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Taps (1981)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
20 December 1981 (USA)
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Tagline:
This school is our home, we think it's worth defending.
Plot:
Military cadets take extreme measures to insure the future of their academy when its existence is threatened by local condo developers. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe.
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NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Sean Penn to be Honored at the Palm Springs International Film Festival
(From Manny the Movie Guy. 26 December 2008, 9:21 AM, PST)
Tom and Katie Get Honorable Mentions From T Magazine
(From Popsugar. 4 December 2008, 3:30 PM, PST)
(From Manny the Movie Guy. 26 December 2008, 9:21 AM, PST)
Tom and Katie Get Honorable Mentions From T Magazine
(From Popsugar. 4 December 2008, 3:30 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Changing perspectives
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| George C. Scott | ... | General Harlan Bache | |
| Timothy Hutton | ... | Cadet Major Brian Moreland | |
| Ronny Cox | ... | Colonel Kerby | |
| Sean Penn | ... | Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer | |
| Tom Cruise | ... | Cadet Captain David Shawn | |
| Brendan Ward | ... | Charlie Auden | |
| Evan Handler | ... | Edward West | |
| John P. Navin Jr. | ... | Derek Mellott | |
| Billy Van Zandt | ... | Bug | |
| Giancarlo Esposito | ... | Cadet Captain J.C. Pierce | |
| Donald Kimmel | ... | Billy Harris | |
| Tim Wahrer | ... | Cadet Major John Cooper | |
| Tim Riley | ... | Hulk | |
| Jeff Rochlin | ... | Shovel | |
| Rusty Jacobs | ... | Rusty |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The Siege at Bunker Hill: T.A.P.S (UK) (TV title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
126 min
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Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
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Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The gate seen at the end of the quad area was built specifically for the film and was dismantled after filming ended.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: When Brian tells Kerby that he'll surrender if General Bache orders him to, Kerby says that General Bache died at 6 o'clock yesterday. In a military case, he would have said that the General died yesterday at 1600 hours.
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Quotes:
[the cadets have taken over the academy]
Master Sergeant Kevin Moreland: Let me tell 'em it was growing pains - the wrong execution of the right idea.
Brian Moreland: "The wrong execution of the right idea"?
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Master Sergeant Kevin Moreland: Let me tell 'em it was growing pains - the wrong execution of the right idea.
Brian Moreland: "The wrong execution of the right idea"?
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Home Improvement: Taps (#6.24)" (1997)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (38 total)
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The biggest kick I got was seeing Hutton, Cruise, and Penn as teenagers turning out amazing performances at such a younger age. I guess some actors are just destined to rise to the top.
George C. Scott also turned in a great, believable performance as an old wartime General. However I find it interesting, after seeing this movie over 20 years later, how it's context has changed for me personally. While in '81, the story was perhaps designed to generate sympathy for the General and his plight, I look at his situation today and feel nothing but pity for him, as I would for any Shakespearean tragic hero, who because of their narrow-sightedness, could not see the bigger picture. And in this case, their consequences caused a chain of events that took on an uncontrollable life of their own. Funny how the years can sometimes dictate understanding and perspective.
The previous review mentioned for this flick is 100% bang on.