Lou Diamond Phillips to Host New Military Channel Franchise

SILVER SPRING: Every Friday starting April 1, Military Channel will present An Officer and a Movie, which pairs actor Lou Diamond Phillips with retired and active duty officers who lived through major battles and can shed light on conflicts depicted in Hollywood films.

As each film in the lineup makes its debut on Military Channel, experts provide commentary about being on the ground during the action, reflecting on the themes of that night’s film. They also provide personal insight that puts each movie into modern context.

The lineup kicks off on April 1 with Phillips and retired Marine Col. Arthur Athens, who discusses the themes behind the 1979 classic The Grant Santini, starring Robert Duvall. Other movies on the slate include Kelly’s Heroes, Hart’s War, Windtalkers, Three Kings and The Dirty Dozen.

"Lou Diamond Phillips is well known for his many feature films including the military movie Courage Under Fire and, as the son of a Navy officer, he is the perfect choice to interview some of the U.S. military’s most distinguished leaders," said Henry Schleiff, the president and general manager at Investigation Discovery and Military Channel. "The discussions within An Officer and a Movie bring an entirely new and even more realistic dimension to some of the greatest war movies of our time—from The Dirty Dozen to The Great Santini to Hart’s War—and provide valuable new information exclusively for our audience of military history buffs."

"To have the opportunity to discuss the real-life events and strategies of the heroic efforts of service men and women from our nation’s history is something I will cherish," added Phillips. "In Military Channel’s An Officer and a Movie, I am honored to pick the brains of some of America’s heroes, who experienced first-hand the themes showcased in each week’s classic war film."