Rambo - a hero , revisited

The Rambo franchise of films were based around the book

First blood, by David Morrell.

Sylvester Stallone is the main character in all the films.

To date there have been four films

First Blood ( 1982)

Rambo, first blood II ( 1985)

Rambo III ( 1988)

and again

Rambo (2008)

The initial film, "First Blood" is probably the seminal performance. It introduces the character, works through his psychological issues as he confronts the "wrong" type of authority only to, right at the end, listen to the "right" sort of authority.

The tag line for the film was

"STALLONE.
This time he's fighting for his life."

Rambo was born in Bowie, Arizona. Initially he was of native indian / Italian descent, but in later films the Italian element is changed to German.

At the age of 17 ( in 1964) he joins the army to fight in Vietnam, specifically with the Green berets.

He quickly becomes a seasoned professional soldier but is eventually captured and tortured.

Although he escapes from captivity it is apparent that his mind has been damaged and he is no longer a normal citizen. Returning to the USA he finds himself pilloried by peace campaigners and sets off to track down an ex colleague ( Delmore Barry). However Delmore has died of cancer after being exposed to Agent Orange. Depressed and upset Rambo is then confronted by the local sherif who tries to "move him on".

Rambo objects to this, believes that the freedom he fought for in Vietnam is being denied to him and argues back. A fight breaks out and Rambo escapes to the hills.

His pursuers have little luck in tracking him down and although many are injured none die. Unfortunately a sniper falls from a helicopter and his death ratchets up the tension as well as bringing in a more professional set of hunters.

The film then proceeds to a bloody climax back in the town when , at the very end,Colonel Samuel Trautman, Rambo's old CO arrives on the scene to calm him down. There is also talk about leaving him alone in the wilderness areas of the Pacific north west so that he can find his own way in life.

Culturally the term Rambo has now come to be associated with extreme machismo and survivalism.Someone who is a loner and doesn't fear pain. Very much as in the film when he uses a survival knife to perform surgery upon himself.

The films also highlighted the plight faced by many returning vets as well as the survivalism way of life in the wilderness.