Lou Diamond Phillips hosts Officer and a Movie on Military Channel, April 1

By April MacIntyre Apr 1, 2011, 5:18 GMT

04/21/2009 - Lou Diamond Phillips - "Numb3ers" 100th Episode Bash - Arrivals - Sunset Tower Hotel - West Hollywood, CA, USA © Tina Gill / PR Photos

Starting this weekend, grab your popcorn and join actor and former Navy brat Lou Diamond Phillips for An Officer and a Movie.

"These are our stories around the campfire. These are our morality tales" - Lou Diamond Phillips

The event kicks off with "The Great Santini," and premieres Friday, April 1 at 8pm ET on the Military Channel

As each film makes its Military Channel premiere, host Lou Diamond Phillips will speak with retired and active duty officers who will reflect on the themes of that night's film and also provide personal insight that puts each movie into a modern context.

“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,” said Lou Diamond 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.”

In the premiere episode on Friday, April 1 at 8 PM ET, Lou Diamond Phillips and retired Marine Col. Arthur Athens discuss the themes behind the 1979 classic film The Great Santini, starring Robert Duvall, who was nominated for an Academy Award for this role. 

As the director of the U.S. Naval Academy’s Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership, the former Commandant of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Athens is uniquely able to comment on what it means to be a leader in the military and within a family’s home, where in his own life he has ten children. 

Also to be aired are "Kelly’s Heroes," "Hart’s War," "Windtalkers," "Three Kings," and "The Dirty Dozen" among others.   After "The Great Santini," the next three premieres are "Heartbreak Ridge," "Bridge at Remagen" and "Victory."

More about the series:
http://military.discovery.com/tv/officer-movie/

Official show hashtag: #AnOfficerandaMovie
Military Channel on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MilitaryChannel
Lou Diamond Phillips on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LouDPhillips