Rambo

views updated

Rambo

John Rambo was first introduced in the 1972 Vietnam war novel by David Morrell (1943–), First Blood. Rambo has just returned from serving in the Vietnam War (1954–75). While serving with the elite Special Forces, he had been captured by the Viet Cong. He eventually escaped but was psychologically damaged by the experience. Drifting through Kentucky, he is harassed and arrested by a local sheriff. In response, Rambo snaps and reverts to a killing machine, with tragic results.

The novel was moderately successful and became a film in 1981. In the film version, Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone (1946–), is still a Special Forces veteran of Vietnam, but his deadly skills are much more restrained. In the novel, Rambo kills without mercy; for him, it is war. But Stallone's is a kinder, gentler Rambo. He wounds many people, but kills no one, conforming to the mold of the "good guy" hero.

In 1985, Rambo: First Blood Part II sends the hero on a mission for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which believes that American prisoners may remain in Vietnam. Rambo's assignment: sneak in and find out for certain. Once in Vietnam, Rambo is betrayed, captured by the Vietnamese, and tortured by their Russian "advisors." He eventually escapes, to slaughter every Vietnamese and Russian soldier in the vicinity. The film was a huge financial success. For some, however, Rambo represented the kind of "kill-the-Commies" machismo (exaggerated masculinity) that had involved the United States in Vietnam in the first place.

In 1988, Rambo III finds Stallone's character meditating in a Thai monastery, where he is visited by his former commanding officer, Colonel Sam Trautman. The Green Beret colonel has the dangerous mission of helping Afghan guerrillas combat the Soviet invaders of their country. Trautman asks for assistance, but Rambo refuses. Trautman goes in alone and is captured. Rambo rushes to Afghanistan, rescues his friend, and helps him mow down the Russians. Surprisingly, the film lost money, at least in its U.S. release.

A number of toy companies were licensed to produce Rambo action figures, as well as plastic guns and knives modeled after those used in the films. The Rambo character also saw action briefly as a Saturday morning cartoon (see entry under 1960s—TV and Radio in volume 4) character in the 1980s.

—Justin Gustainis