Robin Williams' Improvisation - Behind The Scenes of Good Morning Vietnam

Robin Williams Outtakes from Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

[@hasslefree1848]

I was an extra on the film set of Good Morning Vietnam in Bangkok during April 1987 .......For 3 days in a row we all had a front row seat to his bizarre humor and comedy antics and 20 feet away.......we were paid 1000 baht per day and a meal of rice and chicken and liquid refreshments......Good memories...

[@leavoda3791]

hasslefree Wow! That's impressive! How did you get that gig?

[@rondy702]

Pretty interesting!

[@mikem.2078]

what areas was filming / work done?

[@andrieslouw3811]

A front row seet. Just think how much that would cost today. Priceless

[@anthonyborg1990]

Forget the bonuses and the money. I'd be a broke beggar in the side of the street and refuse the $ and food and water to have been in this legends presence.

[@N-GinAndTonicTM]

Just remember that one the first day of recording lines for Aladdin, Robin Williams said "This script isn't funny enough, let me do my own thing" and improvised at least 90% of his comedy, lines and impressions. There'll never be another man like Robin Williams.

[@ideitbawxproductions1880]

Another great thing about Aladdin: the animators did their animation tests for the genie by animating over Robin's stand-up. This was before Robin was even cast for the part. They already wanted the genie to be an over-the-top character, and they knew Robin would be perfect for the part. If you ever get the chance to look up the test animations, do it, they're hysterical. Lindsay Ellis included a few of them in her video on Robin's involvement with Disney & how it's affected children's movies since

[@scottreiburnNYC]

I was so lucky to have met Robin when he was filming a David Duchovny movie here in Brooklyn. He stopped to talk, really took the time to just hang out between shots, play with my Golden Retriever, and couldn’t have been nicer. A highlight of my life: I made Robin Williams throw his head back and laugh out loud, comparing “old Brooklyn” to “new fancy Brooklyn”. Then he started doing voices, it became a mini-schtick! Then he said, “I gotta get back to work”, smiled, and ran back towards the camera and lights. I’ll never forget it, or Robin.

[@vinylviper1971]

OMG awesome, like time just stopped there , nothing else mattered for Robin, you and your dog ❤

[@thekidfromiowa]

House of D

[@MsGrandunion]

There is a train driver on the L here in Chicago who does his announcements starting with "Good Morning Chicagooooooo", which is a lovely tribute. I asked him once and he said that Robin was his idol.

[@WalkaCrookedLine]

Years before the movie came out I had a high school principal who would make morning announcements on the PA system opening with an Adrian Cronaur riff. We had no idea where the routine came from, we thought he was just a loon. Then Good Morning Vietnam came out and a loud bell rang. Our principal was a Vietnam vet ...

[@TheDatpussy]

WalkaCrookedLine thats a nice story haha

[@breenaxie4672]

MsGrandunion I also heard that announcement many times on the metro train when I was living in Chicago....

[@richcandoit]

He still does it today. Every morning at the Damen stop on the Blue Line.

[@yogib37]

@@WalkaCrookedLine that is an awesome story.. give respect to your principal

[@joshuabrooks4907]

The film that turned Robin Williams loose on his adoring public. Man, I wish he was still alive.

[@edwinjimenez3802]

ROBIN WILLIAMS WAS ROBIN WILLIAMS SINCE HIS FIRST PERFORMANCE WAY BEFORE THIS MOVIE

[@joshuabrooks4907]

@@edwinjimenez3802 I loved him in Mork and Mindy too.

[@dingusbingus7463]

​@@joshuabrooks4907i like his standup, but I believe the first movie I saw him in as a kid was flubber

[@hamoostaffat]

The more you watch his improv the more you think, its actually amazing he didn't burn out a lot sooner than he did, still missed, still loved ❤

[@crice7sh]

It's easy to forget what a true artist he was. The fact that this was unscripted makes it go from impressive to incredible. RIP Robin Williams.

[@superlex611]

Cameron Rice it was improvised the whole movie

[@UltromanTheTacoman]

Well, they gave him a bunch of history stuff to study, so he would only make jokes appropriate for the time and context, and they had certain story points he had to hit. That just makes it even harder! and more impressive. He could go nuts within a given context, as well. Now THAT'S talent. You can hear the different iterations of the same joke, which is fun to a layman :)

[@rebeccaryan3621]

agreed but most of this was never used

[@rebeccaryan3621]

@@superlex611 no it wasn't not the whole movie

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@rebeccaryan3621 so sad because that could have been a Oscar win

[@raymondallo9947]

There will never be another Robin Williams. I have had the privilege to see him a couple of times live. What a loss to his family and the rest of the world.

[@msherry01776]

I wish Actors Studio would allow Robin Williams Interview to be shown on KZbin. Comic genius should be shared!!!

[@vinylviper1971]

Good lord yeah, there are mini clips and only a few, so damn lucky and blessed to see him when it aired, I watched pretty much all of the actors studio that aired, I can say that there’s only one other that comes remotely near Robin and I mean in terms of just switching character voices to answer the question and that person is Mike Myers❤😂

[@hartmanfamily7212]

This is so great - not only did he have to fire off all this incredibly intelligent improv, he had to remember where he was in history - he could only make current events jokes based on the Viet Nam war era.

[@superlex611]

Hartman Family but he innovated the whole movie of being improvised

[@alexanderdelacruz9249]

Hartman Family 😂 good observation!

[@Ufferevben]

Outstanding

[@RollingOrmond]

According to the new bio on him they had extensive historical notes for him to study to build his improv around.

[@recoveringsoul755]

I met him in person and asked nothing of him, but he started to make silly noises and voices and jokes anyway. Really nice guy.I wish I'd told him he was fine just the way he was. It was almost like he felt compelled to "perform" in order to make people like him or something. The more I learned of his childhood, the more sad it is. He was probably on the Autism spectrum too, asperger's more likely

[@veemack6980]

Our children will never know what they have missed out on without Robin!. The world got darker the day he left us!

[@patriciafoster3347]

It truly did. More than anyone else I can think of.

[@rondy702]

Working hard! I think this clip shows just how hard it is and how easy he can make it look! Even the great Robin Williams doesn't hide how difficult it can be sometimes!

[@MarshallLore]

just the fact he can keep it going is already impressive but there are actually some real gems in there

[@the_Real_Grammy_of_6]

When I first saw a new sitcom called “Mork & Mindy”, I thought to myself “I’ve never heard of this Robin Williams guy....but he’s the funniest person I’ve ever seen”. I still miss him 😢😢

[@Chewbecca101]

"Nanu nanu!"

[@Jayke1981]

Absolute genius. You can see what improvs were improved to be included in the movie. The guy is just a machine gun in comedy!

[@paddypup1836]

His mind was racing and we could never keep up, he was a real star and a huge loss! Made our lives better that simple!

[@ginniekinz5401]

Man, he sure had a lot to talk about LOL! Even though 95% of it went right over my head, I had to keep watching because this man had a freaking incredible mind. And we all have the privilege to watch it over and over as many times as our little hearts desire. It’s indescribably sad that we won’t get anymore footage of him though, and his genius work. RIP Robin Williams. Long live the King of Comedy! 👑

[@user-qo2wv7zj5o]

I remember this era all to well being a Vietnam Vet. We use to hear the real one of course and the history at that time. He also makes up a character about a Black Grunt out in the field and is talking to him. Of course, The real Cronauer wasn't this hilarious, but he started it. They of course had many DJ's and it was a brief moment from the reality of war.

[@Sargethe1st]

GinnieKinz💜 , yeah, incredibly quick sharp mind. Lightning fast...

[@jameshudman403]

This guy was truly talented. What a gift. You know how hard it is to keep coming up with stuff that was both incredibly funny and in line with the Vietnam era?

[@The_Foulmouthed_Cypriot]

Truly missed. One of the funniest people i have ever seen. RIP Robin.

[@mirnaalmendarez702]

there will never be another Robin Williams.. He was always very clear about his love for our troops

[@ancientsgate]

RIP dear Robin. I'm so sorry you had to leave us. The world needs you now more than ever.

[@airsoftghost]

Brother you said it! God rest this man who made so many of us laugh so much.

[@dicajuan]

ancientsgate He is in a better place than us now..

[@JnEricsonx]

Him, Carlin, Pryor.

[@Gonken88]

Heh, now hell will *truly* commence. I bet you he knew about it.

[@Heather_Morgan]

Ugh. The world is such crap. Humans are so ignorant, wasteful, selfish, destructive, etc. The world doesn't deserve Robin's presence.

[@60s70s80sMusicFan]

Effortless improv by the master.

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

Yes, he could skate right through, and so creative, but I always wonder if this was during his cocaine period. He's great anyway, but he's so fast he's almost like the Chipmunks speeded up to 78 rpm.

[@jimmysmom7449]

Paula Harris Baca he wasn't "on" anything here, he got clean and sober as soon as his first child was born, and stayed that way for over 2 decades... I think here he is just the way he is :) Gotta love it!

[@kaylahall1219]

He was the best! I miss him more and more every year! 2020 sure could have used him 😭

[@helgedell]

He sure was a great comedian, but seems to read a script in most of this video.

[@melissaforknerlesher9463]

@@kaylahall1219 I agree. I have been binge watching Robin clips and it helps. He is timeless. He was so politically aware. The things that are going on in this country right now would have ripped him up.

[@johnfaulkner8683]

A very gifted man so sad miss by many , so sad that he had no one to talk over his state of mind . Thatnk you for all your films that still make me very happy . RIP Robin

[@patriciafoster3347]

john faulkner No one to talk to.... amazing..but so right........ God love him..................

[@viescotty3577]

Absolutely genius. How his mind worked so fast, staying in time era and character. Love his character Russian idol (on American idol). Wish he didn't have to be in such pain, didn't leave us.

[@zorkmid1083]

Both a creative genius and a professional! Beautiful, RIP.

[@massapower]

A SUPER talent that will never be repeated ! 😎✌

[@neilbowers6956]

5 years since the great man passed away. He is missed on the comedy circuit and in films... This was one of my favourite Robin Williams films.

[@juliakercsmar6587]

Around 2:45 i thought. "Man i could listen to this radio 24/7. Than it hit me in the feels that there is no more of him that he left earth with. And thinking that this beautiful, funny charismatic man was consumed by fear of his illnes is heatbreaking to me. Damn i got teary eyed.

[@kayequinn7146]

I know its been years since his passing but I find it still difficult to watch this genius. One of a kind incomparable talent. RIP Robin😢❤

[@michelea8378]

Robin Williams was my favorite actor. He was a genius. Miss him greatly.

[@Riteaidbob]

I am exhausted listening to him. I can't believe how fast he was going. Incredible.

[@tracyeggert8569]

Wow! It's amazing how any human being could do that! He was an absolute genius! God bless him❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@metalheart16]

I.. I... ... am in awe.

[@cassieandyesitsmyrealcolor5932]

This has been my "I'm home from school let me watch a video" sick movie. And now it's just I need a movie to watch and love and take all the stress from life out. It's one of my faves.

[@clintwolf4495]

Oh man. What incredible genius. RIP.

[@viktortanngo2835]

Miss you robin.

[@scopex2749]

Robin where are you in the dark hours of 2020 when the world doesnt know what to do........we need you so badly.......... RIP to the greatest comedian who lived.............

[@hendrsb33]

I couldn't imagine being so creatively funny at breakneck speed...

[@erichn4291]

He was naturally funny . Watch anyone trying to interview him. Impossible. I miss him. The Ethal murman joke still makes me laugh so much

[@jamesthompson8008]

Yes sir - I remember very clearly when he was interviewed by Barbara Walters in the late eighties. She took offense when he made a statement using the word retard, and he responded "What? I say something like that & you make a look on your face like a deer just stepped out in front of a semi!". Was one of those moments we just don't get these days.

[@micheletwilkinson-penningt6940]

We lost a TRUE comic genius! I miss him.

[@davidmartrano1549]

Two words for Robin, PURE GENIUS, the absolute best, thank God for DVD'S AND U-TUBE, yikes?

[@MACBoricua]

He was so committed to the character he was indeed became a disk jockey! Even this outages gave me chills! RIP Robin Williams! Bravo!!!

[@RahulKapoor9992]

Richard Nixon to play Pinocio, Prince Charles to play dumbo and Eisenhower is to play Elmer Fudd The India-Pakistan war continues, they had to take a brief ceasefire while the one gun was passed back and forth... HAHAHAHA Comedy GOLD! Miss you Robin!

[@anibaldk]

That was genius indeed!!

[@robertblank8196]

Amazing he knew ahead of time that they are remaking those films.

[@marilyntape9050]

Rahul Kapoor 🇦🇺😂

[@carlfrye1566]

Why no jokes about the VC who raped and pilaged South Viet Nam and anyone they encountered along their way....including Laos and Cambodia two countries they brought into the war by using them as and end run around the war zone to get further south in South Viet Nam without fighting the US? No jokes about Jane Fonda sitting on a North Viet Nam AA gun? Gee, I wonder why?

[@TheBeatleman66]

somebody get this material into the Smithsonian incase we forget how to laugh

[@gritskennedy5007]

Im crying....i miss that man.....brilliant ....beautiful....rare.....the light the beacon for writers the beacon for so many ....the millionmile an hour creative force that just turbo jetted through his brain daily!

[@KaiserSaucy]

Wow, that is exhausting even to watch. What a mind. He truly was one of a kind. Legend. 👏👏👏🤯

[@rosedaddona4262]

I miss you Robin, it's a sadder world without you.

[@jazzyts1]

Just WOW! He was such an amazing mind!

[@UltromanTheTacoman]

And a sick and troubled one, sadly :(

[@karenbrown4524]

❤❤❤ I'm sure he was tired after an amazing take like that. ❤❤❤ We all miss you.

[@jymfysher7704]

Robin Williams at the top of what he was best at, improving! His stage improve was among the best of in his time,,even Eddie Murphy who really got most of his act from Richard Pryor using profanity for shock value to pump up the punchlines ,couldn't complete with Williams multiple voices and implications of profane thing without reverting to foul language with any regulaurity,We had heard how he could instantly go from a wide range of voices on MORK AND MINDY faster than anybody could believe which made him a natural for this role and others like ALADIN.He was a Legend and always will be in his craft that secretly battled an insidious disease but still helped best friend CHRIS REEVES to play SUPERMAN and then inspired him to become Superman after a freak accident took even most of his normal abilities away.What a great reunion in Heaven that must have been !!!

[@ivarzmay3749]

I remember this movie - "Good Morning Vietnam!" Rest in peace old friend! Movies with you was for me one of reasons to learn english! Rest in peace Robbie old friend

[@edsmith1757]

I forgot how much I miss Robin Williams Like Aladdin and Mork Good morning Vietnam was made for his one of a kind banter. No one else before or after has the chutzpah to do it like him .

[@joshuabrooks4907]

You should check out his work as Batty Koda from Fern Gully.

[@1339LARS]

He was incredible !!

[@DustyVisionTVDVTV]

This is legendary

[@crx350x1]

the guy was amazing . . . just keeps freakin going

[@kennethmelnychuk9737]

Robin was such a GREAT, so sad his dark side took him from us. RIP Robin, you’re a GIANT.

[@guncla]

He was just incredible

[@TheTektronik]

A master of his craft what a great man he is.

[@Existential8Nihilism]

This man made me laugh so much.. The world misses your comedy rest in peace.

[@DetectiveLance]

I didn't know I wanted 11 minutes of Robin improving a radio announcer. Damn.

[@lknanml]

Fired up GMV today. He was always amazing. Wish he could have worked out his inner demons but he can RIP knowing he make Billions of people laugh and will continue to do so.

[@bigdmac33]

Robin Williams. Phenomenon. Pure...and...simple.

[@verdigrisverdigris766]

A soul like Robin is sorely missed

[@rweaver9653]

Talent beyond words.

[@juliakercsmar6587]

The editor and director must have had some work cutting this. :D He's an incredible legend! He never stops! He's like little chatty 4year old me not even taking breath.

[@tbeller80]

I wonder if he just went on for 20 minutes trying out these jokes, then they went back and rewrote the script with their favorites and shot it again.

[@coachwilson5967]

We miss Robin Williams every day.

[@chevytom55]

he was truly one of the best still i winder why, such a talent, R.I.P. Robin

[@Rayfaedundee]

Robin Williams, was one very unique, comedian, that no one will ever fill his shoes, Sadly missed

[@vocalvortexstudios2058]

Incredible.

[@ChrisBrunelle]

His stuff that ended up on the cutting room floor is better than most of what we get in movies these days

[@yogib37]

Robin was such a funny man.. when he did mork and mindy you know he improved a lot of that show especially when Johnathan Winters was on. You have two of the greatest Improve men in the business.

[@volvol1]

A great movie. Robin was so talented and so missed. RIP.

[@Cml725]

How do you describe genius? Robin Williams!

[@ColinAverill]

One of my favorite movies. So obvious the takes were basically entirely off-the-cuff.

[@rachelgarber1423]

He was so brilliant, unbelievable

[@JosieReddingtonDeSanta]

what a precious soul

[@VivaLaDnDLogs]

Robin could ramble on any subject, and regardless of whether you understood it, he got you to laugh. He wasn't just an improv master, he had incalculable skill in delivery, articulation, and hundreds of impressions. That kind of comedic tour de force, you couldn't help but laugh. Unless you're that guy in this movie who had to say "I don't find him funny". That must have been the hardest job he ever had.

[@lol_spider1214]

kkk sues casper the friendly ghost, "its not fair he gets to float" XD

[@edaniels240]

That definitely got me😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@zovalentine7305]

Rest in powerful peace my favorite celebrity of all time Robin Williams 🙏 ❤ 🌷 🌷 ✊

[@mingying8398]

What a talent!

[@artlover4668]

Robin deserved an Oscar for this performance. So many will say, it was just Robin being Robin. That's BS. The Oscars never respected comedy. Peter Sellers was another glaring example of this sentiment.

[@raycity1234]

A true talent his humor n genius will live on for centuries.

[@MonkPetite]

I miss this guy .. personally I say he was the best.

[@garygolfer3243]

I remember as we watched all of the emergency vehicles go down Martinique and turn toward his house. We assumed someone was in trouble in the bay, until we heard the news.

[@lisagillum-wells1979]

I wish they'd make a DVD of all his improves.

[@alexmaldonado9413]

God, its been like 18 years since I've seen this behind the scenes in the DVD when I was a kid.

[@kaalen24]

Still can’t believe he is gone. The world is a darker place

[@sabster74]

"Good Morning, Vietnam" is the greatest Vietnam War movie ever, with "Full Metal Jacket" coming in a close second.

[@MrBoombast64]

I agree but not för the second one, I say Platoon is better. :)

[@catcat5920]

MrBoombast64 In my opinion “we were soldiers” is second, but platoon is amazing

[@goutvols103]

Perhaps “The Green Berets”, the only Vietnam war movie made during the Vietnam war.

[@shannonhuard5908]

@@MrBoombast64 what about causality of war.

[@stevedegaetano8188]

Wow. Four replies and "Apocalypse Now" not even mentioned...Obviously the best Vietnam War movie ever made.

[@nunosoares2329]

Awesome movie. Amazing actor. Rest in peace Robin :-(

[@backwhenarmyoftwofirstcame2873]

"put a bell on em' so we know that they're coming"

[@CharlieRemusMerrydew]

Robin Williams made talking about those things everyone new about but never had the courage too.

[@jojogooco3316]

2:19 that India-Pakistan joke killed me…..hilarious

[@MrJJuK]

i miss him soo much 😭😭😭

[@ronleic]

u r truly missed. One of the greatest

[@gailremp3628]

Rest In Peace Robin. Loved. Missed.

[@jonjongolnee158]

The master at work, he will be missed RIP.,,,,,

[@yabbadabbadoo8225]

its almost like this fella has a company of personalities all vying to have a say at the same time, amazing.

[@thewatcher5271]

One Of The Funniest Lines From The Movie Is When He Edited The Interview With Nixon. But It's Good To See Some Of The Lines That Didn't Make It. Thank You. (Comment #431)

[@briancooper2112]

The Greatest!

[@ChrisGWGreen]

"it was like a bag of giblets" - hahah oh Robin I miss you.

[@madmikemadmike2175]

wow such a brilliant talent