Operation Dumbo Drop is a 1995 American action comedy-drama war film directed by Simon Wincer. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Gene Quintano and Jim Kouf based on a true story by United States Army major Jim Morris. The film stars Danny Glover and Ray Liotta as Green Berets during the Vietnam War in 1968, who attempt to transport an elephant through jungle terrain to a local South Vietnamese village which in turn helps American forces monitor Viet Cong activity. The film deals broadly with themes of war, politics and animal welfare. A joint collective effort to commit to the film's production was made by Interscope Communications and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. It was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures theatrically, and by Buena Vista Home Entertainment for home media. Operation Dumbo Drop premiered in theaters nationwide in the United States on July 28, 1995, grossing $24,670,346 in domestic ticket receipts. The film was a moderate financial success after its theatrical run, and received mixed reviews from critics. Plot During the Vietnam War in 1968, Green Beret Captain Sam Cahill (Danny Glover) has been working hard to create good relations between the United States and Montagnard Vietnamese in the village of Dak Nhe, which occupies an important observation point near the clandestine Ho Chi Minh trail. Cahill is coming close to his discharge, and explains to his successor, Captain T.C. Doyle (Ray Liotta), the delicate nature of Vietnamese customs as well as the counterintelligence involving covert enemy activity. In a lapse of judgment with surrounding village children, a child steals a Nestlé Crunch bar from Doyle's backpack; the wrapper, when found, lets the NVA know of the local villagers' cooperation with the Americans. As punishment, Brigadier Nguyen (Hoang Ly) of the NVA, orders his subordinate, Captain Quang (Vo Trung Anh), to kill the villagers' elephant right before a spiritual festival. To aid the villagers, Cahill promises to replace the slain elephant before their upcoming ceremony while Doyle (whom the villagers blame for the elephant's death) reluctantly agrees to help. At camp, Major Pederson (Marshall Bell) assigns Cahill and Doyle, with Doyle in command, to secure and deliver a new elephant to the villagers, as well as two soldiers, Specialist 4 Harvey Ashford (Doug E. Doug) and Specialist 5 Lawrence Farley (Corin Nemec). Cahill blackmails Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Poole (Denis Leary) into helping as well. They purchase an