Johnny Got His Gun (1971)

Joe, a young American soldier, is hit by a mortar shell on the last day of World War I. He lies in a hospital bed in a fate worse than death --- a quadruple amputee who has lost his arms, ... See full summary »

Director:

Dalton Trumbo

Writers:

Dalton Trumbo (novel), Dalton Trumbo (screenplay),

Stars:

Timothy Bottoms, Kathy Fields, Marsha Hunt

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Timothy Bottoms	...	Joe Bonham
Kathy Fields	...	Kareen
Marsha Hunt	...	Joe's Mother
Jason Robards	...	Joe's Father
Donald Sutherland	...	Christ
Charles McGraw	...	Mike Burkeman
Sandy Brown Wyeth	...	Lucky
Don 'Red' Barry	...	Jody Simmons (as Donald Barry)
Peter Brocco	...	Ancient Prelate
Kendell Clarke	...	Hospital Offical
Eric Christmas	...	Corporal Timlon
Eduard Franz	...	Col. / Gen. Tillery
Craig Bovia	...	Little Guy
Judy Howard Chaikin	...	Bakery Girl
Dalton Trumbo	...	Orator (as Robert Cole)

Storyline

Joe, a young American soldier, is hit by a mortar shell on the last day of World War I. He lies in a hospital bed in a fate worse than death --- a quadruple amputee who has lost his arms, legs, eyes, ears, mouth and nose. He remains conscious and able to think, thereby reliving his life through strange dreams and memories, unable to distinguish whether he is awake or dreaming. He remains frustrated by his situation, until one day when Joe discovers a unique way to communicate with his caregivers.

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Plot Keywords:

eyes | dream | hospital | memory | soldier | 

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Taglines:

The most shattering experience you'll ever live.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1972 (France)

Also Known As:

Dalton Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun

Company Credits

Production Co:

World Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Only a minor success at the time of its release, this long-forgotten film became well known in 1989 when it was incorporated in the Metallica video "One" (1989), which turned it into a cult item. Eventually, the members of Metallica bought the rights to the film in order to keep showing their music video without routinely paying royalties fees.

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Quotes

Joe: I don't know whether I'm alive and dreaming or dead and remembering.

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Crazy Credits

War Dead Since 1914: Over 80,000,000 Missing or Mutilated: Over 150,000,000 "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori"

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Connections

Referenced in Metallica: 2 of One (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Keep the Home Fires Burning"
(uncredited)
Music by Ivor Novello with words by Lena Guilbert Ford

User Reviews

Mind blowing and original

One of cinema's greatest achievements. The film is an incredible experience. The fact that you spend almost two hours watching the figure of someone buried under sheets and that we are intrigued by every second of it, testifies to the genius of the film. It's sad that most people remember this movie as the one Metallica made a video for. No offense to the band, but this JGHG is far more important than that. Dalton Trumbo's only directorial effort and it is flawless. The majority of the film is told in a voiceover and like "Twelve Angry Men" every thing takes place in one room. Prepare to be amazed.