Hired to coach actors to act like drill instructors because he was a drill instructor. Turns out it was more effective to just have the former drill instructor act like a drill instructor. Turns out the drill instructor did do it better than the actors, and ended up being one of the most accurate portrayals ever put to film.
Except it's not accurate. He played it as the worst example of an ineffective, sadistic drill sergeant. He has said that over half of that stuff wouldn't fly even back when he was in boot. To make it realistic that Pyle would snap he had to be a truly horrible drill sergeant, so that's how he played the role.
Having been through boot camp I can tell you there is a big over lap between what officially wouldn't fly and what unofficially does happen. He became a spokesperson for The Corps, even getting promoted after leaving service, of course he wouldn't sully the reputation of the Marine Corps on record.
Hired to coach actors to act like drill instructors because he was a drill instructor. Turns out it was more effective to just have the former drill instructor act like a drill instructor. Turns out the drill instructor did do it better than the actors, and ended up being one of the most accurate portrayals ever put to film.
Except it's not accurate. He played it as the worst example of an ineffective, sadistic drill sergeant. He has said that over half of that stuff wouldn't fly even back when he was in boot. To make it realistic that Pyle would snap he had to be a truly horrible drill sergeant, so that's how he played the role.
Having been through boot camp I can tell you there is a big over lap between what officially wouldn't fly and what unofficially does happen. He became a spokesperson for The Corps, even getting promoted after leaving service, of course he wouldn't sully the reputation of the Marine Corps on record.