Tribes [The Soldier Who Declared Peace] **** (1970, Jan-Michael Vincent, Darren McGavin, Earl Holliman) – Classic Movie Review 6733

Director Joseph Sargent’s 1970 American TV movie Tribes was thought good enough to show in British cinemas, with its powerful tale of a grizzled US Marine Corps drill instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Tom Drake (Darren McGavin), taking on the maverick drafted hippie raw recruit Private Adrian (Jan-Michael Vincent).

Its limited theatrical release followed its huge viewing figures when first shown on TV in America. It won three Emmy awards: Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama – Original Teleplay, Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing and Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Mixing.

It is most persuasively done and very believably played, with the success based solidly on the Emmy-winning script by Tracy Keenan Wynn and Marvin Schwartz, as well as the young Vincent’s charismatic performance. It was a sign that a new star had been born in Jan-Michael Vincent, who started a run of roles as rebellious young men bucking the system in films like White Line Fever (1975) and Baby Blue Marine (1976).

Tribes is an unofficial remake of Jack Webb’s The D. I. (1957), written by James Lee Barrett.

Also in the cast are Earl Holliman as Master Sgt Frank DePayster, John Gruber as Quentin, Danny Goldman as Sidney, Richard Yniguez as Sanchez, Antone Curtis as Marcellus, Peter Hooten as Scrunch, David Buchanan as Armstrong and Ric Weaver as Morton.

The UK theatrical title is The Soldier Who Declared Peace.

Darren McGavin and Jan-Michael Vincent in Tribes (1970).

Tribes [The Soldier Who Declared Peace] is directed by Joseph Sargent, runs 90 minutes, is made by Marvin Schwartz Productions and 20th Century Fox Television, released by American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1970) (US) (TV) (original airing), originally as an ABC Movie of the Week, and by Twentieth Century Fox (1970) (US) (theatrical) and Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1970) (UK), written by Tracy Keenan Wynn and Marvin Schwartz, shot in Color by Deluxe by Russell Metty, produced by Marvin Schwartz, and scored by Al Cappe.

Surprisingly, the US Marine Corps approved of the movie. It is shot at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, San Diego, California.

Full Metal Jacket (1987) has similar scenes where new recruits get their heads shaven.

Darren McGavin had been medically disqualified for military service in World War Two while Jan-Michael Vincent had been in the California Army National Guard as a helicopter mechanic or Army Reserve for several years. Vincent is fondly remembered in The Mechanic (1972), Big Wednesday (1978) and White Line Fever (1975).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6733

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Jan-Michael Vincent plays a hippie raw recruit in Tribes.