Thread by @forallbirdsongs

🪡 🎥 #Platoon1986 — 1st Hollywood film to be written & directed by a Vietnam War veteran— #OliverStone
Platoon received critical acclaim for Stone's screenplay, cinematography & battle authenticity— some facts, clips about the harsh training & filming experience.

Every actor was required to complete a rigorous 2-3 week basic training program in the Philippines under the direction of military advisor Dale Dye. Oliver Stone—an actual former Vietnam veteran— demanded that the actors behaved like a real « #Platoon ».

Everyone on set started to despise Stone— apparently, this was Stone's goal—to subject the cast— as best as he could— to the horrors of war & obtain the most genuine performance.

#JohnnyDepp remembers being so terrified by Stone's demeanor & exhausted—during one especially tense scene—that he almost threw up. Nonetheless, Stone insisted on multiple takes.

#OliverStone considered casting #JohnnyDepp for the lead role— however felt he was too young & unknown but said that Depp would someday become a “huge star”. Depp stated that when he left for filming—at the age of 22— it was the 1st time he traveled outside of the US.

Several of the actors wrote messages/names on their helmets during filming. #JohnnyDepp's helmet just said "Sherilyn," a tribute to his relationship with #SherilynFenn at the time. Charlie Sheens read, "When I die, bury me upside-down, so the world can kiss my
ass."

The initial draft was written in 1971, and he gave it to #JimMorrison in the hopes that he would take the role that Charlie Sheen would eventually portray. Morrison apparently had the script with him when he was found dead in Paris.

The picture was almost entirely shot in order. The actors went back home as soon as their parts were filmed respectively their character had died. Given that he was finally able to go home, most of the emotion Charlie Sheen displays— in the final helicopter scene— was genuine.