Dogfight is a 1991 period coming-of-age drama film set in San Francisco, California, during the 1960s and directed by Nancy Savoca.

[2] The film explores the love between an 18-year-old Marine, Lance Corporal Eddie Birdlace (River Phoenix), on his way to Vietnam, and a young woman, Rose Fenny (Lili Taylor).

After a few women reject his advances, Birdlace ducks into a coffee shop, where he encounters Rose, a waitress, on her break, practicing on her guitar.

While walking to the bar where the dogfight is to be held, Birdlace begins to have second thoughts about playing such a cruel trick on Rose after realizing she's not ugly enough to compete, and attempts to talk her out of going in.

The alcohol and dancing eventually make Rose feel dizzy, and she rushes off to be sick in the rest room.

In the ladies' room, it is revealed that Marcie is actually a prostitute whom Berzin has hired, in violation of the rules of the dogfight, cluing Rose in to the true nature of the party.

Rose tells Birdlace about her dream of becoming a folk singer, and he reveals to her that he will be shipping off to Okinawa the following day, and from there on to "a little country called Vietnam," he hopes.

The fact that his discoveries take place on the night before he ships out to fight the war in Vietnam only makes the story more poignant.

"[10] In a mixed review, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone said that "Dogfight doesn’t sum up an era; it merely romanticizes it.

"[11] Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote that "Dogfight... seems to have no clear idea of what these ordinary people are really like.

"[13] The film's soundtrack featured a number of prominent 1960s artists, including Muddy Waters, The Weavers, Van Morrison, Elizabeth Cotten, Pete Seeger and Malvina Reynolds.

[15] The show, which features music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Peter Duchan, was directed by Joe Mantello and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli.

The cast also included Nick Blaemire, Annaleigh Ashford, Steven Booth, Becca Ayers, Adam Halpin, Dierdre Friel, F. Michael Haynie, James Moye and Josh Segarra.

The show received rave reviews for its young writers and for leading lady Lindsay Mendez's tour de force performance.