Biloxi Blues

Biloxi Blues is a 1988 American military comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols, written by Neil Simon, and starring Matthew Broderick and Christopher Walken. Simon adapted his semi-autobiographical 1984 play of the same title, the second chapter in what is known as the Eugene trilogy, the first being Brighton Beach Memoirs and the third being Broadway Bound. Plot During World War II, Jewish teenager Eugene Jerome of Brooklyn is drafted into the United States Army. Jerome sets three goals—lose his virginity, survive the war, and become a writer. He is sent to basic training at Keesler Field near Biloxi, Mississippi. Jerome keeps a journal to record his impressions of his fellow draftees. The new privates are trained by Sergeant Toomey, a wounded veteran with a steel plate in his head. Toomey imposes arbitrary rules and metes out harsh punishments. A recruit named Epstein refuses to accept Toomey's authority. Toomey imposes increasingly harsh punishments in an effort to break him, but Epstein refuses to compromise. While the other privates try to avoid Toomey's ire, they admire Epstein's determination. Toomey also eventually comes to respect Epstein's refusal to submit. One evening, Jerome proposes that each man share his fantasy of how he would spend his final days if he had only a week to live. They each pay five dollars, and Jerome agrees to judge the stories and pick a winner. Jerome chooses Epstein's fantasy of making Toomey do 200 push-ups. The men argue about Jerome's selection and Wykowski makes Anti-Semitic remarks, which leads to a confrontation between him and Epstein. Toomey ends it, but Jerome feels badly for not defending Epstein.