One of the most controversial films of the 1980's was "Red Dawn", directed by John Milius. As with "The Outsiders", the United Artist film is chunk-full of "hot" stars of tomorrow, including Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen and Jennifer Grey, while also featuring such stalwarts as Ben Johnson and Harry Dean Stanton. In addition, some of the industries finest character actors are in the cast, noteably Lane Smith and "Laredo's" William Smith.

The story begins in the small, quiet town of Calumet, Colorado with what seems like a normal day, with the biggest concern being who will win Friday's football game. As the school day begins, high schoolers are surprised to see parachuters landing in the fields, but their surprise quickly turns to shock and horror when they realize they have been invaded by a hostile force. Indeed, it is this invasion which made Milius' film so controversial. For the first time, the US was invaded on our own soil. World War III was about to take place here, in our own backyards.

The film follows the story of eight of Calumet's young people as they struggle to survive. Led by "Jed" (Patrick), the six young men first seek to merely hide out for a while, but over time, with the advent of war, they become guerilla-type fighters, dubbed "Wolverines". Along the way, they are joined by two sisters, played by Thompson and Grey.

Part of what makes the story so difficult is that war is seen chiefly through the eyes of children. For me personally, "Red Dawn" is one of my favorite films; yet, I watch it with great care. I become so insensed over what these young people are forced to endure; over what they have to become; over what eventually becomes of them that I often cry for two days after watching it. Thus, while TBS airs the movie frequently, I watch it much less, even though it is indeed one of my top five Swayze movies.

Production Notes of Interest

The fictional town of Calumet was actually the small town of Las Vegas, New Mexico, where principal photography began shooting in November 1983. The local high school, an abandoned Safeway supermarket, and other locales were used.

Patrick to interviewer James Verniere in Moviegoer Magazine: "What I think makes this movie important is the theme of the loss of innocense. You watch these children destroyed by war. you see Jed losing his sense of compassion. that, to me, is what the film is about."

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Some basic facts about "Red Dawn"

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• Daniel Lee makes an interesting connection to "Starship Troopers"

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