GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM!

PLOT SUMMARY

Disc Jockey Adrian Cronauer is assigned to Armed Forces Radio Saigon in 1965. It is a plum assignment as American military assignments in Viet Nam at the height of the American war go. Adrian's irreverent, non-stop patter and a penchant for playing rock&roll hits (which are officially banned) make him popular with the grunts in the field. His superiors Lt. Hauk and Sgt. Major Dickerson are less enthusiastic — but General Taylor goes to bat for him.

When Adrian spots a lovely Vietnamese woman, he determines to get to know her despite her aloofness. Later he tracks her to a class where she is learning English. He talks his way into teaching the class, and soon has his audience in stitches. But the young woman's brother Tuan, also in the class, warns Adrian not to treat her like most G.I.s treat Vietnamese women.

Adrian and the brother become friends and Adrian spends time with the family, who soon accept him. Some G.I.s object when Tuan accompanies Adrian to Jimmy Wah's, a popular hangout. Nor are they pleased that Adrian has lured several bar girls away from them. Adrian fights the bigger G.I.s and does fairly well, but this incident does not help win his superiors' favor.

Another time, Tuan and Adrian have just left Jimmy Wah's when it is bombed. Three people are killed, more injured, and Adrian is shaken by the event. On his next shift, against a direct order, he reads the news account of the event. Such news is suppressed because the military brass want to maintain the illusion that Saigon is at peace ("pacified" is the term of art.) Adrian is suspended and goes into a funk. But Tuan invites him home, adding that Trinh wants to see him. Adrian goes. But Trinh, while she likes him, tells him "Vietnamese lady cannot be friends with man."

There is talk of sending Adrian to an outpost, in order to improve morale. The plan is that he will drive up without armed escort. Sgt. Major Dickerson checks on the route, learning that the Viet Cong control it. He approves the pass anyway. The jeep containing Adrian and ? hits a mine and overturns. They are not badly injured and hide in the jungle as a squad of VC hunts for them. Soon Tuan appears in a civilian vehicle. He calls out and they respond, recognizing him. But the vehicle will not start. So the three hoof it to a clearing where an Army helicopter picks them up.

But this episode ends Adrian's tour in Saigon. It's not because he went to the base, but because Tuan, it has been discovered, is Phan Duoc To: a VC soldier. They have a final confrontation in which Tuan bitterly explains his viewpoint. His parents and older brother were killed by Americans.

The film ends on a goofily happier note as Adrian, on the way to Tanh San Nuht to catch his flight home, starts an impromptu game of baseball with his Vietnamese friends, using fruit as baseballs.

Capsule review: Ghost wraps the ghost story up with a gripping murder mystery and a romatic tearjerker. The special effects are fine, convincing and never overused. But the best thing about this film is the performances; they are universally excellent, providing a captivating mix of comedy, pathos, tension, and violent action. Whether or not you believe in psychic phenomena, spirits, heaven, or hell, you will enjoy it.