---
title: "The Army ROTC program is using Hollywood to train future officers"
description: "\"The Princess Bride\" is a cult classic – one of Robin Wright's early roles, combined with a young Cary Elwes along with Mandy Patankin and Andre the Giant."
date: "2018-04-02"
modified: "2020-10-22"
authors:
  - name: "Harold C. Hutchison"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/haroldhutchison/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/the-army-rotc-program-is-using-hollywood-to-train-future-officers/"
categories:
  - "Army"
  - "Fitness"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "Military Life"
  - "Military News"
  - "Resources"
---

# The Army ROTC program is using Hollywood to train future officers

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17285293/origin.jpg>)

"The Princess Bride" is a cult classic – one of Robin Wright's early roles, combined with a young Cary Elwes along with Mandy Patankin and Andre the Giant.

---

While it's a satirical look at medieval fairy tales, could it play a role in training future combat leaders in the U.S. Army? Believe it or not, the answer may be "Yes."

The proof is on [Youtube](<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0t6LhApmHQ9YosAOlJ1tDA>), where the Army ROTC has a channel with dozens of videos of classic movies that hold a lesson for this generation of leaders.

As part of a course labeled MSL 101, Lesson 10, the "Battle of Wits" scene is used to discuss critical thinking. At the end of that video, a card comes up for about four seconds, asking, "What did you think of the clip?" The card goes on to ask, "What processes do you use when you are considering a situation/dilemma when you alone must make the decision?"

Here is that video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_JsLumZCXo

Other videos used in that lesson plan include two clips from the Wile E. Coyote/Roadrunner cartoons in the "Looney Tunes" collection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOjl3jm-GrA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezOZcF4C254

"The Big Bang Theory" also is mined for clips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iklTlUyfGOI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOx4rXiVu-s

"Top Gun" adds one as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38jTP4g20Hk

Stick around – there are two major productions that really get mined to illustrate lessons.

## Author
WATM contributor Harold Hutchison was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national web sites.