An Officer and a Gentleman

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An Officer and a Gentleman

R

1982

2h 5m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Zack Mayo (Richard Gere), a new member of the U.S. Navy, has a bad attitude. When he signs up for the Aviation Academy, he is met with the strict leadership of Sgt. Emil Foley (Louis Gossett Jr.), who gives Zack a rude awakening in terms of relating with other people. Through Foley's guidance -- and an unexpected romance with Paula (Debra Winger), an outsider who hangs around the naval base -- Zack learns some tough lessons and discovers what he truly wants out of life.

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Critics Consensus

Old-fashioned without sacrificing its characters to simplicity, An Officer and a Gentleman successfully walks the fine line between sweeping romance and melodrama.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

07/31/2013

It is full of bang-on melodramatics and simple, romanticized characters with carefully supplied motivations.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

07/31/2013

Taylor Hackford's 1982 film is an awesomely, stiflingly professional piece of work, with a fleet, superficial visual style, perfectly placed climaxes, and a screenplay that doesn't waste a single character or situation.

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Variety Staff

Variety

07/06/2010

Rarely does a film come along with so many finely-drawn characters to care about.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Jul 28

3.5/4

...familiar subject matter that’s employed to increasingly absorbing effect by Hackford...

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

04/12/2024

3.5/4

A vastly entertaining picture.

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Zita Short

InSession Film

02/01/2023

The whole film feels a little too loose and easy breezy. There is too little at stake here. The cheesy theme song and sweaty sex scene convince you that this is going to serve as a piece of fantasy fulfilment, but it forgets to set up meaningful stakes.

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Ben W

04/10/2024

Pretty good movie. I see why it’s a classic. Not necessarily my favorite, but good.

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alan G

@agenser Aug 26

One of the best romance movies of all time. If any movie deservrd a sequel this was it. Great story great acting great sound track.

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Max W

@MaxthorWoo May 23

In the early stages of Richard Gere's acting career, An Officer and a Gentleman tells a compelling story and successfully portrays several memorable characters.

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Vincent S

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies May 6

This emotional, powerhouse love story gets better with every viewing. It is my favorite human love story of all time. The screenplay by Douglas Day Stewart should be studied by screenwriting students, its deep and perfect. Richard Gere's performance is his best and very undervalued and deep. Debra Winger is effectively amazing and Louis Gossett Jr, deserved his Oscar tenfold. Do not forget the wonderful, perfect ending and the great performance by David Keith. This classic has deep feelings and power and that ending!

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J H

@JLHIII May 5

Very well written and acted. Louis Gossett Jr at his best. Also good performance by Debta Winger and Richard Gere. Still relevant today.

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Ed B.

@EdLee Apr 19

An Officer and a Gentleman, is one of those movies that was a sleeper hit. I was an assistant manager of movie theater when this was released. I recall it did mediocre business first week. But after a while popularity started skyrocketing. Pre internet. Word of mouth helped this in making it a hot movie imho. Great story, great acting. Overall a really good movie.

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Taylor Hackford

Director

Richard Gere

Zack Mayo

Debra Winger

Paula Pokrifki

Louis Gossett Jr.

Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley

David Keith

Sid Worley

Robert Loggia

Byron Mayo

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Synopsis

Zack Mayo (Richard Gere), a new member of the U.S. Navy, has a bad attitude. When he signs up for the Aviation Academy, he is met with the strict leadership of Sgt. Emil Foley (Louis Gossett Jr.), who gives Zack a rude awakening in terms of relating with other people. Through Foley's guidance -- and an unexpected romance with Paula (Debra Winger), an outsider who hangs around the naval base -- Zack learns some tough lessons and discovers what he truly wants out of life.

Director: Taylor Hackford
Producer: Martin Elfand
Screenwriter: Douglas Day Stewart
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 28, 1982, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 11, 2011
Runtime: 2h 5m

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