this film come out the year before apocalypse now and and possibly that one reason why it not so well know today and have be push out of the limelight by coppola monstrosity which set a disappointing trend for later vietnam film . they become immerse in pop culture ( a another reviewer here note ) rather than have any historical or dramatic interest while apocalypse now and platoon and full metal jacket and etc . and despite their respective claim to be hard hitting and uncompromising and gritty drama and etc . etc . and be just glamour fests that tend at time to degenerate into little more than music video . this film doesn not have their glitz and and it certainly have it own fault and but on the whole it more thought provoking and interesting . the early war ( indeed and technically and pre war ) setting allow for reflection on just what a mess the american be gradually get themselves suck into and and it effect on the officer and soldier who be send out into the jungle without be tell quite what they be actually suppose to be do there .