Award Snub: The film did well at the Academy Awards, winning for Louis Gossett Jr.'s supporting turn and for Original Song, and earning Debra Winger a nomination. However, Richard Gere was omitted from the Best Actor line-up, and the film itself wasn't even nominated for Best Picture.
Awesome Music: "Up Where We Belong" performed by Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker, with its ascending musical construction perfectly matching the song's message and ending the film on a highly uplifting note.
Hilarious in Hindsight: R. Lee Ermey was cast as Foley because of his experience as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor, only to be replaced by Louis Gossett, Jr. and become an advisor. Four years later, Ermey would be initially hired as an advisor for Full Metal Jacket, then was cast as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, replacing another actor (Tim Colceri, who went on to play the Door Gunner).
The Woobie: Sid Worley, who proposes to Lynette, only for her to rudely reject him for choosing a different career path, which devastates him to the point where he commits suicide.
