Movie Review : ‘Walking Dead’: Blacks in Vietnam War

“The Walking Dead” is a conventional war picture but with a key difference: It depicts the Vietnam experience from an African American point of view. Although at times awkward and unwieldy, it is marked by the passion and sincerity of writer-director Preston A. Whitmore II, who has created a small group of involving characters, acted persuasively by Allen Payne, Eddie Griffin, Joe Morton and Vonte Sweet, actors of considerable presence.

While on a dangerous mission--it is South Vietnam in 1972--evacuating whatever survivors there may be from an abandoned Viet Cong P.O.W. camp, Marine Sgt. Barkley (Morton), a strong, capable leader, and his men tell their stories via flashbacks. Most of them saw joining the Marines as way of bettering themselves, rising above racism, only to end up in a hell on Earth. There’s not much of the familiar anti-war cant or extended commentary on the madness of their predicament; these young men are above all concentrating on simply staying alive.

Griffin is vibrant, funny, cynical and bitter as Pvt. Hoover Branche, who has survived two tours of duty and tries to resist becoming too attached to his fellow soldiers. Payne’s Cpl. Cole Evans is a straightforward family man, decent and responsible. Sweet’s Pvt. Joe Brooks is a naive 19-year-old who joined the Marines to impress his girlfriend. Griffin and Morton, whose sergeant lives with a terrible secret, are especially vibrant presences.

* MPAA rating: R, for graphic war violence, strong language and brief sexuality. Times guidelines: The film’s violence is standard, as is the crude talk between the soldiers; the one scene of lovemaking is brief but blunt.

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‘The Walking Dead’

Allen Payne: Pfc. Cole Evans

Eddie Griffin: Pvt. Hoover Branche

Joe Morton: Sgt. Barkley

Vonte Sweet: Pfc. Joe Brooks

A Savoy Pictures presentation in association with Rank Film Distributors of a Price Entertainment/Jackson-McHenry production. Writer-director Preston A. Whitmore II. Producers George Jackson, Douglas McHenry and Frank Price. Executive in charge of production for Price Entertainment Carol Bahoric. Cinematographer John L. Demps Jr. Editors Don Brochu, William C. Carruth. Costumes Ileane Meltzer. Music Gary Chang. Production designer George Costello. Art director Joseph M. Altadonna. Set decorator Craig Anthony. Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes.

* In general release throughout Southern California.