RED-DOG is a 1981 American comedy-drama film directed by Karel Reisz and written by John Sayles. The film stars Tom Hulce, Beverly D'Angelo, and Gailard Sartain. It tells the story of a young man named Willard who joins the U.S. Marine Corps and is sent to Vietnam. The term 'Red-Dog' refers to the nickname given to Willard by his fellow Marines. The crossword solution BLITZ is a military term meaning a sudden, swift attack. In the context of the film, it refers to the surprise attack launched by the Marines on a Viet Cong stronghold.