Talk:Platoon (film)

Cast list (yes, again)

The cast list is entirely too long and does not conform to WP's policies for how a cast list should be organized and formatted. We only need to list the major roles, not every single actor and part, and extraneous information from other sources should be removed entirely. The film credits should be the main source for the cast list, and it does not require references. ---The Old Jacobite_{The '45} 14:39, 6 June 2013 (UTC)

On this we are still a bit opposed. I first disagree that the cast list does not require references, since ideally everything on WP should be referenced. At least that's what I've come to understand. The film credits are referenced only with a reliable source, and if IMDB won't cut it... And I don't understand why the length of this particular cast list is such an issue. The numbering assigned to the cast I can see needing removal for sure. But it's a small film with a very small cast. And there's no harm including the full cast list, IMHO. The issue of who is "featured" versus "mentionable" in the cast (again, think Dale Dye) still needs more thought. The article needs way more help than a gutting of the cast list. Doc talk 09:38, 8 June 2013 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information. Per WP:FILMCAST, we should name the most relevant actors and roles. It is standard not to list unnamed roles (e.g., old woman, village chief, etc). I would suggest removing the "Additional cast" part on that basis, but I would be fine with keeping the rest of the names. Erik (talk | contribs) 16:28, 8 June 2013 (UTC)

I completely understand what both of you are saying and always have, but this is a unique situation (and film). [1] ain't happening because Johnny Depp is a massively huge star now, ever again. So "major roles" is tricky with this film, as has been demonstrated in the past. Omitting a relatively few more names for the sake of MOS or other guidlelines seems unimportant, especially until this article is in the running for a GA. Doc talk 08:02, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Doc, the cutoff for a cast list can indeed vary. Some film articles may not even list all the named roles (meaning the character has a name and not just a description). However, the general consensus has largely been in favor of excluding unnamed roles on the grounds of being too indiscriminate. We do not report every single detail pertaining to a given film, may they be plot points, cast and crew, technical specifications, reviews, etc. The fact that only one of the unnamed roles has a blue link (Stone himself) shows the minimal value of such names. Stone himself can be mentioned in a single line below the list of named roles. Erik (talk | contribs) 15:45, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Aside from those roles, this cast list has been screwed with for years concerning the other characters, moving them around, assigning ranks that are OR, etc. The only reasonable solution I have arrived at is a referenced cast list, with no "wiggle room". Cutting the remaining 25% of the list may seem like the right thing to do, but will it prevent further disruption to the list enough to make a real difference? I'm not so sure. It cannot and should not ever go back to what was happening before. Doc talk 04:01, 16 June 2013 (UTC)

My comment is about a small but necessary change in the plot description. In the next to last line of the first paragraph of the plot synopsis is the sentence,

          "Taylor eventually gains acceptance from a tight-knit group in his unit who socialize and use drugs in a cabin
           clubhouse.  

I doubt highly whether a combat company would have a 'cabin'. This was a large Bunker, partially underground, used to shelter troops. In short it is a bunker not a cabin.

My sources? I was in Vietnam about the same time of the film, 1967-68. I was an enlisted Marine in a combat company, Golf Company, second battalion, seventh Marine regiment, First Marine Division. I recognize a bunker when I see one.

DesertBruce (talk) 17:10, 29 December 2013 (UTC)DesertBruce

Elias name

Is the name "Elias Grodin" canon? I searched the available scripts and transcripts online, and nowhere does it say, or even imply, that Elias's surname is not "Elias." While it might be plausible that his squad and platoon mates might call him by his first name, there's no way his officers, especially Captain Harris, would do so, and yet all the officers refer to him as "Elias." Is the source of the name the dog tag in the poster? The same dog tag that says he's a Marine? -- Funkychinaman (talk) 04:15, 16 February 2016 (UTC)

Juan Elias Angel

Willem Dafoe's character is based off of Juan Elias Angel and I found some information on him if anyone wants to add an article on him.

Tom Berenger's character happens to be based off of John Barnes too.Cinefan Cinefan (talk) 13:59, 22 September 2019 (UTC)