Watch Go Tell the Spartans

Go Tell the Spartans is an intense and poignant war movie from 1978, directed by Ted Post and starring Burt Lancaster, Craig Wasson, and Jonathan Goldsmith. The film is set in 1964, during the early stages of the Vietnam War, and follows a unit of American soldiers as they attempt to establish a military outpost in an isolated and hostile part of South Vietnam.

The movie begins with the arrival of Major Asa Barker (Burt Lancaster), a battle-hardened veteran of World War II and Korea, who has been sent to oversee the construction of a new military outpost in the remote village of Muc Wa. He is accompanied by a group of young and inexperienced soldiers, including Lieutenant Hamilton (Craig Wasson) and Sergeant Oleonowski (Jonathan Goldsmith), who are either fresh out of training or on their first tour of duty in Vietnam.

Upon their arrival in Muc Wa, the American soldiers quickly realize that they are in for a tough and arduous mission, as they are met with a hostile and skeptical local population who are wary of the Americans' presence in their village. The soldiers try to win their hearts and minds by providing them with medical care, building a school, and offering aid, but their efforts are met with suspicion and sometimes even aggression. Meanwhile, the Viet Cong (VC) and their supporters are lurking in the shadows, watching and biding their time.

As the soldiers go about their duties, they are plagued by a series of setbacks and tragedies. They are ambushed on patrol, their base is attacked, and they suffer casualties. Barker and other senior officers are frustrated by the limitations of their military strategy, and are increasingly disillusioned by the lack of support they receive from the South Vietnamese government and military. As the death toll rises, the soldiers begin to question the morality of their mission, and wonder if it is worth risking their lives for a cause that seems increasingly futile.

Despite the difficult circumstances, the soldiers show remarkable resilience, courage, and even gallows humor. Wasson's character Hamilton, in particular, is portrayed as an idealistic young officer who is forced to grow up quickly in the face of the harsh realities of war. Goldsmith's character Oleonowski, on the other hand, is a grizzled veteran who has seen it all and provides some much-needed comic relief. Lancaster's character, Barker, represents the struggle of an old-school military man who has been sent to fight a war that he does not fully understand, and who is grappling with the moral and ethical implications of his actions.

Throughout the film, the soldiers engage in brutal firefights, conduct risky reconnaissance missions, and face tough decisions about how to respond to the VC threat. The movie avoids glorifying war and instead focuses on the human cost of armed conflict, as the soldiers grapple with issues of mortality, honor, and integrity. The movie ends on a powerful and tragic note, as the soldiers realize that their mission was ultimately futile, and that the war will continue long after they are gone.

Overall, Go Tell the Spartans is a gritty and realistic portrayal of the early days of the Vietnam War, and the difficulties faced by American soldiers in a hostile and unfamiliar environment. The movie is thought-provoking and emotionally moving, and features stellar performances from its cast. It is a must-see for fans of war movies and those interested in the Vietnam War era.

Go Tell the Spartans is a 1978 war movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.