Zack Mayo (Richard Gere) has nothing--the son of an alcoholic, indifferent military father, he's grown up in the Philippines living on top of a brothel. But after college he decides he wants more and, despite his father's mockery, enrolls in the navy's Officer Candidate School to become a jet pilot. His sergeant, brilliantly played by Louis Gossett Jr., makes his life a living hell from day one, but Zack won't quit. The candidates are warned to stay away from the local girls looking for naval husbands, but Zack and his bunkmate, Sid (David Keith), find themselves falling for two friends, Paula (Debra Winger) and Lynette (Lisa Blount), who work at the local paper mill. Zack fights his feelings for Paula, determined to let nothing sway him from his goals. But as the hellish weeks of training go by, Zack begins to see that maybe he can't do it alone--and that what's getting him through are his friends in the ranks, and the girl he's been pushing away. Widely acclaimed at the time of its release, director Taylor Hackford's inspiring film is a romance for the ages.

In this popular romance, Richard Gere plays Zack Mayo, a self-serving, cynical loner desperately hoping to earn a naval commission to become a jet pilot. His single-minded focus on getting though Officer Candidate School is unexpectedly waylaid by his involvement with a local girl (Debra Winger) and his newfound friendships in the ranks, so Zack finds that achieving his dreams may not be a solo pursuit after all. Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warren sing the memorable Academy Award-winning theme song "Up Where We Belong."

Partially shot on location in the Philippines and Mexico.

NYPD BLUE's David Caruso appears in the supporting role of Topper Daniels.

Ed Begley Jr. provides the voice of the altitude chamber instructor.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case - Sensormatic
Widescreen - 16.9
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English, French
Mono - English, French
Closed Captioned - English

Richard Gere: American Actor - An Officer and a Gentleman/Pretty Woman
Debra Winger: American Actress
David Keith: American Actor
Louis Gossett: African American actor, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
Robert Loggia: American actor, JAGGED EDGE
Lisa Blount: American Actress
Lisa Eilbacher: American Actress

Taylor Hackford: American Director/Producer

"...Many finely-drawn characters to care about....[The director] controls these characters completely, deftly mixing his documentarian's training with the dramatist's art..."
"...A first-rate movie -- a beautifully acted, thoroughly involving romance..."
"[T]he two stars are mighty captivating." -- Grade: B
3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]ts exploration of the trappings of love is still a remarkably modern one."