When Trumpets Fade (1998)

A private in the latter days of WWII on the German front struggles between his will to survive and what his superiors perceive as a battlefield instinct.

Director:

John Irvin

Writer:

W.W. Vought

Stars:

Ron Eldard, Zak Orth, Frank Whaley

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ron Eldard	...	Manning
Zak Orth	...	Pvt. Warren Sanderson
Frank Whaley	...	Chamberlain - Medic
Dylan Bruno	...	Sgt. Talbot
Devon Gummersall	...	Lonnie
Dan Futterman	...	Despin
Steven Petrarca	...	Baxter
Dwight Yoakam	...	Lieutenant Colonel
Martin Donovan	...	Capt. Pritchett
Timothy Olyphant	...	Lt. Lukas
Jeffrey Donovan	...	Bobby
Bobby Cannavale	...	Capt. Zenek
Frank-Michael Köbe	...	German Sergeant (as Frank Köbe)
András Stohl	...	Wounded Soldier
Matthew Rutson Cooney	...	Driver Corporal (as Matthew Ruston Cooney)

Storyline

In WWII Western Germany, Private David Manning reluctantly leaves behind a mortally wounded fellow soldier and searches for survivors from his platoon, only to learn from commanding officer Captain Pritchett that they have all been killed in action. Despite requesting a discharge on the grounds of mental disability, Manning is promoted to sergeant and assigned to lead a new platoon of young inductees.

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Plot Keywords:

year 1944 | 1940s | pipe smoking | platoon | sergeant | 

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Taglines:

In the heat of battle not all soldiers can be heroes

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic war carnage and strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film's closing epilogue states: "After nearly three months of heavy combat, the Allies took the Hurtgen Forest. More than 24,000 soldiers were killed and wounded in the battle. The Battle of the Bulge began only a few days later, leaving the campaign in the Hurtgen Forest largely forgotten today."

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Goofs

The insignia of rank of the German sergeant leading his patrol is of a design not used by the German army.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator, news footage: August 1944. The outcome of the Second World War appeared to be no longer in doubt. Paris was liberated. After four years of fighting, victory against the Germans seemed assured. Since the Normandy landings, American and Allied forces had battled their way across northern Europe, and pushed the German enemy to within its own homeland.

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Connections

Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005)

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Soundtracks

White Christmas
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Bing Crosby

User Reviews

When Struggling for Survival Is More Important than Patriotism, in an Excellent Unknown Movie

In 1944, in Hurtgen Forest in the border of Belgium, Pvt. David Manning (Ron Eldard) is the only man of his company to survive a battle in the woods. He joins a new company trying to get a medical waive, and although having difficulties to respect his superiors, he is promoted to sergeant due to his leadership and instinct of survival. After a new battle, when he destroys the German cannons, he is promoted to lieutenant.

"When Trumpets Fade" is a great surprise: totally unknown in Brazil, without any publicity, it is indeed an excellent war movie. Based on a true story, the Hurtgen Forest Battle, where 24,000 soldiers died, this film shows, without any clemency or romance, how stupid a war is. The soldiers are moved by the instinct of survival, and not by patriotism like other movies usually present. The battle scenes are amazingly real, showing shattered bodies or man losing parts of their bodies. A must-see movie, recommended for audiences who look for raw and naked true story, with magnificent interpretations and direction. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Quando os Bravos se Calam" ("When the Braves Silence")

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 June 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hurtgen

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company Credits

Production Co:

Citadel Entertainment, Home Box Office (HBO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 92 min (DVD) 88 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1