sid faces personal turmoil. Zack is caught with contraband and faces harsh discipline from Foley. During the final stages of training, Zack shows leadership by helping a classmate, while Paula's family remains skeptical of their relationship. Following a series of trials, including a high-altitude simulation and a tragic accident involving Sid, Zack faces a final confrontation with Foley. After a physical and mental test of his resolve, Zack is commissioned as an officer. The film concludes with Zack reuniting with Paula in a public display of their commitment.
- First release year
- 1982
- Runtime (minutes)
- 124
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Taylor Hackford
- Writers
- Douglas Day Stewart · writer
- Cast and characters
- Richard Gere · Zack Mayo; Debra Winger · Paula; David Keith; Louis Gossett Jr. · Emil Foley
- Genres
- romantic drama
- Themes
- military discipline; romance; sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- melodramatic; romantic
- Premise and plot tags
- military; romance; coming-of-age
- Source material / true-story basis
- Douglas Day Stewart's own experiences as a Naval Aviation Officer Candidate.
- Content notes
- nudity; foul language
- Reception
- The film was well received by critics and was a financial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1982.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 79% · scale: percentage · review count: 34; Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Supporting Actor · win; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · win; Academy Award · Best Actress · nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · nomination; Academy Award · Best Film Editing · nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Score · nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Song · win
- Production trivia
- The film was a financial success, grossing $190 million on a $6–7 million budget.; The song 'Up Where We Belong' became the number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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