For the webcomic character named Major Payne, see
VG Cats.
Major Payne is a 1995 comedy film, starring Damon Wayans. The film is a loose remake of the 1955 film The Private War of Major Benson, starring Charlton Heston.
While generally receiving unfavorable reviews, the movie has become a cult favorite, especially with JROTC/ROTC/Civil Air Patrol cadet programs.
Plot
USMC Major Benson Winifred Payne (Damon Wayans), a hardened killing machine, returns from a violent but successful drug raid in South America, only to find out that he was once again not promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Payne receives an honorable discharge on the grounds that "the wars of the world are no longer fought on the battlefield", and that his military skills are no longer needed.
After he leaves the military, Payne finds life as a civilian unbearable, and reaches his breaking point. To help adjust, he applies for a job as a police officer; however, during the test to see how applicants handle domestic violence disputes, he overreacts and repeatedly slaps the man who hit his wife in the scenario. Payne is put into jail on charges of assault. His former general visits him and informs Payne that he has secured a job for him that will get him back in the military.
Payne arrives at Madison Preparatory Academy in Virginia, and is informed by the principal (William Hickey) that his job is to train the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps "green boys", a disorderly group of delinquents and outcasts who have placed last in the Virginia Military Games eight years running. When Payne sees his company, he immediately tells them that, under his direction, they will win the games at all costs, regardless of their various shortcomings: being overweight, sickly, deaf, cross-eyed, orphaned, or from a dysfunctional home; they are all pushed equally. He clashes with Emily Walburn (Karyn Parsons), the Academy counselor who tries to soften Payne's discipline with understanding and feelings, particularly towards six-year old orphan Tiger (Orlando Brown).
Payne's training and punishments are harsh, which force the cadets to execute a series of failed schemes to get rid of Payne. Things come to a head when Payne offers them the chance to get rid of him – if they can sneak into the rival school Wellington Academy and steal the Military Games trophy, he will leave voluntarily. However, Payne places an "anonymous call" to Wellington, leading to the boys being ambushed by their rivals.
Outside of the academy, Payne bonds with Emily and Tiger. Returning to the academy, Payne is confronted by lead misfit Alex Stone (Steven Martini) about his deception, but Payne claims it was to show them what the real prize was. With their desire to honestly earn the trophy added to their desire for revenge, and saving Stone from his alcoholic stepfather (Michael Ironside), the boys begin to train hard to win.
Payne is asked to return to the Marines to fight in Bosnia, but his deployment means he will miss the Military Games and disappoint the boys and Emily. As he waits for his train, he has a vision of himself, Emily and Tiger barbecuing in a front yard, prompting him to realize that he has fallen for both Emily and the troop.
At the games, the boys are holding their own until Dotson, one of the rival cadets (and the former squad leader who had transferred from Madison), purposely trips up Alex during a race, sparking an all-out brawl between the camps that threatens to get them disqualified. However, Payne gives up his commission and shows up at the last minute, and appoints Tiger to lead the cadence. The group executes an unorthodox but entertaining routine which wins them the trophy.
On the first day of the new school year, Payne resumes being an instructor, having settled down with Emily and Tiger, with Stone resuming his role as a squad leader. When a new wise-cracking blind cadet shows up, Payne proceeds to shave him and his seeing-eye dog bald with his field knife, proving once again that he treats all recruits equally.
Behind the Scenes
- The exterior scenes of the boarding school that were in Major Payne were filmed at The Miller School of Albemarle.
- Most of the indoor scenes were filmed warehouse that was turned into a soundstage owned by 84 Lumber located in Chesterfield County just off of US RT 1, about 2 miles south of the Richmond City line.
- The opening scene was filmed just outside of the makeshift soundstage.
- The fantasy scene at the train station was filmed at the Ashland Train Station, in Ashland, Virginia.
- Orlando Brown had an onset teacher/tutor during production. She was also the onset teacher for Benji Gregory as Brian Tanner of the TV Show Alf
- During production, filming had to be stopped throughout the day due to CSX trains passing the soundstage.
- The Military Games Scenes were filmed at Berkley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia
- There was an alternate ending for the Movie. During the Military Games, Cadet Stone's drunken father gets into a fight with Payne. Somehow Stone Michael Ironside takes 4 Cadets from another school hostage. Stone and the Cadets (one of which was named Cadet Rachmil (after one of the producers) played by Ryan Scarbrough) were taken to a small building that was used to shoot at the cadets and onlookers.
- Fans have stated that they would like to see a Major Payne Special Edition DVD that has commentary from Damon Wayans, Nick Castle, and the cadets. They would also like to have special features such as deleted scenes, the alternate ending, and bloopers included with this edition.
- Dean Lorey (co-wrote the screenplay) stated on deanlorey.com that to his knowledge there is no Special Edition in the works.
- Stephen Coleman (Cadet Leland) was a native Virginian and attended the VCU Community School of the Performing Arts as a child. He later graduated from Monacan High School located in Chesterfield, Virginia in 2001.
Notes
- When Payne tells the students "...killing is my business ladies and business is good!" is likely reference is to the Vietnam era. This phrase was used by both the 101st Airborne Division and the Marine Corps. This quote may also be a reference to thrash metal band Megadeth's debut album named "Killing is My Business...and Business is Good!"
- When Payne and Emily are at a dance club, he wows everyone on the dance floor by doing the robot dance. When Damon Wayans was on In Living Color, in a sketch he played Louis Farrakhan who was not afraid of movie monsters by telling Frankenstein, "You have to get with it; the robot went out ten years ago!"
- The Miller School of Albemarle was also used for the exterior scenes of the boarding school attended by the characters in the film, Toy Soldiers
- In the opening scene of the movie after the raid in South America, a sign is shown outside of a Marine Corps base, Camp Pendleton. The sign reads "Camp Pendleton, Virginia." Camp Pendleton, Va is a state-owned military reservation for the Virginia National Guard, not the Marines. The Camp Pendleton the Marines occupy is actually located in Southern California, near San Diego.
- In the beginning of the movie when Payne's coming to terms with getting a job, the film parodies Apocalypse Now.
Cast
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