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The war genre of cinema is hardly anything new; it takes little time for the average person to hear the term “war film” and immediately recall “Saving Private Ryan”, “Apocalypse Now”, or one of the many other countless examples of works that fit in this particular genre. Less talked about, however, are films that examine post-war life and how those who have been to war come back to their lives before combat and how those experiences affect what should be a return to normality. Although not as popular as traditional war films, there are nonetheless a handful of quality films that tackle this subject matter, one that includes the 1946 Best Picture winner “The Best Days of Our Lives”, the Sylvester Stallone vehicle “First Blood”, and the subject of today’s discussion, “Citizen Soldier”.
The film revolves around Danny Parker, a young veteran who has returned to the United States following the end of the Vietnam War. Although his experiences have left Danny with a case of amnesia, he is released from the Veteran’s Administration hospital and left to ponder what he is to do with his life now that his military service has ended. While waiting at a bus stop, he meets and befriends a young woman with dreams of becoming a famous entertainer, and the two decide to become travel partners. What follows is a journey up the coast of California that is guaranteed to change the lives of these two young people forever.
It takes a certain kind of talent to play the characters around which this narrative revolves, and thankfully, these two leads could have been given more perfect casting. Playing the central protagonist Danny Parker is long-time actor Dean Stockwell, who has made appearances in a variety of films and television shows over the span of his decades-long career, even earning an Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance as Anthony “Tony the Tiger” Russo in Jonathan Demme’s 1988 comedy “Married to the Mob”. Opposite Stockwell as the film’s female lead is Toni Basil, who is well known for appearing in several films directed by legendary actor/director Dennis Hopper, most notably his 1969 classic “Easy Rider”. However, it’s outside acting for which Basil is best known, as she is the singer for the 1981 classic song “Mickey”, and has most recently assisted Quentin Tarantino as a choreographer for his 2019 film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”.
Although their most iconic work may lie elsewhere, one mustn’t underestimate how well Stockwell and Basil work when acting alongside one another, and “Citizen Soldier” is genuine proof of how the interaction of these two talents can lead to fantastic results. Thanks to these strong performances, the film is able to make this realistic look at life on the road following one’s time at war something that is both engaging and easy to relate to. Those curious to see how can find the film here and experience the film in all its down-to-earth glory.
