The Beast of War (1988)

During the war in Afghanistan a Soviet tank crew commanded by a tyrannical officer find themselves lost and in a struggle against a band of Mujahadeen guerrillas in the mountains. A unique ... See full summary »

Director:

Kevin Reynolds

Writers:

William Mastrosimone (screenplay), William Mastrosimone (play)

Stars:

George Dzundza, Jason Patric, Steven Bauer

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Dzundza	...	Daskal
Jason Patric	...	Konstantin Koverchenko
Steven Bauer	...	Khan Taj
Stephen Baldwin	...	Anthony Golikov
Don Harvey	...	Kaminski
Kabir Bedi	...	Akbar
Erick Avari	...	Samad
Chaim Girafi	...	Moustafa (as Haim Gerafi)
Shoshi Marciano	...	Sherina (as Shosh Marciano)
Yitzhak Ne'eman	...	Iskandar (as Itzhak Babi Ne'Eman)
David Sherrill	...	Kovolov
Moshe Vapnik	...	Hasan
Claude Aviram	...	Sadioue
Victor Ken	...	Ali
Avi Keedar	...	Noor

Storyline

During the war in Afghanistan a Soviet tank crew commanded by a tyrannical officer find themselves lost and in a struggle against a band of Mujahadeen guerrillas in the mountains. A unique look at the Soviet 'Vietnam' experience sympathetically told for both sides.

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Plot Keywords:

tank | battle | commander | village | main character dies | 

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Taglines:

You can escape from everything but justice.

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Pushto

Release Date:

29 September 1988 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

The Beast

Filming Locations:

Israel

Box Office

Gross:

$161,004 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&M Films, Brightstar Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The fire commands and terminology used by the tank crew in combat are the same as used by U.S. Army tank crews. This was to add military flavor to the movie, and give it a very realistic feel.

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Goofs

The searchlight on the turret and the canvas around tank main gun change back and forth from damaged (from nighttime Molotov attack) to undamaged several times.

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Quotes

Taj: I will not fight alongside scavengers who pick gold from the teeth of dead Russians!

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Crazy Credits

At the start of the film, just after the Columbia Pictures logo the following quote is given: When you're wounded an' left on Afghanistan's plains. An' the women come out to cut up your remains, Just roll to your rifle an' blow out your brains, An' go to your Gawd like a soldier. - Rudyard Kipling

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Connections

Referenced in The Big Hit (1998)

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Soundtracks

"STREETCAR HEADED EAST"
Written by VICTOR TSI
Performed by KINO
Produced by JOANNA STINGRAY
Courtesy of STINGRAY PRODUCTIONS

User Reviews

Watch this movie

This is one of the best war-movies I have ever seen. Even if it hasn't a lot of action in it, it is still very intense. I think that the director has managed superbly to illustrate the torments of war, especially how it was - and still is - to be a member of a tank-crew on a mission in a foreign coutry. All the actors are doing a fine job and the place for shooting this movie is well chosen. And I must say that I especially appreciate the camera-movements along the tank that makes one understand the power that they contain.