Officer & A Gentleman (1982)

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Loner Zack Mayo (Richard Gere) enters Officer Candidate School to become a Navy pilot, and in thirteen tortuous weeks, he discovers what it means to be a man of honour. Louis Gossett, Jr. won an Oscar for his portrayal of Foley, the drill instructor who teaches Zack that no one can make it alone. While Foley tries to warn the young officer about the local girls trying to land themselves pilot husbands, he finds himself caught by one (Debra Winger). His fellow candidate and friend Sid (David Keith), struggles with a very different fate. Winner of 2 Academy Awards, a rich story and amazing performances make An Officer And A Gentleman stand apart as one of the greats.

When US Navy recruit Zack Mayo (Gere) begins the 13-week basic training course which will qualify him to attend flight school, he immediately comes into conflict with the tough, no-nonsense Sergeant Foley (Louis Gossett Jr). Foley selects Mayo as the special recipient of his sadistic attentions, but the recruit refuses to be broken and meanwhile finds solace in his developing relationship with local factory girl Paula Pokrifki (Debra Winger). The film won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Gossett Jr) and Best Original Song ('Up Where We Belong' written by Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Saint-Marie and Will Jennings).