History Literature / BornOnTheFourthOfJuly

The autobiography of Vietnam War Vet. Ron Kovic, ''Born on the Fourth of July'' was published in 1976. In 1989, the film version directed by Creator/OliverStone and starring TomCruise as Kovic was released. Stone won his second Oscar as director, his third overall, and Cruise got his first Oscar nomination. This is also his second film about UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, following ''{{Film/Platoon}}'' and followed by ''Film/HeavenAndEarth''. These three films are often said to form a "trilogy", although they merely share subject matter and do not take place in a shared continuity.

* AManIsNotAVirgin: Subverted; Kovic tries to have sex after his tours of duty, but even with a prostitute, he can't enjoy the experience.

* CaliforniaDoubling: Like ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' and ''Film/{{Platoon}}'', scenes in Vietnam were actually shot in the Philippines due to the political climate.

Ron Kovic, a young man from Long Island, goes off to fight in Vietnam. During his second tour of duty, Kovic accidentally kills a fellow soldier, Private Wilson, which deeply scars him emotionally. During a firefight, Kovic is permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Once he is discharged, Kovic comes home a changed man. He feels that his country hasn't done much of anything to help his fellow Vietnam veterans. Subsequently, he joins the anti-war movement. And goes to Mexico.

NeedsWikiMagicLove.

* UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar

* TheMerch: Deconstructed, as the film ended up inspiring unofficially merchandise in the form of "Ron Kovic" Halloween costumes and an unofficial (in terms of not getting the license for the actor's appearance) adult collectible 1/6th scale action figure of Tom Berenger from the film, as Berenger has a single scene in the film where he gives a recruitment speech for the Marines in dress blues at the start of the film.

* AuthorTract: Probably Oliver Stone's most preachy film. QuentinTarantino once quipped that everything coming out of Tom Cruise's mouth in the film is {{Anvilicious}}.

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<<|{{Film}}|>>

The autobiography of Vietnam War Vet. Ron Kovic, ''Born Oon the Fourth of July'' was published in 1976. In 1989, the film version directed by Creator/OliverStone and starring TomCruise as Kovic was released. Stone won his second Oscar as director, his third overall, and Cruise got his first Oscar nomination. This is also his second film about UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, following ''{{Film/Platoon}}'' and followed by ''Film/HeavenAndEarth''. These three films are often said to form a "trilogy", although they merely share subject matter and do not take place in a shared continuity.

The autobiography of Vietnam War Vet. Ron Kovic, BornOnTheFourthOfJuly was published in 1976. In 1989, the film version directed by Creator/OliverStone and starring TomCruise as Kovic was released. Stone won his second Oscar as director, his third overall, and Cruise got his first Oscar nomination. This is also his second film about UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, following ''{{Film/Platoon}}'' and followed by ''Film/HeavenAndEarth''. These three films are often said to form a "trilogy", although they merely share subject matter and do not take place in a shared continuity.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4thjuly_1975.jpg

* AdaptationExpansion: While the original book, written in 1974, ends with the 1972 Miami riots, the film adaptation has Kovic speaking at the 1976 Democratic convention, as well as signing hie titular biography that is the film's namesake.

* AdaptationExpansion: While the original book, written in 1974, ends with the 1972 Miami riots, the film adaption has Kovic speaking at the 1976 Democratic convention, as well as signing hie titular biography that is the film's namesake.

* AuthorTract: Probably Oliver Stone's most preachy film. QuentinTarantino once snarked that everything coming out of Tom Cruise's mouth in the film is {{Anvilicious}}.

* AuthorTract: Probably Oliver Stone's most preachy film. QuentinTarantino once snarked that everything coming out of Tom Cruise's mouth in the film is {{Anvillicious}}.

* AuthorTract: Probably Oliver Stone's most preachy film. QuentinTarantino once snarked that everything coming out of Tom Cruise's mouth is {{Anvillicious}}.

* AuthorTract: Probably Oliver Stone's most preachy film.

* StrawmanPolitical: Thankfully averted, for both ends of the spectrum.

* ClusterFBomb

* AManIsNotAVirgin: Subverted; Kovic tries to have sex after his tours of duty, but even with a prostitute, he doesn't enjoy the experience.

The autobiography of Vietnam War Vet. Ron Kovic, BornOnTheFourthOfJuly was published in 1976. In 1989, the film version directed by Creator/OliverStone and starring TomCruise as Kovic was released. Stone won his second Oscar as director, his third overall, and Cruise got his first Oscar nomination. This is also his second film about TheVietnamWar, following ''{{Film/Platoon}}'' and followed by ''Film/HeavenAndEarth''. These three films are often said to form a "trilogy", although they merely share subject matter and do not take place in a shared continuity.

* TheVietnamWar

The autobiography of Vietnam War Vet. Ron Kovic, BornOnTheFourthOfJuly was published in 1976. In 1989, the film version directed by Creator/OliverStone and starring TomCruise as Kovic was released. Stone won his second Oscar as director, his third overall, and Cruise got his first Oscar nomination.

* ReturningWarVet" Ron Kovic

* ReturningWarVet
* SemperFi: Averted.

* TheMerch: Deconstructed, as the film ended up inspiring unofficially merchandise in the form of "Ron Kovic" halloween costumes and an unofficial (in terms of not getting the license for the actor's appearnace) adult collectible 1/6th scale action figure of Tom Berenger from the film, as Berenger has a single scene in the film where he gives a recruitment speech for the Marines in dress blues at the start of the film.

* WarIsHell