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A reoccurring and important theme arises out of art and in particular film because of it proximity to reality, does life imitate art or vice versa? Film dealing with war is no different and indeed is confronted with more scrutiny because of the subject matters relevance to life. Since humanity uses war as defining moments for countries and generations; so too, the media that captures it is used and is gauged by later generations as a device for grasping reality at the time. So, the question posed earlier is used widely now to determine a films worth to the audience in this specific genre. More specifically are certain stereotypes of thematic roles in war films derived from true accounts of military life or the perceived characterizations of an actor’s portrayal. In Tell it to the Marines (1926), the great Lon Chaney defined the role of the Drill Sergeant for his and many generations’ afterward . His portrayal dictated the way that role would be approached and preformed by the majority of actors in similar films. With this in mind many questions surface; Are real Drill Sergeants like this? Where did Chaney develop his character, from real scenarios or fictional events? Has this impacted other genre as well? Are today’s performances on screen and at boot camp an imitation of Chaney or composites of military life, is art imitating life or some other combination of the two? How did this reflect the time when it was made, what about now. And most importantly is this portrayal historically significant in terms of its immediacy to fact? Why hasn’t the role changed as our military and perceptions of it have over the past seventy years? Tell it to the Marines is a film that would be considered a recruitment video by today’s audience but, it is a tough, sentimental prototype of a military film. The films major themes were loyalty, fraternalism, patriotism, and it looked favorably on the Marines as protecting vital American interests. These elements put into a script that gave a human face to films dealing with military life in the silent era. It was a big hit for general audiences and the Marine Corps itself, even though it was not the only film of its kind. Variety Magazine said that it was a “…sure fire box office hit if there ever was one…” ; in fact Tell it to the Marines was the second grossing film for MGM that year earning 1.25 million dollars for a production cost of 433,000 dollars. In fact the film was so popular that there was a private screening in Washington D.C. for President Coolidge and became beloved in an official capacity for the USMC who made Lon Chaney an honorary Marine for his dominating portrayal as the though as nails Marine with the heart of gold or brass as the movie quips. The movie stretches itself a little thin with the scope of its plot but follows a theme that has appeared over and again in film. A slacker named Skeet Burns played by William Haines, another reason for the film’s popularity, joins the Marines just to get a free ride to Tijuana; he unwittingly divulges his plan to a Marine General traveling in civilian attire. This general alerts Sgt. O’Hara, Lon Chaney, who tries to nab him but is unsuccessful. In this scene Chaney starts to mold the character of the tough Marine Sergeant, standing there fuming, chest out, shoulders back, his natural worn face that is slightly covered by the brim of his hat and immortalizes the Marine ideal and of course the leather neck; he states “He’ll be back, …yeah he’ll be back”. Of course his prediction is true. Skeet shows up a few days later broke and hungry, he is put under the personal direction of Sgt. O’Hara who proceeds to put him through the ringer. Naturally, all of this discipline has a purpose, to instill the tenets of Marine doctrine, moreover despite his tough shell Sgt.
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