Enemy Mine
As I have said before, most of my early film rentals were movies I had never heard of. One of the first films I ever rented was like that. All I initially knew that it starred two of my favorite actors: Dennis Quaid and Lou Gossett, Jr. The film in question was Enemy Mine. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen and written by Edward Khmara, the film is based on Barry B. Longyear’s novella of the same name. It tells the tale a human and alien soldier, respectively, who become stranded together on an inhospitable planet. During this time they must overcome their mutual distrust in order to cooperate and survive.
Production Starts and Stops
Originally, the film was to be directed by Richard Loncraine. However, not long into production, the studio realized that their were issues with the film. The scenes didn’t look alien enough and Louis Gossett Jr.’s costume and makeup was poorly made. They decided that a change needed to be made and they recruited Wolfgang Peterson to take over.
Not Following Someone Else’s Vision
Peterson wasn’t onboard initially. Mainly because he didn’t like the idea of following someone else’s work. In addition, he was trying to finish his own film, The Neverending Story. If that wasn’t enough, he wasn’t really interested in doing a Star Wars type of film. He changed his mind after reading the script. However, he didn’t like any of the work produced by Loncraine so he started from scratch. Gossett’s makeup was redone and the film restarted in earnest in December of 1984.
“Enemies because they were taught to be, allies because they had to be, brothers because they dared to be.”
The Plot of Enemy Mine
In the late 21st century, an interstellar war has broken out between humans (The Bilateral Terran Alliance, or BTA for short) and the Dracs (a bipedal reptilian humanoid race). Many of the conflicts are fought between fighter spacecraft in an all out space dogfight. In this war, no human hates the Dracs more than Willis E. Davidge (Dennis Quaid).
Depending on one another
It is during one such battle, Davidge and Drac pilot Jeriba Shigan (Louis Gossett, Jr.) engage in a serious dogfight which results in both crash-landing on Fyrine IV. While both combatants initial reaction was to viciously hunt one another, eventually, the two learn they must cooperate to survive. During the next three years, they gradually become friends. During that time they take turns saving each other’s life.
As he sleeps, Davidge is haunted by dreams of spaceships landing on the planet. Feeling like it somehow telling him something, he decides to go in search of help. During his exploration, he finds evidence of humans, but also learns that the planet has been visited by human miners known as “Scavengers.” These miners use Dracs as slave labor.
Family Lineage is Everything
Frightened for his friend, he returns to warn Jeriba (whom he now calls “Jerry”) of what he has learned. But what he finds instead is that Jerry is pregnant. Apparently Dracs reproduce asexually. During Jerry’s gestation period, Davidge and Jerry memorize each other’s ancestry. Compared to the long lineage of Jerry, they realize that Davidge’s lineage is “very thin” as Jerry tells him.
Unfortunately, Jerry later dies in childbirth. Before he dies he makes Davidge swear to take the child, Zammis (Bumper Robinson), back to the Drac homeworld. There he will recite his lineage and join Drac society. Davidge agrees having to physically remove the child from Jerry. He raises Zammis, who calls him “Uncle”.
The Scavengers Return
After some years, Davidge notices a ship flying over and he goes to investigate, telling Zammis to stay put. However, Zammis is curious and decides to follow. Unfortunately, he is discovered by a pair of Scavengers. Davidge attacks the men trying to protect Zammis. During the conflict, Zammis inadvertently stands between Davidge and one of the miners. Davidge is gunned down and Zammis is taken. Later, a BTA patrol ship lands and finds Davidge, who they believe is dead. They take him and return him to their base space station.
While performing an impersonal funeral ceremony, Davidge suddenly awakens. The BTA reinstates him to duty but not as a pilot. They are not sure if he might have been brainwashed during his isolation. Davidge’s main concern is Zammis. He tries to get help in rescuing Zammis but gets no satisfaction. Realizing he was on his own, Davidge steals a ship to find the child by himself.
He manages to track the Scavenger ship and sneak aboard. During his search for Jammis, he finds a large group of Drac slaves. Davidge speaks to them in their own language. They reveal that they know about Zammis and realize he is Uncle. After learning where Jammis is, Davidge enters the facility. He fights one miner after another, and seeing his battle, the slaves revolt. Fortunately, they are assisted by the BTA crew who pursued the stolen ship.
In the epilogue, Davidge fulfills his promise to Jerry and he goes with Zammis to the Drac homeworld. The narration goes “… and when, in the fullness of time, Zammis brought its own child before the Holy Council, the name of ‘Willis Davidge’ was added to the line of Jeriba.“
The Critics and Box Office Results
Like many films of its time, the Critical reviews for Enemy Mine were mixed at best. What is generally agreed upon is that the acting, especially Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett, Jr, was first rate. However, it also struggled at the box office losing money in the end with a budget of 40 million while taking in only 12.3 million. This didn’t stop the film from eventually becoming a cult favorite over the years.
My Take
I have always like Enemy Mine. The story it tells is still as viable today as it was then. Overcoming your own personal or trained biases and working together for a common goal. And NOTHING will do that more than your personal survival. The performances of Quaid and Gossett Jr. are top notch. Especially Gossett Jr, as he must emote with a heavy makeup appliance. If nothing else, check out the dialogue where Jerry asks Davidge about that great Earth man teacher, Mickey Mouse. Although according to Jerry, he is “one big dope!” As a whole I give Enemy Mine 4 out of 5.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
