Toy Soldiers (1991)

Director:

Daniel Petrie Jr.

Writers (WGA):

William P. Kennedy (novel)
Daniel Petrie Jr. (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 April 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Years of bad behaviour are about to pay off.

Plot:

When terrorists sieze control of a boarding school, a group of trouble-making boys decide to resist them.

Plot Keywords:

Student | Trial | Boarding School | Hostage | Terrorist

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Sean Astin	...	William 'Billy' Tepper
Wil Wheaton	...	Joseph 'Joey' Trotta
Keith Coogan	...	Jonathan 'Snuffy' Bradberry
Andrew Divoff	...	Luis Cali
R. Lee Ermey	...	General Kramer
Mason Adams	...	FBI Dep. Asst. Dir. Otis Brown
Denholm Elliott	...	Dr. Robert Gould - Headmaster
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Dean Edward Parker
George Perez	...	Ricardo Montoya
T.E. Russell	...	Henry 'Hank' Giles III
Shawn Phelan	...	Derek 'Yogurt'
Michael Champion	...	Jack Thorpe
Tracy Brooks Swope	...	Jennifer (voice)
Max Manwell	...	HRT Commander
Joe Inscoe	...	Agent Grimes

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Miller School of Albemarle - 1000 Samuel Miller Loop, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

Company:

Island World

Trivia:

The "boys" who bought the adulterated mouthwash, ("Mr Burg, Mr Zarpas - Billy Tepper sold you a bottle of mouthwash with vodka in it... you have three seconds to hand it out here.") are two of this films' producers, Mark Burg and Chris Zarpas.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: A mat that protects Sean's arm is visible when Sean lying down on the ground.

Quotes:

Headmaster: Try not to laugh.
Dean Parker: I'm trying.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Masterminds (1997)

Toying Around With Cinematic Cliches.

Misfits and under-achievers at a prep school for rich, but spoiled brats is over-taken by terrorists led by the evil Andrew Divoff. Divoff is sure that the son of the judge who convicted his father will be there, but that youngster is not even there anymore. However the very wealthy youths' families will end up being equally riveting bargaining chips for Divoff and his cronies. Sean Astin and Wil Wheaton are the most notable students held hostage and Denholm Elliott is the most recognizable faculty member stuck. Louis Gossett, Jr. is impressive as the head of the facility who tries to get his students and workers back to safety. "Toy Soldiers" is one of those movies that almost succeeds, but not quite. I am not sure why I did not like the film more than I did. I think the problem with me was the film's screenplay as it just became a little outlandish as the movie advanced. The direction is pretty solid and the performances are all right for the most part, but I just never did care about the characters as much as I should have. Jerry Orbach goes uncredited as Wheaton's father, the leader of the New York Mafia. 2.5 out of 5 stars.