The Beast of War (1988)

A Soviet tank and its warring crew become separated from their patrol and lost in an Afghan valley with a group of vengeance-seeking rebels on their tracks.

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 Jeraffi	...	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:

russian | soldier | tank warfare | war crime | brutality | 

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Taglines:

War brings out the beast in every man.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film was started at Columbia Pictures, David Puttnam was head of the studio. By the time it was released, Puttnam was out and Dawn Steel was head of the studio. As a result, the film was released in a small number of theaters under the title "The Beast".

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Goofs

The women are conversing/speaking in Hindi, which is totally unrelated to the locale where Pushtu is the native language.

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Quotes

Daskal: We're safe in here. My tanks have been hit by everything. In Mongolia once, RPG, direct hit. Commander, gunner and turret went flying. I drove the rest of the tank back to our lines. These tanks today are better. Much better.

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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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Alternate Versions

There are two versions playing on American Premium (Subscription) Movie Channels. One has subtitles for the Mujahadeen and the other does not. Currently, on STARZ, the version with subtitles is playing. Last year, on A&E, was the version without subtitles.

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Connections

Featured in Megiddo (2001)

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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

Tight, well paced war movie

When you can get used to the Soviet soldiers having American accents, this is an excellent war movie, with some great camera-work and editing, some nice twists and turns and, and I'm not sure if this was just me, a subtle vein of black comedy. Makes you realise how awesome tanks are.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Pushto

Release Date:

7 September 1988 (France)

Also Known As:

The Beast

Filming Locations:

Israel

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$161,004

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$161,004

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&M Films, Brightstar Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1