Directed by Ivan Reitman, Stripes is a military comedy
starring Bill Murray and Harold Ramis. Murray plays John Winger, a
slacker cab driver who, in a single disastrous day, loses his job, his
apartment, his car, and his girlfriend. With nothing left to lose, he
convinces his best friend Russell Ziskey (Ramis) to enlist in the U.S.
Army with him.
The two bumbling recruits endure basic training under the gruff
Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates) alongside a ragtag platoon that includes
the lovable giant Ox (John Candy). When Hulka is sidelined by an
injury, Winger rallies his misfit platoon to complete their training
and graduate.
The unit is then stationed in Europe, where Winger and his friends
accidentally drive a top-secret military vehicle - the EM-50 Urban
Assault Vehicle, cleverly disguised as a Winnebago - into
Soviet-controlled Czechoslovakia, triggering a chaotic international
incident. Winger ultimately leads a daring rescue of captured soldiers
and is hailed as a hero.
5 Behind-the-Scenes
Production Facts
1. It Was
Originally Written for Cheech and Chong
Director Ivan Reitman conceived the idea en route to the premiere of
Meatballs, pitching it as "Cheech and Chong join the
army." The comedy duo's manager loved the script, but Cheech and
Chong demanded complete creative control - leading Reitman to rewrite
the leads for Bill Murray and Harold Ramis. (Source: Wikipedia)
2.
The Department of Defense Negotiated Script Changes
Reitman, Goldberg, and Ramis engaged in a detailed negotiation with
the Department of Defense to make the film supportive of military
recruitment. In exchange, the production received subsidies including
free labor and access to locations and equipment, and script rewrites
requested by the DoD were granted. (Source: Wikipedia)
3.
It Was Filmed at Real Military Locations on a Tight Budget
Filming began in Kentucky in November 1980 and wrapped in January
1981. The production shot army scenes at Fort Knox, city scenes in
Louisville, and the "Czechoslovakia" scenes at the closed
Chapeze Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky - all on a budget of just
$9-10 million over a 42-day schedule. (Source: Wikipedia)
4. A SAG Strike Delayed Production
According to an August 1980 Los Angeles Times report, a
Screen Actors Guild strike postponed the original start date for
filming. (Source: AFI Catalog)
5. The Film Was a
Massive Box Office Hit
Stripes became the most successful summer release in Columbia
Pictures' history at the time, grossing close to $72 million in under
11 weeks and ultimately earning over $84 million domestically - making
it the fifth highest-grossing film of 1981. (Source: AFI Catalog)
Directed by Ivan Reitman, Stripes is a military comedy starring Bill Murray and Harold Ramis. Murray plays John Winger, a slacker cab driver who, in a single disastrous day, loses his job, his apartment, his car, and his girlfriend. With nothing left to lose, he convinces his best friend Russell Ziskey (Ramis) to enlist in the U.S. Army with him.
The two bumbling recruits endure basic training under the gruff Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates) alongside a ragtag platoon that includes the lovable giant Ox (John Candy). When Hulka is sidelined by an injury, Winger rallies his misfit platoon to complete their training and graduate.
The unit is then stationed in Europe, where Winger and his friends accidentally drive a top-secret military vehicle - the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle, cleverly disguised as a Winnebago - into Soviet-controlled Czechoslovakia, triggering a chaotic international incident. Winger ultimately leads a daring rescue of captured soldiers and is hailed as a hero.
5 Behind-the-Scenes Production Facts
1. It Was Originally Written for Cheech and Chong
Director Ivan Reitman conceived the idea en route to the premiere of Meatballs, pitching it as "Cheech and Chong join the army." The comedy duo's manager loved the script, but Cheech and Chong demanded complete creative control - leading Reitman to rewrite the leads for Bill Murray and Harold Ramis. (Source: Wikipedia)
2. The Department of Defense Negotiated Script Changes
Reitman, Goldberg, and Ramis engaged in a detailed negotiation with the Department of Defense to make the film supportive of military recruitment. In exchange, the production received subsidies including free labor and access to locations and equipment, and script rewrites requested by the DoD were granted. (Source: Wikipedia)
3. It Was Filmed at Real Military Locations on a Tight Budget
Filming began in Kentucky in November 1980 and wrapped in January 1981. The production shot army scenes at Fort Knox, city scenes in Louisville, and the "Czechoslovakia" scenes at the closed Chapeze Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky - all on a budget of just $9-10 million over a 42-day schedule. (Source: Wikipedia)
4. A SAG Strike Delayed Production
According to an August 1980 Los Angeles Times report, a Screen Actors Guild strike postponed the original start date for filming. (Source: AFI Catalog)
5. The Film Was a Massive Box Office Hit
Stripes became the most successful summer release in Columbia Pictures' history at the time, grossing close to $72 million in under 11 weeks and ultimately earning over $84 million domestically - making it the fifth highest-grossing film of 1981. (Source: AFI Catalog)
Sources: Wikipedia - Stripes (film) | AFI Catalog