“THE HIDDEN HAND”
An in-depth analysis of
Stanley Kubrick’s
FULL METAL JACKET
© by Rob Ager June 2008
8) M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E
One of the most obscure aspects of FMJ is it’s final scene. The Lusthogs march through the burning city of Hue, while Joker speaks a bizarre closing monologue. Then we hear the Lusthogs singing an out of place Mickey Mouse song: “Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E …”.
In marine slang the term Mickey Mouse is used to describe anything that is stupid and senseless, which fits perfectly as a metaphor in FMJ. After all, the songs that both the recruits and the Lusthogs blabber during their marches certainly qualify as stupid and senseless. Kubrick is emphasizing the marines insanity by having them literally sing a Mickey Mouse verse in their final march. They are all members of the stupid and senseless military mindset – the Mickey Mouse club. Their heads are full of ridiculous illusions and hypocrisy, installed by the routine shenanigans of their drill instructors and commanding officers. Even Hartman’s ludicrous claim that he is “hard, but fair” is repeated in the final marching scene: “We play fair and we work hard and we’re in harmony … M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E …”.
Mickey mouse references are found elsewhere in the narrative. As Hartman enters the toilets to confront Pyle and Joker he shouts: “What is this Mickey Mouse shit”. This directly associates the “stupid and senseless” interpretation to Pyle’s rifle prayer.
In the two scenes of the editorial team, Mickey and Minnie Mouse figures are stood on the window ledge behind Joker’s head because Joker is thoroughly aware that the purpose of these meetings is nothing more than “stupid and senseless” propaganda. The positions of the two figures also shift in the second editorial scene, which may or may not be significant.
In the script Joker voices his awareness of his propaganda role to Captain January: “I’ve fought to make the world safe for hypocrisy” and in the film he pokes fun at the chief editor’s decisions. Editor: “From now on we’re to replace the term ‘search and destroy’ with ‘sweep and clear’,” Joker: “Very catchy”. And during the debriefing about the Tet ceasefire offensive, which Joker knew was coming, he sits slumped in his chair looking bored stiff.
In this same set are two pictures of the cartoon character Snoopy. This is probably a reference to both the cartoon Charlie Brown and the NVA, who US forces referred to as Charlie.