MovieChat Forums > Tribes (1970) Discussion > Was there a draft lottery in 1970? At 2...

Was there a draft lottery in 1970? At 26 did he enlist?

posted 15 years ago by micaofboca-1
7 replies | jump to latest

If this movie was filmed in 1970 and Jan was born in 1944, that makes him 26. Since they didn't draft guys into the Marine Corps, did he enlist at 26 or is it just artistic license having a 26 year old actor play a much younger kid? Those days after 1968's Tet offensive were so polarized America was on the verge of open rebellion a/la The storming of the Bastille. It's too bad Bush's generation didn't learn from Lyndon Johnson's and Robert Mcnamara's mistakes. But it was nice seeing a healthy young Jan Michael-Vincent, before his Monty/styled crash that ruined his good looks and put him in the bottle. But even so, 1970 was a politically charged nightmare of a world that I''d naively prayed would never rear its ugly head again. This movie didn't show the huge amount of body bags that added to much more than the Afghanistan and Iraq wars today. But today's economy is much worse than Nixon's. I was lucky in the draft lottery. Out of 365 days I was 336, meaning I could continue my college without worrying about being drafted. However, if worse came to worse, I would have gone had they drafted me. But I thought that war was a disaster for the American people and the world at large. Does anyone know if Jan's character's views on the war were the same as Jan's personal feelings? He was represented as a conscientious objector, but I'd always thought he was much more right-wing than that, in a capricious way like his character in the Mechanic, 2 years later.

[–] wongsaur 14 years ago

If you are old enough to have been eligible for the draft as indicated in your post, then you should be aware of the duration of the draft. It lasted up to 1973 when the all-volunteer army began. The Marines drafted right up to 1971 but once the Corps pulled out of VN they stopped taking draftees. It was possible to be drafted right up to the age of 26. It says something about the American people's attitude towards the statutory military obligation and national service.

[–] sanookdee 13 years ago

the draft lottery went from 1969-1973. I remember sitting with my friends and listening to the lottery numbers being announced on the radio. When the 100th birthday was drawn, we all gave a big sigh of relief. But, I year later I enlisted. If I remember correctly, draft cards were issued with a 1H until the later classifications would turn it to a 1A, 4F or others. Mine stayed 1H. I still have my draft card stored with my important papers.

I don't remember body bags being shown being brought back to the states but I do remember flag draped coffins.

Bushes generation are the ones that fought in Vietnam and the ones that protested it. I am not sure I understand your reference to the Bush generation. If you were part of the draft lottery, you are also part of the Bush generation (usually referred to as baby boomers).

The movie being filmed in 1970 does not mean it took place in 1970. it could have taken place in 69, 68 etc. Also, JMV age is not relevant as a actor. actors often play someone older or younger than they really are.

[–] dcoydcoy 8 years ago

Yup, conscription ended in '73. I missed it, but enlisted anyway.

[–] fbm72751 8 years ago

The # 1 birthday number was Sept 14th, so anyone born from 1944 to 1952 (in 1970) were the first ones to get drafted. My number (Dec 27th) was 78 but since I turned 18 in 1972, that was a month before the draft ended so I wasn't drafted. I later wanted to enlist but they wouldn't take me due to hypoglycemia which is a blood sugar thing.

[–] MovieBuffMarine 8 years ago

. . .is it just artistic license having a 26 year old actor play a much younger kid?

Nine times out of ten, in Hollywood, that's the case.

[–] zooymtoo 7 years ago

Of course he was playing younger..And throughout the 70's he typically looked and played younger.
In 1974 he played a high school senior in Buster and Billie.

[–] MovieBuffMarine 7 years ago

I think actors and actresses have been playing younger (than themselves) characters since Bill Shakespeare was participating in junior high school plays!