Although his tough sergeant, played by Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr, makes his life a living hell from day one, Zack refuses to quit.

Warned to stay away from the local girls looking for naval husbands to take them away from their mundane lives, Zack and his bunkmate, Sid (Keith), nevertheless find themselves falling for two friends who work at the local paper mill.

As smooth- talking Mayo undergoes the gruelling training schedule, he becomes more involved with factory worker Paula Pokrifki (Winger), and romance blossoms.

Zack fights his feelings for Paula, determined to let nothing sway him from his goals but, as the hellish weeks of training go by, he begins to realise that maybe he can't do it alone.

Widely acclaimed at the time of its release, director Taylor Hackford's inspiring film is a romance for the ages, which will grip and, yes, uplift.

With a catchy soundtrack, including Oscar-winning song Up Where We Belong, and Gere looking dashing in white naval uniform, this tear-welling flick will have you moved until the highly emotive end.