Combat Academy

Last updated
Combat Academy
Combatacademy.jpg
Poster for Combat Academy
GenreComedy
Written byPaul W. Shapiro
Directed by Neal Israel
Starring Keith Gordon
Wally Ward
George Clooney
Robert Culp
Jamie Farr
Richard Moll
Theme music composer Robert Folk
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer Frank von Zerneck
Producer Robert M. Sertner
Production locationsKemper Military School - 701 Third Street, Boonville, Missouri
Liberty, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Cinematography Steve Yaconelli (as Steven Yaconelli)
Editors Tom Finan
Mike Hill
Running time96 min.
Production companies Frank von Zerneck Films
Lynch/Biller Productions
Original release
Network NBC
ReleaseNovember 23, 1986 (1986-11-23)

Combat Academy (also known as Combat High) is a 1986 American made-for-television comedy film directed by Neal Israel. The film also features (a then-unknown) George Clooney.

Contents

Synopsis

Best friends Max Mendelsson (Keith Gordon) and Perry Barnett (Wally Ward) are a pair of misfit high school teenagers who always cause trouble at school. After starting the first day with a large amount of destructive pranks, the duo are suspended from school. They later get themselves into more trouble when they intentionally misdirect several construction workers into drilling on the wrong area, ultimately causing roadside damage and getting themselves arrested by the police. For their mischief, the judge (Sherman Hemsley) sentences them to serve a year in Kirkland Military School to teach them discipline.

Upon arriving in military school, the duo meets Cadet Major Biff Woods (George Clooney), Cadet Captain Kevin (Kevin Haley), and Cadet Sergeant Andrea Pritchett (Dana Hill), who constantly punish Max for his bad conduct and behavior. Max finds the time in military school unbearable and vows to find a way to get himself out. During a war game, Perry meets a fellow cadet named Mary-Beth (Tina Caspary) and falls in love with her. Meanwhile, Max again sets up another series of destructive pranks in the military school, hoping to get himself removed from the school. However, the principal and Biff's father, General Ed Woods (Robert Culp), refuse to expel them, instead giving the two of them more punishments. Although Max is still unrepentant, Perry decides that he wants to straighten up his life and breaks off his friendship with Max.

Max eventually wins the friendship of other cadets by saving a drowning cadet and defending him from Biff, while Perry begin a budding romance with Mary-Beth. Meanwhile, cadets from a Soviet military school visits Kirkland and challenges them to a mock war game as part of their tour. During the welcome party, Biff steals a pocket watch from a Soviet guest. Max notices this and confronts Biff for his actions, but the two are caught by the General in front of everyone. Although Max tries to take the blame, Biff confesses to General Woods that he was the thief. He announces that he did this in revenge for his father, always praising him as a fine soldier but never regarding him as a son. Saddened by this, the general relieves him of his command for the upcoming mock war. Biff tries to drown his sorrows by drinking, but Max, who has reconciled with Perry, decides to set another plan to help Biff make up with his father.

The war game begins with Captain Kevin leading, and before he departs, Max gave him a stolen battle plan of the Soviet cadets. However, the Kirkland cadets were led into a trap and starts losing, and Kevin realizes Max tricked him. He resorts to cheating (continuing to fight despite being shot in-game) in order win by any means necessary. The other cadets, led by Max, bring a sleeping Biff to the battle, and asks him for leadership. Biff was initially reluctant to command this war, but Max encourages him to, and the group manage to successfully capture a group of Soviet cadets. Andrea meets up and joins them, then she and Max share a kiss. Elsewhere, Kevin manage to defeat the Soviets, who accuse them of cheating and a fight breaks out. Max intervenes to stop the fight, telling all of them that this is not a real war, and this mutual hostility between them is pointless. The two countries should not be seeing each other enemies, and neither should they. Max's actions win the friendship and respect of the Soviets, and General Woods is happy at how Biff completed this mock war with a peaceful end, acknowledging him as his son.

The film ends with Perry leaving with Mary-Beth for Thanksgiving holiday; Max claims that he has changed his old ways, and asks Perry to burn a box with his old prank notebook. However, the box is actually full of fireworks, which gets set off when the workers burn it in front of the school gate. Max laughs at his final prank while the fellow cadets cheer and applaud him.

Location

The movie was filmed at an actual military school, Kemper Military School and College of Boonville, Missouri, in 1986. Actual students and instructors served as extras and consultants during the shooting of the production.

Cast

ActorRole
Keith Gordon Maxwell "Max" Mendelsson
Wally Ward Percival "Perry" Barnett
George Clooney Cadet Major Biff Woods
Robert Culp General Edward "Ed" Woods
Jamie Farr Colonel Frierick
Richard Moll Colonel Felix Long Sr.
Dana Hill Cadet Sergeant Andrea Pritchett
Kevin HaleyCadet Capitan Kevin
Tina CasparyMary-Beth
Sherman Hemsley Judge Daley
Bernie Kopell Mr. Mendelsson
John Ratzenberger Mr. Barnett
Dick Van Patten Principal
Elya Baskin Interpreter
Danny Nucci Jai
David Ranyr Winston

Reception

Despite starring several popular actors such as Richard Moll and Jamie Farr, the film was both a commercial and critical failure. It was released on video cassette in the United States, and in the United Kingdom.

Related Research Articles

<i>Cadet Kelly</i> 2002 television film by Larry Shaw

Cadet Kelly is a 2002 American military comedy film released as a Disney Channel Original Movie and starring Hilary Duff and Christy Carlson Romano. The film premiered with 7.8 million viewers. It is Duff's second starring film role, her first being Casper Meets Wendy. This was Disney Channel's second film filmed in Canada.

<i>The Lords of Discipline</i> 1980 novel by Pat Conroy

The Lords of Discipline is a 1980 novel by Pat Conroy that was later adapted in a 1983 film of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Hodges</span> United States Army general (1887–1966)

General Courtney Hicks Hodges was a decorated senior officer in the United States Army who commanded First U.S. Army in the Western European Campaign of World War II. Hodges was a notable "mustang" officer, rising from private to general.

<i>Major Payne</i> 1995 American film

Major Payne is a 1995 American military comedy film directed by Nick Castle and starring Damon Wayans, who wrote with Dean Lorey and Gary Rosen. The film co-stars Karyn Parsons, Steven Martini, and Michael Ironside. It is a loose remake of the 1955 film The Private War of Major Benson, starring Charlton Heston. Major Payne was released in the United States on March 24 and grossed $30 million. Wayans plays a hardened military officer who, after being discharged, attempts to lead a dysfunctional group of youth cadets to victory in a competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Principal Skinner</span> Fictional character from The Simpsons franchise

Principal Seymour Skinner is a recurring fictional character in the animated sitcom The Simpsons, who is voiced by Harry Shearer. He is the principal of Springfield Elementary School, which he struggles to control, and is constantly engaged in a battle against its inadequate resources, apathetic and bitter teachers, and often rowdy and unenthusiastic students, Bart Simpson being a standout example.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aleksey Maresyev</span> Soviet World War II flying ace

Aleksey Petrovich Maresyev was a Soviet and Russian military pilot who became a Soviet fighter ace during World War II despite becoming a double amputee.

<i>Police Academy 3: Back in Training</i> 1986 film directed by Jerry Paris

Police Academy 3: Back in Training is a 1986 American comedy film directed by Jerry Paris. It is the third installment of the Police Academy franchise and the sequel to Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment.

<i>Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol</i> 1987 film by Jim Drake

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol is a 1987 American comedy film. It is the fourth installment in the Police Academy franchise. It was released on April 3, 1987 and is the sequel to Police Academy 3: Back in Training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biff Jones</span> American football player, coach, and administrator (1895–1980)

Lawrence McCeney "Biff" Jones was an American college football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as a head coach at the United States Military Academy, Louisiana State University (LSU), the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Nebraska, compiling a career coaching record of 87–33–15. Jones was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1954.

<i>The Private War of Major Benson</i> 1955 film by Jerry Hopper

The Private War of Major Benson is 1955 American military comedy film starring Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, Sal Mineo and Tim Hovey, about a tough-talking U.S. Army officer who must shape up the JROTC program at Sheridan Academy, a Catholic boys' military academy, or be forced out of the Army.

<i>Before the Fall</i> (2004 film) 2004 film

Before the Fall is a 2004 German drama film written and directed by Dennis Gansel. It is set in a National Political Institutes of Education or "NaPolA" school developed by the Nazi Germany government. The military academies were designed as preparatory schools for the future Nazi elite.

<i>The Men Who Stare at Goats</i> (film) 2009 film by Grant Heslov

The Men Who Stare at Goats is a 2009 satirical black comedy war film directed by Grant Heslov, adapted by Peter Straughan, and starring George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, and Kevin Spacey. It was produced by Clooney's and Heslov's production company Smokehouse Pictures. The film is a fictionalized version of Jon Ronson's 2004 book of the same title of an investigation into attempts by the U.S. military to employ psychic powers as a weapon — which, in turn, is a companion to a British miniseries Crazy Rulers of the World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biff Elliot</span> American actor (1923–2012)

Biff Elliot was an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as popular detective Mike Hammer in the 1953 version of I, the Jury and for his guest appearance as Schmitter in the Star Trek episode "The Devil in the Dark".

Puck (<i>Glee</i>) Fictional character from the Fox series Glee

Noah "Puck" Puckerman is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character was portrayed by Mark Salling, and appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009, to the series finale, broadcast on March 20, 2015. Puck was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. He is Finn's best friend and football teammate, who initially disapproves of Finn joining the New Directions glee club at the fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio, where the show is set, but he eventually joins it himself. In 2010, Salling was nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Breakout Star Male for his work as Puck, and in 2011 for the Choice TV: Scene Stealer Male category.

<i>Fury</i> (2001 series)

Fury is a 2001 six issue miniseries about Nick Fury written by Garth Ennis. The series was published under Marvel's MAX imprint and featured much harder violence and explicit material than was common at the time. This caused some controversy among fans and comic creators. The series takes place outside of main Marvel comics continuity and is interconnected with other series written by Garth Ennis under the Max imprint. It was followed by a prequel and a sequel.

<i>Movie 43</i> 2013 American anthology comedy film

Movie 43 is a 2013 American anthology comedy film conceived by producer Charles B. Wessler. Featuring fourteen different storylines, each by a different director, including Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundieff, James Duffy, Griffin Dunne, Patrik Forsberg, James Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Ratner, Will Graham, and Jonathan van Tulleken, the film stars an ensemble cast led by Banks, Kristen Bell, Halle Berry, Gerard Butler, Leslie Bibb, Kate Bosworth, Kieran Culkin, Josh Duhamel, Anna Faris, Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Knoxville, Justin Long, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloë Grace Moretz, Chris Pratt, Liev Schreiber, Seann William Scott, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis, Uma Thurman, Naomi Watts, Jeremy Allen White and Kate Winslet. Julianne Moore, Tony Shalhoub, Bob Odenkirk, Anton Yelchin and Shane Jacobson appear in storylines not included in the film's theatrical release.

<i>Detentionaire</i> 2011 Canadian television series

Detentionaire is a Canadian mystery thriller animated series produced by Nelvana and aired on Teletoon from September 12, 2011, to January 29, 2015, for total of 53 episodes, spanning 4 seasons. It was created by Daniel Bryan Franklin and Charles Johnston and produced by Tracey Dodokin. It currently airs reruns on Boomerang, Disney XD and Télétoon in Canada. It also aired on Pop Max in the United Kingdom.

<i>So This Is College</i> 1929 film

So This Is College is a 1929 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Sam Wood, written by Al Boasberg, Delmer Daves and Joseph Farnham, and starring Elliott Nugent, Robert Montgomery in his film debut, Cliff Edwards, Sally Starr and Phyllis Crane. It was released on November 8, 1929 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.