Taps (1981)

Military cadets take extreme measures to ensure the future of their academy when its existence is threatened by local condo developers.

Director:

Harold Becker

Writers:

Darryl Ponicsan (screenplay), Robert Mark Kamen (screenplay)

Stars:

George C. Scott, Timothy Hutton, Ronny Cox

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George C. Scott	...	General Harlan Bache
Timothy Hutton	...	Brian Moreland
Ronny Cox	...	Colonel Kerby
Sean Penn	...	Alex Dwyer
Tom Cruise	...	David Shawn
Brendan Ward	...	Charlie Auden
Evan Handler	...	Edward West
John P. Navin Jr.	...	Derek Mellott
Billy Van Zandt	...	Bug
Giancarlo Esposito	...	J.C. Pierce
Donald Kimmel	...	Billy Harris
Tim Wahrer	...	John Cooper
Tim Riley	...	Hulk
Jeff Rochlin	...	Shovel
Rusty Jacobs	...	Rusty

Storyline

An announcement that the venerable Bunker Hill Military Academy, a 141 year old institute, is to be torn down and replaced with condos sets off the young cadets led by their stodgy commander. Under the command of a student cadet major, the cadets seize the campus, refuse entry of the construction crews and ultimately confront the real military.

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Plot Keywords:

student | military academy | military training | military | school shooting | 

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Taglines:

School's out

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Taps

Filming Locations:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$93,005, 13 December 1981

Gross USA:

$35,856,053

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$35,856,053

Company Credits

Production Co:

Major Studio Partners, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The third of four times Geo Scott portrays a general grade officer. "Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb": General Buck Turgeson, USAF. "Patton" and "The Last Days of Patton": General George S. Patton Jr., U.S. Army.

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Goofs

When taking inventory of the armory, the man counting the weapons states they are ".45 millimeter caliber 1911's". M1911 pistols are .45 caliber, meaning the bore is .45 inches in diameter, and not the metric measurement of 45 millimeters (a significantly larger measurement, to the point where they would be classed as artillery, rather than small arms). In countries which issued the M1911 (or copies), and to whom the Metric system was common, the cartridge was referred to as 11.43x23mm.

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Quotes

Brian Moreland: Honor doesn't count for shit when you're looking at a dead little boy.

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Connections

Features Star Trek: The Original Series: Spock's Brain (1968)

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Soundtracks

Glory Be
(uncredited)
Heard during the initial church scene

User Reviews

Improbable but entertaining...early Hutton, Penn and Cruise...

Hold the fort seems to be the slogan of these military cadets when they decide to rally behind TIMOTHY HUTTON who wants an armed defense of the school from authorities who want to shut it down after an accidental shooting by the presiding General Bache (GEORGE C. SCOTT). Aiding and abetting are TOM CRUISE and, in his film debut, SEAN PENN.

The tale seems highly improbable but is played so earnestly, is scripted so well, and directed so competently that it manages to hold the attention until the more or less predictable outcome.

The cadets are all extremely well played, from the very young boys to those who appear to be in their early twenties. When the authorities are unable to take back the school, the parents appeal to the children through loud speakers. "Sometimes being accepted by your friends, isn't worth the price," says one mother.

Unfortunately, the stalemate phase of the movie lasts much too long to sustain interest. But it's interesting now to watch the very young Hutton, Penn and Cruise show why they became superstars. I agree with Maltin who says it "plays its cards too soon, leaving a lot of dead weight before the outcome."

Summing up: Improbable story, but entertaining in a curious way.

Memorable line from Hutton's father resonates today: "They think you're home grown terrorists."