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IMDbPro

We Were Soldiers

  • 2002
  • R
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
147K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,052
823
Mel Gibson in We Were Soldiers (2002)
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:52
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionDramaHistory

The story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the go... Read allThe story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the good news or the bad news.The story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the good news or the bad news.

  • Director
    • Randall Wallace
  • Writers
    • Harold G. Moore
    • Joseph Lee Galloway
    • Randall Wallace
  • Stars
    • Mel Gibson
    • Madeleine Stowe
    • Greg Kinnear
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    147K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,052
    823
    • Director
      • Randall Wallace
    • Writers
      • Harold G. Moore
      • Joseph Lee Galloway
      • Randall Wallace
    • Stars
      • Mel Gibson
      • Madeleine Stowe
      • Greg Kinnear
    • 823User reviews
    • 147Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    We Were Soldiers
    Trailer 2:52
    Watch We Were Soldiers

    Photos129

    Mel Gibson and Sam Elliott in We Were Soldiers (2002)
    Mel Gibson and Sam Elliott in We Were Soldiers (2002)
    We Were Soldiers (2002)
    Mel Gibson and Sam Elliott in We Were Soldiers (2002)
    Mel Gibson in We Were Soldiers (2002)
    Mel Gibson in We Were Soldiers (2002)
    Barry Pepper in We Were Soldiers (2002)
    Mel Gibson in We Were Soldiers (2002)
    Duong Don in We Were Soldiers (2002)
    Mel Gibson and Chris Klein in We Were Soldiers (2002)
    We Were Soldiers (2002)
    Madeleine Stowe, Keri Russell, and Simbi Kali in We Were Soldiers (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mel Gibson
    Mel Gibson
    • Lt. Col. Hal Moore
    Madeleine Stowe
    Madeleine Stowe
    • Julie Moore
    Greg Kinnear
    Greg Kinnear
    • Maj. Bruce Crandall
    Sam Elliott
    Sam Elliott
    • Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley
    Chris Klein
    Chris Klein
    • 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan
    Keri Russell
    Keri Russell
    • Barbara Geoghegan
    Barry Pepper
    Barry Pepper
    • Joe Galloway
    Duong Don
    Duong Don
    • Lt. Col. Nguyen Huu An
    Ryan Hurst
    Ryan Hurst
    • Sgt. Ernie Savage
    Robert Bagnell
    Robert Bagnell
    • 1st Lt. Charlie Hastings
    Marc Blucas
    Marc Blucas
    • 2nd Lt. Henry Herrick
    Josh Daugherty
    Josh Daugherty
    • Sp4 Robert Ouellette
    Jsu Garcia
    Jsu Garcia
    • Capt. Tony Nadal
    Jon Hamm
    Jon Hamm
    • Capt. Matt Dillon
    Clark Gregg
    Clark Gregg
    • Capt. Tom Metsker
    Desmond Harrington
    Desmond Harrington
    • Sp4 Bill Beck
    Blake Heron
    Blake Heron
    • Sp4 Galen Bungum
    Erik MacArthur
    Erik MacArthur
    • Sp4 Russell Adams
    • Director
      • Randall Wallace
    • Writers
      • Harold G. Moore
      • Joseph Lee Galloway
      • Randall Wallace
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The real Joseph D. Galloway stepped out of the movie theater during a scene, but still approved the film. His explanation was "That was my nightmare for 36 years. I don't want to see it again."
    • Goofs
      Contrary to what's shown in the movie, Lieutenant Henry Herrick and 2nd Platoon did not recklessly charge after a lone NVA soldier, but were in fact ordered to advance out to the flank by Captain John Herren and did so in a disciplined manner. At one point, when coming to the clearing shown in the film, Herrick stopped and radioed back on whether or not he should continue through it or go around it, which was when he and his men were attacked by the NVA.

      It was also Herrick's platoon that inflicted the first casualties on the NVA in said attack, not the other way around as shown in the movie.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: [Hal Moore speaks to his men before going into battle] Look around you. In the 7th cavalry, we've got a captain from the Ukraine; another from Puerto Rico. We've got Japanese, Chinese, Blacks, Hispanics, Cherokee Indians. Jews and Gentiles. All Americans. Now here in the states, some of you in this unit may have experienced discrimination because of race or creed. But for you and me now, all that is gone. We're moving into the valley of the shadow of death, where you will watch the back of the man next to you, as he will watch yours. And you won't care what color he is, or by what name he calls God. They say we're leaving home. We're going to what home was always supposed to be. Now let us understand the situation. We are going into battle against a tough and determined enemy.

      [pauses]

      Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: I can't promise you that I will bring you all home alive. But this I swear, before you and before Almighty God, that when we go into battle, I will be the first to set foot on the field, and I will be the last to step off, and I will leave no one behind. Dead or alive, we will all come home together. So help me, God.

    • Alternate versions
      Trailers include a scene where Julie Moore explains that the last thing most dying soldiers say is "Tell my wife I love her". This is not included in the theatrical release.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: We Were Soldiers/40 Days and 40 Nights/Queen of the Damned (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Hold On I'm Coming
      Written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter

      Performed by Tommy Blaize

      Produced by Nick Glennie-Smith

    User reviews823

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    "They Finally Got it Right!"
    "We Were Soldiers" is based on a real life battle of the Viet Nam war that took place in 1965 in a remote part of Viet Nam. It is based on a book by Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway who are portrayed in the film by Mel Gibson and Barry Pepper respectively.

    The film opens with a depiction of the 1954 slaughter of French troops by the Vietnamese army. Twenty one years later Lt. Col Moore (Gibson) and his battalion of 395 men are thrust unknowingly into the same hornet's nest consisting of some 4,000 battle hardened Viet Nam regulars who have been fighting their enemies for many years.

    Director Randall Wallace tells the story from three perspectives. Firstly from the viewpoint of the Americans. Outnumbered ten to one they face impossible odds. How Col. Moore rallies his troops and gets them to pull together as a team is a central theme of the picture. Secondly, the story is told from the viewpoint of the wives and families left behind and the problems they have to deal with. Lastly, the Vietnamese army is shown not as unfeeling monsters, but as a professional army defending their beliefs and territory.

    The battle scenes are as realistic and convincing as any war movie that you will ever see. We suffer through the casualties both on the battlefield and at home along with the participants. The special effects are seamless and exciting.

    Mel Gibson gives a convincing performance as Moore and if you watch the DVD, you can see the amazing similarities between the two men. Madeleine Stowe plays Julie Moore and Keri Russell plays Barbara Geoghegan two of the wives who take on the unenviable task of delivering those dreaded telegrams to the widows from the War Department. Chris Klein plays Russell's husband Jack a new officer and father. His scene with Gibson in the base chapel is memorable. Greg Kinnear plays Captain Crandall the head of Moore's helicopter fleet. Don Duong is very effective as the Vietnamese commander. But acting cudos go to veteran Sam Elliot as the crusty Sgt. Major Plumley.

    "We Were Soldiers" is a gripping Viet Nam war drama told in a way that reflects ALL of the participants in an impartially realistic way. As Hank Moore says on the DVD, They finally got it right.
    helpful•60
    15
    • bsmith5552
    • Aug 22, 2002

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    FAQ3

    • What type of propeller planes are providing air support during the battle?
    • Why did the one VC soldier try and bayonet Col. Moore instead of just shooting him?
    • Why are Col. Moore and other soldiers seen banging their magazines on their helmet before loading them?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1, 2002 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Vietnamese
      • French
    • Also known as
      • The Lost Patrol
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Hunter Liggett, California, USA(Central Highlands, South Vietnam)
    • Production companies
      • Icon Entertainment International
      • Motion Picture Production GmbH & Co. Erste KG
      • StudioCanal
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $75,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $78,122,718
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $20,212,543
      • Mar 3, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $115,374,915
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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