Tribes

Tribes
Jan Michael Vincent and Darren McGavin in Tribes
Directed by	Joseph Sargent
Written by	Marvin Schwartz Tracy Keean Wynn
Starring	Darren McGavin Jan-Michael Vincent
Distributed by	American Broadcasting Company
Release date(s)	1970
Running time	90 min. (including commercials)
Country	United States
Language	English

Tribes, also known as The Soldier Who Declared Peace (UK), is a 1970 television film, broadcast as an ABC Movie of the Week directed by Joseph Sargent. A big ratings success when it first aired November 10, 1970, Tribes was later released theatrically in Britain and Europe under the title The Soldier Who Declared Peace.

Cast

• Darren McGavin as Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Drake
• Earl Holliman as Master Sgt. Frank DePayster
• Jan-Michael Vincent as Adrian
• John Gruber as Quentin
• Danny Goldman as Sidney
• Richard Yniguez as Sanchez
• Antone Curtis as Marchelus
• Peter Hooten as Scrunch
• David Buchanan as Armstrong
• Ric Weaver as Morton

Plot

This drama tells the story of Private Adrian (portrayed by Jan-Michael Vincent), a young United States Marine Corps Vietnam war era draftee who, despite being an anti-war hippie, reluctantly reports to boot camp to fulfill his duty as an American. Adrian naturally excels as a leader, though his pacifist ideology presents continuing conflicts between himself and his Drill Instructor. Adrian's Drill Instructor, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Drake (portrayed by Darren McGavin) quickly recognizes Adrian's leadership qualities, but is conflicted as he grows to respect Adrian while also realizing that he represents everything Adrian opposes. At one point, Adrian points out that his love of meditation is similar to Drake's drawing to relax, indicating a sketch of a flying bird. Both are ways of finding freedom. Drake responds angrily, denying that he had drawn the picture.

Throughout the training, the Chief Drill Instructer (and Drake's superior), Master Sgt. Frank DePayster (portrayed by Earl Holliman), takes an instant dislike to Adrian. He repeatedly argues with Drake about him, claiming that the fact that the man is performing all of his assigned tasks is not enough. He considers Adrian's attitude grounds enough for him to be set back and placed in the Motivational Platoon, a disciplinary unit for problem recruits. Drake disagrees and allows Adrian to graduate. However, DePayster had gone behind his back by filing a complaint against them both with the Company Commanding Officer. Without Drake's approval, the CO flunked Adrian and placed him in Motivational Platoon under DePayster. Drake accuses DePayster of carrying out a personal vendetta, to which DePayster replies "I'll forget I heard that." Drake takes the drawing of the bird from his desk drawer and hangs it up, thus signifying his own method of rebellion and freedom. The platoon graduates without Adrian.

As Drake awaits a new batch of recruits, DePayster informs Drake that Adrian deserted during the night.

Critical reception

This film is notable for its stars, Jan-Michael Vincent and Darren McGavin, and for the fact the writers won an Emmy Award for their teleplay.

Awards

Tribes received three Primetime Emmy Awards for Sound Editing (Don Hall, Jack Jackson, Bob Weatherford and Dick Jensen, sound editors), Filmsound Mixing (Theodore Soderberg, mixer) and Original Teleplay (Marvin Schwartz and Tracy Keenan Wynn, writers). It was also nominated for Directorial Achievement in Drama (Joseph Sargent).

Quotations

• Drake: "Last one off that bus is grass, and I'm the lawnmower."
• Adrian: "It's all what you make it; it took me a long time to realize that yesterday can't be changed, and tomorrow really can't be controlled with any certainty. I just kind of shoot for the minute."
• DePayster [to Adrian]: [Southern accent] "What kind of flower are you, boy? Are you a sweet pea, boy? Are you a sweet pe-e-ea?"

Release

This film was previously released on VHS, but has not yet been released on DVD.

External links

• IMDB listing
• Allmovie listing