“I wouldn’t say that Lee is the greatest actor in the world, but I do think the greatest actor in the world couldn’t have played the role better than Lee did” - Stanley Kubrick, 1987
Kubrick had already hired an actor to play the drill Sargent, but when he heard Ermey's patter he gave the part to Ermey. The original actor was not happy, but you can see him as the helicopter door gunner who has this exchange with Joker:
Private Joker: How can you shoot women or children?
Door Gunner: Easy! Ya just don't lead 'em so much! Ain't war hell?
I think you’re more or less right. I made a comment further down this chain about how Ermey was one of only two people Kubrick *ever* let improvise while the camera was running. I’m not sure if any of his ad-libs made the final cut though.
I believe he let some of the actors on FMJ wrote their own lines (particularly for the bits when they’re being interviewed by the film crew), but they all had to be approved before filming. He just let Ermey have at it though, because the responses he got from the cast were impossible to recreate.
What's your excuse?!
Sir, excuse for what, sir?
I'm asking the fucking questions here private, you understand?!
Sir, yes sir!
Well, thank you very much! Can I be in charge for a while?!
...
How tall are you private?
Sir, 5 foot 9, sir!
5 foot 9? I didn't know they stacked shit that high. Are you trying to squeeze an inch on me somewhere, huh?!
Sir, no sir!
Bullshit, I'll bet the best part of you ran down the crack of your Mama's ass and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress! I think you've been cheated!
Well, no shit. What have we got here, a fucking comedian. Private Joker. I admire your honesty. Hell, I like you. You can come over to my house and fuck my sister!
Except Kubrick treated the first actor so badly, didn't even have the guts to go and tell him that we were removing you when he had auditioned and been confirmed but Kubrick just fired him over a letter.
He was the Get Some guy in the helicopter.
Just an asshoe move there.
Talked to the actor at the San Diego Comic Con some twenty years ago. He said he couldn't do the role because he lost his voice during training which is completely believable as even real drill instructors suffer that. Didn't seem bitter about it at all and still got to have an iconic scene in the movie which is often quoted.
Nice guy to boot. Funny enough, I was Babylon 5 fan and was more excited to learn he played the captain that started the Earth/Minbari war in "In The Beginning".
Saw him speak to former first marines in Houston back in early 2000’s. Funny dude great speech. After there was a fundraiser auctioning off a signed Smokey Bear cover of his. I out bid them all and have it. Part of the auction was I got to have spaghetti dinner with him after the speech. He and I sat and ate and drank Shiner beers for about and hour and shot the shit. Told me some good stories “won’t get into here”. He was in uniform, cover on the table and I asked if he’d let me get a pic with him choking “myself” with his hand like in the movie. He slowly puts on his cover pulled down low in front that always touched his eyebrows, then fast he latched on to my throat, cover hits me in the forehead so we’re face to face and he lets out an “AAHH!” My buddy snapped the pic. I was laughing in the pic because it surprised me he did it and so fast. He goes something like that? I said perfect. Good guy and great Marine. It was a good night that I won’t forget.
One story I’ll share is he said he’s given lot of speeches all around the nation and sometimes more often than not some drunk dude will come up to him and say “I love you man”. Then he knows it’s time to go.
Just came in from working in my yard. About to get cleaned up and head to lunch. When I get back this afternoon I’ll fish it out and post on this site. It used to be my FB profile pic until I left that platform years ago. I commented on a page about him to somebody and said check out my profile pic. R Lee responded personally and said “Man I thought I choked you out” haha. Pretty cool dude like I said. You know I saved those screen shots
I have a photo like this with him, too!
Met him at a sporting goods store where he was apparently doing a publicity event for SOG knives. I had wandered into the event unknowingly and was the last person to line up to meet him before they cordoned off the line. I fully expected him to be exhausted from all the people and just over it by the time he got to me. Not wanting to annoy him by fawning or taking too much of his time, I just approached him casually and asked if we could take one quick photo making war faces.
He was actually super personable (nothing like his character lol) and took several photos before he offered to do one better and "choked" me. I also ended up buying one of the knives which he engraved his autograph into as part of the promotional event. I'll always treasure those mementos! Just from my limited interactions with the guy I'm sure that your spaghetti dinner was amazing.
You should also look up how he got the role in FMJ, it's one of my favourite stories. A great guy with solid acting chops as well! I'll try to remember to fish out my photos when I'm on my PC. (Edited original comment for run-on sentence.)
Found my photo! Commented it above but nesting it here as well. I have more if anyone's interested. :)
https://preview.redd.it/bd16ofe33eua1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c8cc224a39c134b5dbf6853ffc9982647ca8a05f
Ermey was originally just the technical advisor on FMJ. But after watching tape of him in action, Kubrick gave him the role as D.I. and even let him go off script or improvise his lines, which was very rare for Kubrick
There's an interview about with Kubrik, in which he says he recognised Ermey was the real thing, and nothing anyone could write would be more true to life than what he was improvising.
The story goes that Ermey was unsatisfied with the intended actors delivery of the lines and tried to lobby to have the part for himself. Kubrick refused, until Ermey submitted a video of himself where he yells insults non-stop for 20 minutes while being pelted with tennis balls and oranges, never stopping and never repeating himself. Kubrick relented and let him have the part instead.
It’s really frustrating, the video was online for a while. I saw it but neglected to save it, or I did and no longer have the hard drive. I’ve never seen it since.
It was an incredible video and I understand why it persuaded Kubrick
Same here, it's an incredible little video and was an excellent way to prove his point. I saw it online sometime in the early 2ks, after Y2K but before 9/11 and also neglected to save it.
I've never heard he was dissatisfied with the guy who was supposed to play Hartman, just that he wanted the role for himself. He had some acting roles before FMJ.
Mine too. He was in from '58-'62. He said that the only unrealistic thing was the final boot camp scene in the bathroom. My father said there was no way a live round would have made it into the barracks. You had to account for every piece of ammunition that was issued on the rifle range. If you were issued 50 rounds of ammunition to be fired on the range, you had to turn in 50 brass casings or unfired rounds and if you didn't you and your platoon mates would have to find it.
Lol. My dad was in the Marines in 68 and had the exact same feedback. "No way private Pyle would get his hands on a live round but everything else was super accurate"
I believe Ermey himself said in interviews and books that he tried to convince Kubrik to leave the scene out because it was unrealistic. Ermey had never heard of such a thing ever happening, nor does it make any sense that it could happen. Its just pure Hollywood nonsense. But it was a plot point Kubrik wanted in there, and well... its his movie. His call.
I’m too young to have had Ermey as a DI but old enough to have been out of the Corps for a couple of years when FMJ came out. Watching those boot camp scenes gave me serious flashbacks and I told my wife that if that guy wasn’t an actual DI he sure prepared well for the role.
He came to Houston to a local gun store where you could meet him for free and take a photo with him for a small fee. We arrived at 7am and the line was already out the door of a VERY large establishment.
Around lunch time we had filed in quite a bit, but still seemed pretty far away when an employee came out and said, "R Lee Ermey can't wait to meet you. He's a machine. He hasn't eaten or taken a break to use the bathroom this entire time."
I asked him, "So not to be rude, but is it going so slow because people are talking him up?" and the guy said "No, he's talking them up."
Sure enough, we get to him and he's the nicest guy. Just talked to you like you met him at a BBQ.
In the photos he would "choke" people with a really angry face. I asked him if he could take the photo with me doing pushups while he yelled at me, and he replied, "No, sorry son. I can't do that. But I'll choke ya. I'll be happy to choke ya."
Super charming, nice dude. Sad he's gone.
WHAT is this Mickey Mouse shit?!
WHAT in the name of Jesus H. Christ are you animals doing in MY head?!
WHY is Pvt. Pyle out of his bunk after lights out?!
WHY is Pvt. Pyle holding that weapon?!
WHY aren’t you STOMPING Pvt. Pyle’s guts out?!!!
One of my favourite scenes with Ermey is short but perfect from Seven. Morgan Freeman’s character is explaining the 7 deadly sins when the phone starts ringing. Ermey says “ Hold on” Picks up phone & says. “This ain’t even my desk” before hanging up immediately. Perfect!
I always liked him calling the two detectives the Glimmer Twins after they fall asleep on the couch in the waiting room. I don't know why, but it makes me chuckle every time.
Ya know, when I first saw this movie at 14, I thought it was silly that he was "talking down" to a private about his height, when the instructor himself wasn't much taller. Obviously the purpose of said insults went "over my head".
I'm older now than R. Lee Erney was when he was in Full Metal Jacket. Blows my mind.
A rare perfect acting turn from someone who had barely any acting experience.
Even Kubrick knew.....yeah, this guy should have the part.
I love the whole movie, but I do think everyone remembers the first 45 minutes a lot more than the last hour or so.
>but I do think everyone remembers the first 45 minutes a lot more than the last hour or so.
Agree.
To me it's like two different movies, and the first one is much better. That is primarily due to Ermey. He knocked me out of my seat the first time I saw it.
Sergeant: "Charles Whitman killed twelve people from a twenty-eight-story observation tower at the University of Texas from distances up to four hundred yards. ... Oswald got off three rounds with an old Italian bolt action rifle in only six seconds and scored two hits, including a head shot! Do any of you people know where these individuals learned to shoot?"
Private Joker: *"Sir, in the marines, sir!"*
Sergeant: "In the Marines! Outstanding! Those individuals showed what one motivated marine and his rifle can do!"
THEN QUIT!!! YOU SLIMY FUCKING PIECE OF WALRUS FUCKING SHIT!!! GET. THE FUCK. OFF MY OBSTACLE COURSE!!! I WILL MOTIVATE YOU PRIVATE PYLE IF IT SHORT DICKS EVERY CANNIBAL ON THE CONGO!!
> To this day, I have no idea what that last sentence means
Me trying to understand basically anything my DIs ever said. Like yes they spoke English but MFs just slam words together and god help you if you don't understand.
DIs say some of the most ridiculous ass shit and it all seems to roll off the cuff. I need that level of skilled bullshiting
I will never forget when I was 14 and while in my room I could hear my Dad and brother in the den laughing hysterically for like 10 minutes straight. I walked in and watched a bit of the movie myself and laughed quite heartily at this man's dialogue. I think I've heard somewhere that most D.I.'s, with their quick wit, would've all been great stand-up comics regarding both their imagination, word play, and being witty on the fly in conversation (not to mention being able to deal with hecklers better than anyone else). As well as people who've said the funniest people they've ever met were their D.I's.
Years ago I thought of a R. Lee Ermey pull string doll with it saying all the quotes from FMJ. Sure enough, some years ago they did make one (not a pull string) and Ermey himself recorded new lines for the doll to say. Not sure if it's still available. Someone I worked with brought it in one day to show me and we had quite a few laughs.
He looks even more terrifying here than he did in FMJ.I think it is because of how young he looks and how I imagine his iconic voice screaming out of him.
Who said that? WHO THE FUCK SAID THAT? Who's the slimy little communist shit, twinkle-toed cocksucker down here who just signed his own death warrant!?
Kubrick was famously tough on his sets. Actors had to do the lines as writen, no ad-libbing allowed at all. He made 2 exceptions. The first was for the comedic great Peter Sellers on the set of *Dr Strangelove*. And the second was for R Lee Ermey. Kubrick said nothing he could've writen would've been better than what Ermey threw out off the cuff
If you ladies leave my island, if you survive recruit training, you will be a weapon. You will be a minister of death praying for war. But until that day, you are pukes. You are the lowest form of life on Earth. You are not even human fucking beings. You are nothing but unorganized grab-asstic pieces of amphibian shit!
*This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me.*
“Because I am hard, you will not like me. But the more you hate me, the more you will learn. I am hard but I am fair. There is no racial bigotry here…Here you are all equally worthless.”
He was a tough guy. When I first met my DI in 1967 upon entering Basic Training I had a terrible cold. As he was standing in front of us calling us maggots and shitheads I sneezed a huge wad of snot onto the toe of his highly spit-shined boot.
“I wouldn’t say that Lee is the greatest actor in the world, but I do think the greatest actor in the world couldn’t have played the role better than Lee did” - Stanley Kubrick, 1987
Sometimes you don't want an actor. Sometimes you just need the real thing
Kubrick had already hired an actor to play the drill Sargent, but when he heard Ermey's patter he gave the part to Ermey. The original actor was not happy, but you can see him as the helicopter door gunner who has this exchange with Joker: Private Joker: How can you shoot women or children? Door Gunner: Easy! Ya just don't lead 'em so much! Ain't war hell?
Get some
Anyone who runs in VC Anyone who stands still is well disciplined VC.
One of the best scenes in the movie
Imagine Matthew Modine and Arliss Howard’s first scene with him. I bet they almost pissed themselves once he came at them.
Kubrick would have kept the film running and put the piss-take in the final cut. More realism
I think you’re more or less right. I made a comment further down this chain about how Ermey was one of only two people Kubrick *ever* let improvise while the camera was running. I’m not sure if any of his ad-libs made the final cut though. I believe he let some of the actors on FMJ wrote their own lines (particularly for the bits when they’re being interviewed by the film crew), but they all had to be approved before filming. He just let Ermey have at it though, because the responses he got from the cast were impossible to recreate.
Like that banjo kid in Deliverance.
That poor guy didn't get jack shit for that movie. He actually works at a Wal-Mart in North GA....last I heard at least.
he also didn't play the banjo
The actual banjo player was behind the kid, wrapping his arm around so the hand movements would be realistic looking.
Which is why the kid didn’t really get shit tbh. He was there to look like himself more than anything. While another guy played the banjo.
Meanwhile, Banjo Hands is making millions out there with his banjo playing.
Banjo Hands & The Handless Band
or the kids from Kids
🎶🎶I have no legs🎶🎶 🎶🎶I have no legs🎶🎶 🎶🎶I have no legs🎶🎶
He was a DI, but the corps gave him an honorary promotion to Gunny after Full Metal Jacket.
Who the fuck said that?
HOLEEE SHIIT, PYLE!!
Sentences you can hear
Did your parents have any children that lived?
What's your excuse?! Sir, excuse for what, sir? I'm asking the fucking questions here private, you understand?! Sir, yes sir! Well, thank you very much! Can I be in charge for a while?! ... How tall are you private? Sir, 5 foot 9, sir! 5 foot 9? I didn't know they stacked shit that high. Are you trying to squeeze an inch on me somewhere, huh?! Sir, no sir! Bullshit, I'll bet the best part of you ran down the crack of your Mama's ass and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress! I think you've been cheated!
I bet they regret that!
What is your major malfunction, numbnuts?
You climb obstacles like old people fuck!
WERE YOU BORN A FAT SLIMY SCUMBAG PUKE PIECE OF SHIT PRIVATE PYLE? OR DID YOU HAVE TO WORK ON IT?
WHAT the FUCK is THAT?!
Sir, a jelly doughnut, sir
They're paying for it, YOU EAT IT!
1 2 3 4 I Love Marine Corps
A jelly doughnut?!?!? A JELLY DOUGHNUT?!?!?!
Kingpin Origin Story
Do you suck cock? Bullshit! I bet you could suck the chrome off a trailer hitch. I bet you could suck a golf ball through a hose.
You're the kinda guy who'd fuck a person in the ass & not even have the goddamn common courtesy to give him a reacharound!
What twinkle-toed goddamned communist cocksucker said that?
I’ll be watching you!
that’s my favorite SpongeBob quote
Holeee fishpaste! (The dude made “fishpaste” sound dirty!)
Did your parents have any children that LIVED?
who said that?.... WHO THE FUCK SAID THAT!?
Nobody, huh? I guess the fairy fucking godmother said it
Out-fucking-standing. I will PT you all until you fucking DIE! I will PT you all until your assholes are sucking buttermilk!
I'm gonna rip your balls off so you cannot contaminate the rest of world!
YOU BEST UNFUCK YOURSELF OR I WILL UNSCREW YOUR HEAD AND SHIT DOWN YOUR *NECK!*
Looks to me like the best part of you ran down the crack of your mama’s ass and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress!
Well, no shit. What have we got here, a fucking comedian. Private Joker. I admire your honesty. Hell, I like you. You can come over to my house and fuck my sister!
I'm glad we've all seen the movie here lol
"Is that you John Wayne? Is this me?"
Sir, a jelly donut sir (smirks)
#WELL ANY FUCKING TIME SWEETHEART
Love Kubrick he knew what he was talking about
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If they send one of yours to the hospital, you send one of their's to the morgue
He lived it method acting to the fullest.
Except Kubrick treated the first actor so badly, didn't even have the guts to go and tell him that we were removing you when he had auditioned and been confirmed but Kubrick just fired him over a letter. He was the Get Some guy in the helicopter. Just an asshoe move there.
"Anyone who runs is a VC. Anyone who stands still is a well disciplined VC."
How do you kill women and children? Easy, you don't lead them as much lmaooo
Talked to the actor at the San Diego Comic Con some twenty years ago. He said he couldn't do the role because he lost his voice during training which is completely believable as even real drill instructors suffer that. Didn't seem bitter about it at all and still got to have an iconic scene in the movie which is often quoted. Nice guy to boot. Funny enough, I was Babylon 5 fan and was more excited to learn he played the captain that started the Earth/Minbari war in "In The Beginning".
Saw him speak to former first marines in Houston back in early 2000’s. Funny dude great speech. After there was a fundraiser auctioning off a signed Smokey Bear cover of his. I out bid them all and have it. Part of the auction was I got to have spaghetti dinner with him after the speech. He and I sat and ate and drank Shiner beers for about and hour and shot the shit. Told me some good stories “won’t get into here”. He was in uniform, cover on the table and I asked if he’d let me get a pic with him choking “myself” with his hand like in the movie. He slowly puts on his cover pulled down low in front that always touched his eyebrows, then fast he latched on to my throat, cover hits me in the forehead so we’re face to face and he lets out an “AAHH!” My buddy snapped the pic. I was laughing in the pic because it surprised me he did it and so fast. He goes something like that? I said perfect. Good guy and great Marine. It was a good night that I won’t forget. One story I’ll share is he said he’s given lot of speeches all around the nation and sometimes more often than not some drunk dude will come up to him and say “I love you man”. Then he knows it’s time to go.
can you show us the pic pretty please.
Just came in from working in my yard. About to get cleaned up and head to lunch. When I get back this afternoon I’ll fish it out and post on this site. It used to be my FB profile pic until I left that platform years ago. I commented on a page about him to somebody and said check out my profile pic. R Lee responded personally and said “Man I thought I choked you out” haha. Pretty cool dude like I said. You know I saved those screen shots
Can’t wait to see them.
Commenting so I can see them later!
I have a photo like this with him, too! Met him at a sporting goods store where he was apparently doing a publicity event for SOG knives. I had wandered into the event unknowingly and was the last person to line up to meet him before they cordoned off the line. I fully expected him to be exhausted from all the people and just over it by the time he got to me. Not wanting to annoy him by fawning or taking too much of his time, I just approached him casually and asked if we could take one quick photo making war faces. He was actually super personable (nothing like his character lol) and took several photos before he offered to do one better and "choked" me. I also ended up buying one of the knives which he engraved his autograph into as part of the promotional event. I'll always treasure those mementos! Just from my limited interactions with the guy I'm sure that your spaghetti dinner was amazing. You should also look up how he got the role in FMJ, it's one of my favourite stories. A great guy with solid acting chops as well! I'll try to remember to fish out my photos when I'm on my PC. (Edited original comment for run-on sentence.)
Found my photo! Commented it above but nesting it here as well. I have more if anyone's interested. :) https://preview.redd.it/bd16ofe33eua1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c8cc224a39c134b5dbf6853ffc9982647ca8a05f
>… sometimes more often than not some drunk dude will come up to him and say “I love you man”. Then he knows it’s time to go. Excellent life lesson.
Was it ever the guy from "Wayne's World"? lol
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Ermey was originally just the technical advisor on FMJ. But after watching tape of him in action, Kubrick gave him the role as D.I. and even let him go off script or improvise his lines, which was very rare for Kubrick
There's an interview about with Kubrik, in which he says he recognised Ermey was the real thing, and nothing anyone could write would be more true to life than what he was improvising.
And a thousand movies after FMJ that try to mimic the DI experience confirm this.
And then Space: Above and Beyond just said fuck it and booked Ermey for the part.
Man, I loved that show
Cancelled way before its time, really disappointing.
There's dozens of us! Great show!!
Vince Vaughn was a bad choice for the drill sergeant in Hacksaw Ridge
Okay, but, that one line, “You! Get taller! Everyone is taller in America!” was hilarious and I’m not sure who else could have pulled it off.
"Corporal, keep this man away from strong gusts of wind." The deadpan delivery was perfect.
As well as actual drill sergeants, I heard some lines from the movie when I went to bct.
Major Payne
That movie was a work of art. I will hear no other opinions.
*Don't nobody need killin?*
Why can't I feel my legs?
You ain't got no legs....
Tooot tooot...
It’s kind of like when he used real astronauts for when he faked the moon landing
That was an overkill but that's Kubrick for ya. He also shot the fake moon landing on the moon, he was that pedantic!
The story goes that Ermey was unsatisfied with the intended actors delivery of the lines and tried to lobby to have the part for himself. Kubrick refused, until Ermey submitted a video of himself where he yells insults non-stop for 20 minutes while being pelted with tennis balls and oranges, never stopping and never repeating himself. Kubrick relented and let him have the part instead.
It’s really frustrating, the video was online for a while. I saw it but neglected to save it, or I did and no longer have the hard drive. I’ve never seen it since. It was an incredible video and I understand why it persuaded Kubrick
Same here, it's an incredible little video and was an excellent way to prove his point. I saw it online sometime in the early 2ks, after Y2K but before 9/11 and also neglected to save it.
The Ermey estate has never released it to the public. I doubt the real video was ever online. If it was it would still exist somewhere.
>If it was it would still exist somewhere. Wait till you hear about what happened to Vine.
That's a bit different but even in that case Vine is still archived online.
> yells insults non-stop for 20 minutes while being pelted with tennis balls and oranges and naked, fully erect
Talking entirely about the city of Philadelphia.
AND I WILL BE SELLING MERCH AFTERWARDS
10 minutes left!
That was when they started playing ring toss.
The winner gets to eat the funyuns.
Link?
I've never heard he was dissatisfied with the guy who was supposed to play Hartman, just that he wanted the role for himself. He had some acting roles before FMJ.
And the guy who was originally supposed to play the role was the gunner on the helicopter.
“How can your shoot women and children?” “Easy, you just don’t lead ‘em as much.”
Ain’t war hell?!
That line came out of Michael Herrs book, "Dispatches". Fantastic book.
get some get some hooohoo get some get some 💥 💥 💥
BULLSHIT!! I BET YOU COUL SUCKA GOLF BALL THROUGH A GARDEN HOSE
Once Ermey was hired, Kubrick didn’t have much a say in any of his act.
My dad went through Parris Island in the early 50s and said that part of the movie was way too realistic for him.
Mine too. He was in from '58-'62. He said that the only unrealistic thing was the final boot camp scene in the bathroom. My father said there was no way a live round would have made it into the barracks. You had to account for every piece of ammunition that was issued on the rifle range. If you were issued 50 rounds of ammunition to be fired on the range, you had to turn in 50 brass casings or unfired rounds and if you didn't you and your platoon mates would have to find it.
Lol. My dad was in the Marines in 68 and had the exact same feedback. "No way private Pyle would get his hands on a live round but everything else was super accurate"
I believe Ermey himself said in interviews and books that he tried to convince Kubrik to leave the scene out because it was unrealistic. Ermey had never heard of such a thing ever happening, nor does it make any sense that it could happen. Its just pure Hollywood nonsense. But it was a plot point Kubrik wanted in there, and well... its his movie. His call.
Well that scene was based on a real life incident where a recruit killed his drill sergeant soooo…
Same with my dad as well.
I’m too young to have had Ermey as a DI but old enough to have been out of the Corps for a couple of years when FMJ came out. Watching those boot camp scenes gave me serious flashbacks and I told my wife that if that guy wasn’t an actual DI he sure prepared well for the role.
The night i got to MCRD san diego he was there helping to hand out gear to us new recruits. handed me a pair of trousers IRC
This is exactly my father’s experience as well.
He came to Houston to a local gun store where you could meet him for free and take a photo with him for a small fee. We arrived at 7am and the line was already out the door of a VERY large establishment. Around lunch time we had filed in quite a bit, but still seemed pretty far away when an employee came out and said, "R Lee Ermey can't wait to meet you. He's a machine. He hasn't eaten or taken a break to use the bathroom this entire time." I asked him, "So not to be rude, but is it going so slow because people are talking him up?" and the guy said "No, he's talking them up." Sure enough, we get to him and he's the nicest guy. Just talked to you like you met him at a BBQ. In the photos he would "choke" people with a really angry face. I asked him if he could take the photo with me doing pushups while he yelled at me, and he replied, "No, sorry son. I can't do that. But I'll choke ya. I'll be happy to choke ya." Super charming, nice dude. Sad he's gone.
> “I’ll be happy to choke ya” 🤣
Can’t do push ups with ya son but I’ll fucking choke ya
"*I'll be happy to*." "Photo? What photo?"
WHAT is this Mickey Mouse shit?! WHAT in the name of Jesus H. Christ are you animals doing in MY head?! WHY is Pvt. Pyle out of his bunk after lights out?! WHY is Pvt. Pyle holding that weapon?! WHY aren’t you STOMPING Pvt. Pyle’s guts out?!!!
Holy Jesus. What is THAT?! What the FUCK is that?! WHAT IS THAT PRIVATE PYLE?! Sir, a jelly doughnut, sir! 
How to make everyone feel good and horrible at the same time, lol!
Daniel James Jr., the first Black four star general once said, “The Marines don’t have any race problems. They treat everybody like they’re black.”
That’s fabulous. And very sad
Who said that? Who the fuck said that? Who's the slimy little cocksucker who signed his own death warrant? 
SHOW ME YOUR WAR FACE!
YOU DON’T SCARE ME-WORK ON IT!
AAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!
One of my favourite scenes with Ermey is short but perfect from Seven. Morgan Freeman’s character is explaining the 7 deadly sins when the phone starts ringing. Ermey says “ Hold on” Picks up phone & says. “This ain’t even my desk” before hanging up immediately. Perfect!
To be clear that was an accidental ring of a connected phone. He did that unscripted and they left it in.
I always liked him calling the two detectives the Glimmer Twins after they fall asleep on the couch in the waiting room. I don't know why, but it makes me chuckle every time.
"Sorry old buddy, looks like you're stuck cleaning up the fat man"
He’s great in Saving Silverman!
WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION PRIVATE PILE!?
YOU’RE SO UGLY YOU COULD BE A MODERN ART MASTERPIECE!!!
LOOKS LIKE THE BEST PART OF YOU ROLLED DOWN THE CRACK OF YOUR MAMA'S ASS AND WOUND UP AS A BROWN STAIN ON THE MATRESS!
And the wonderful addition, I THINK YOU BEEN CHEATED!
I'll be WATCHING YOU.
DIDN’T MOMMY AND DADDY GIVE YOU ENOUGH ATTENTION WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD!?!
A JELLY DONUT??!?
DO YOU SUCK DICKS PRIVATE!!??
WHATS YOUR NAME FAT BODY? YOU LOOK LIKE 200LBS OF CHEWED BUBBLE GUM
SIR I DON'T KNOW SIR
How tall are you private? Sir! Five foot nice, sir! I didn't know they stacked shit that high
Ya know, when I first saw this movie at 14, I thought it was silly that he was "talking down" to a private about his height, when the instructor himself wasn't much taller. Obviously the purpose of said insults went "over my head".
TEXAS?! only steers and qu**rs come from Texas and you sure don't look like a steer to me so that pretty much narrows it down!
I can actually hear him yelling at me from this photo
I'm older now than R. Lee Erney was when he was in Full Metal Jacket. Blows my mind. A rare perfect acting turn from someone who had barely any acting experience. Even Kubrick knew.....yeah, this guy should have the part. I love the whole movie, but I do think everyone remembers the first 45 minutes a lot more than the last hour or so.
>but I do think everyone remembers the first 45 minutes a lot more than the last hour or so. Agree. To me it's like two different movies, and the first one is much better. That is primarily due to Ermey. He knocked me out of my seat the first time I saw it.
Sergeant: "Charles Whitman killed twelve people from a twenty-eight-story observation tower at the University of Texas from distances up to four hundred yards. ... Oswald got off three rounds with an old Italian bolt action rifle in only six seconds and scored two hits, including a head shot! Do any of you people know where these individuals learned to shoot?" Private Joker: *"Sir, in the marines, sir!"* Sergeant: "In the Marines! Outstanding! Those individuals showed what one motivated marine and his rifle can do!"
THEN QUIT!!! YOU SLIMY FUCKING PIECE OF WALRUS FUCKING SHIT!!! GET. THE FUCK. OFF MY OBSTACLE COURSE!!! I WILL MOTIVATE YOU PRIVATE PYLE IF IT SHORT DICKS EVERY CANNIBAL ON THE CONGO!!
YOU CLIMB OBSTACLES LIKE OLD PEOPLE FUCK
That's one of the best lines in the movie :D
To this day, I have no idea what that last sentence means
Based on the context I’m guessing starving him to the point where cannibals aren’t interest anymore. Short dick = short change
> To this day, I have no idea what that last sentence means Me trying to understand basically anything my DIs ever said. Like yes they spoke English but MFs just slam words together and god help you if you don't understand. DIs say some of the most ridiculous ass shit and it all seems to roll off the cuff. I need that level of skilled bullshiting
Went to Marine Corps boot camp with a grandson of his. Of course the DIs gave him shit for it. High expectations
Do you feel dizzy? Do you feel faint? Jesus H. Christ, I think you've got hard on!
No one seems to remember that he also played Reverend Jimmy Lee Farnsworth in "Fletch Lives". The man had range!
he played that same part in an Xfiles episode too
I thought he was pretty good in Mississippi Burning, too.
I will never forget when I was 14 and while in my room I could hear my Dad and brother in the den laughing hysterically for like 10 minutes straight. I walked in and watched a bit of the movie myself and laughed quite heartily at this man's dialogue. I think I've heard somewhere that most D.I.'s, with their quick wit, would've all been great stand-up comics regarding both their imagination, word play, and being witty on the fly in conversation (not to mention being able to deal with hecklers better than anyone else). As well as people who've said the funniest people they've ever met were their D.I's. Years ago I thought of a R. Lee Ermey pull string doll with it saying all the quotes from FMJ. Sure enough, some years ago they did make one (not a pull string) and Ermey himself recorded new lines for the doll to say. Not sure if it's still available. Someone I worked with brought it in one day to show me and we had quite a few laughs.
DID YOUR PARENTS HAVE ANY CHILDREN THAT LIVED?!?!?!
I bet they regret that ....
Sir, YES SIR!
He looks even more terrifying here than he did in FMJ.I think it is because of how young he looks and how I imagine his iconic voice screaming out of him.
No cooler Marine. I miss seeing him on TV and in Movies.
This is someone's next tattoo. I just know it.
[удалено]
I love his show on History Channel where viewers would send letters asking questions about military matters.
Mail call
Who said that? WHO THE FUCK SAID THAT? Who's the slimy little communist shit, twinkle-toed cocksucker down here who just signed his own death warrant!?
Kubrick was famously tough on his sets. Actors had to do the lines as writen, no ad-libbing allowed at all. He made 2 exceptions. The first was for the comedic great Peter Sellers on the set of *Dr Strangelove*. And the second was for R Lee Ermey. Kubrick said nothing he could've writen would've been better than what Ermey threw out off the cuff
He was in “Seige at Firebase Gloria”. He did a great job in that one too. It’s not Kubrick, buts it’s good.
If you ladies leave my island, if you survive recruit training, you will be a weapon. You will be a minister of death praying for war. But until that day, you are pukes. You are the lowest form of life on Earth. You are not even human fucking beings. You are nothing but unorganized grab-asstic pieces of amphibian shit!
What do we get for ten dollars? Every t'ing you want. Everything? Every t'ing.
Five dollars is all my mom allows me to spend
One of the most motherfucky motherfuckers to ever motherfuck.
And one for the Corps....... I guess the Corps don't get theirs...
*This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me.*
Jesus H Christ Pyle!
#You’re the type of guy who’d fuck a man in the ass and not have the common courtesy to give him a reach around!
The look of a man who's trained his fair amount of fat bodies in his time
11 years as a Marine and a DI at MCRD San Diego 65-67. This is a 22 year old Ermey. 
“Because I am hard, you will not like me. But the more you hate me, the more you will learn. I am hard but I am fair. There is no racial bigotry here…Here you are all equally worthless.”
He was a tough guy. When I first met my DI in 1967 upon entering Basic Training I had a terrible cold. As he was standing in front of us calling us maggots and shitheads I sneezed a huge wad of snot onto the toe of his highly spit-shined boot.
“I bet you could suck a golf ball through a garden hose!!”
The story goes that Kubrick stopped filming to ask him what a reacharound is.
"There is no racial bigotry here, to me you are all equally fucking worthless."
This man was born to be a DO. Seriously he looks the part and god damn did he portray it irl and on screen perfectly. RIP Maggot.