Operation Dumbo Drop is a 1995 American action comedy war film directed by Simon Wincer. The screenplay was 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. Denis Leary, Doug E. Doug, and Corin Nemec also star. The film deals broadly with themes of war, politics and animal welfare.
Theatrical release poster
Actor Danny Glover who portrayed Cpt. Sam Cahill
An Asian elephant similar to one used during filming
Simon Wincer is an Australian film and television director. He attended Cranbrook School, Sydney, from 1950 to 1961. On leaving school he worked as a stagehand at TV Station Channel 7. By the 1980s he had directed over 200 hours of television. In 1986, he directed the telemovie The Last Frontier and also won a Christopher Award. He also directed the 1993 family film Free Willy.
Wincer interviewed on AccessReel.com in 2011