Full Metal Jacket: Music and Emotion in Film

Does sound serve to manipulate the feelings of the audience or is it simply an instrumental tune to match the themes of the film? Stanley Kubrick’s FULL METAL JACKET (1987) is an example of how sound compliments visuals while criticizing the nationalist-patriotic ideology of the United States during the Vietnam War.

The soundtrack in this film is a representation of how music can strongly manipulate the feelings of the audience while making fun of the idea of war in the film. The songs we have chosen are namely: “Hello Vietnam”, “Soldier Drill”, and “These Boots are Made for Walking”.

The initial song of the film “Hello Vietnam” establishes the core of the story of soldiers needed to fight their country. This song which was written and sung by Johnie Wright was a popular hit in 1965. It had been engraved in the American citizens’ mind for a long time. Usage of such a popular song in the film along with the establishing scene is a smart way to familiarize the audience with the idea of patriotism which will then later me made fun of. The emotionless faces of young men getting a haircut suffice in creating a contrast with the song which highlights the need for fighting for the nation. The music here is the leading emotional factor in the scene:

America has heard the bugle call,

And you know it involves us one and all

America has trouble to be stopped

We must stop communism in that land

The second song is a “Military Drill” used throughout the first part of the film while training the soldiers to send off to Vietnam. The song is filled with patriotic terms intending to inspire the soldiers to fight for their country. However, the mocking lines in between ruin the seriousness of the atmosphere with unusual sounds like: “Mmm good”. This thin line between the seriousness of the military and the mocking tone of the song brings out the irony and duality of war in these scenes.

Box me up and ship me home

Pin my medals on my chest

Tell me Mom I done my best

Mmm good (mmm good)

The final song “These Boots Are Made for Walking” plays at the beginning of the second part of the film which takes place in the war zone: Vietnam. This upbeat and energetic song juxtaposes the war area. The scene ends with the soldiers’ camera being stolen and a comical attempt of the American soldier in trying to retrieve the camera back with Jackie Chan moves. Once again, the usage of a very popular song engraved in American minds is felt in this scene. The landmarks are foreign but the music playing in the background is so familiar it raises some kind of awareness in the audience towards the irony and contrast felt in this scene.

The music playfully brings out the irony and uselessness of war and patriotism in this film through usage of familiar tunes and songs. Each song tends to bring out a a familiarity in the scene. However, the intention here is not to make the viewer feel comfortable but quite the opposite; the emotions of uncanny are created by joining familiar tunes with awkward settings.

Nihal Gürsoy