Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

The life stories of the six men who raised the flag at The Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in WWII.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

William Broyles Jr. (screenplay), Paul Haggis (screenplay),

Stars:

Ryan Phillippe, Barry Pepper, Joseph Cross

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Phillippe	...	John "Doc" Bradley
Jesse Bradford	...	Rene Gagnon
Adam Beach	...	Ira Hayes
John Benjamin Hickey	...	Keyes Beech
John Slattery	...	Bud Gerber
Barry Pepper	...	Mike Strank
Jamie Bell	...	Ralph "Iggy" Ignatowski
Paul Walker	...	Hank Hansen
Robert Patrick	...	Colonel Chandler Johnson
Neal McDonough	...	Captain Severance
Melanie Lynskey	...	Pauline Harnois
Thomas McCarthy	...	James Bradley (as Tom McCarthy)
Chris Bauer	...	Commandant Vandegrift
Judith Ivey	...	Belle Block
Myra Turley	...	Madeline Evelley

Storyline

In 1945, the Marines attack twelve thousand Japaneses protecting the twenty square kilometers of the sacred Iwo Jima island in a very violent battle. When they reach the Mount Suribachi and six soldiers raise their flag on the top, the picture becomes a symbol in a post Great Depression America. The government brings the three survivors to America to raise funds for war, bringing hope to desolate people, and making the three men heroes of the war. However, the traumatized trio has difficulty dealing with the image built by their superiors, sharing the heroism with their mates.

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Plot Keywords:

battle | iwo jima | island | war bond | photograph | 

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Taglines:

They fight for their country but they die for their friends.

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sequences of graphic war violence and carnage, and for language

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount Pictures [United States] Warner Bros [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mémoires de nos pères

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$53,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£97,765 (UK) (22 December 2006)

Gross:

£366,722 (UK) (29 December 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks SKG, Warner Bros., Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Rasche appears in the film in a cameo role. Rasche is famous for his lampoon of Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" character in the sitcom Sledge Hammer! (1986). Eastwood is known for his sense of humor and apparently liked the show.

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Goofs

During the initial bombardment of Iwo Jima by the U.S. Naval Fleet, the distinctive shape of several Iowa Class battleships is shown (their bows had a unique curvature when seen in profile). One of these ships is shown taking a direct hit from Japanese batteries. Three Iowa-Class battleships were present at Iwo Jima and did perform shore bombardment duties, but none was hit as depicted in the film.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Soldiers: Corpsman! Corpsman! Corpsman! Corpsman! For God sakes, corpsman! Corpsman! Corpsman!

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Crazy Credits

There is an additional short sequence after the credits have ended.

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Connections

Referenced in Vsechnopárty: Episode dated 23 February 2010 (2010)

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Soundtracks

I'll Walk Alone
Written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne
Performed by Dinah Shore
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label
By Arrangement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Main title performed by Don Runner

User Reviews

another nomination for Clint

A great film showing war as it was, and is: ugly, frantic, corporate, confusing, frustrating and very sad. Soldiers accompany their friends into horrific situations with terrible consequences. Ryan Phillippe, Adam Beach & Jesse Bradford are WONDERFUL. Paul Walker did not suck. Neal McDonough & Barry Pepper are great (pepper is older but still hot...fell in love with his bible-quoting sniper in SPRyan). Paul Haggis re-wrote the screenplay, which I really enjoyed. The music is haunting as done by Clint, as well as his son Kyle. Please don't leave when the lights go up. B&W photos of the real people this film was based on are shown during the credits. I will see this film quite a few more times.