The Lost Battalion (2001)

Fact-based war drama about an American battalion of over 500 men which gets trapped behind enemy lines in the Argonne Forest in October 1918 France during the closing weeks of World War I.

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writer:

James Carabatsos (as Jim Carabatsos)

Stars:

Ricky Schroder, Phil McKee, Jamie Harris

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ricky Schroder	...	Maj. Charles White Whittlesey (as Rick Schroder)
Phil McKee	...	Capt. George McMurtry
Jamie Harris	...	Sgt. Gaedeke
Jay Rodan	...	Lt. Leak
Adam James	...	Capt. Nelson Holderman - Co. K, 307th
Daniel Caltagirone	...	Pvt. Phillip Cepeglia
Michael Goldstrom	...	Pvt. Jacob Rosen
André Vippolis	...	Pvt. Lipasti - Runner
Rhys Miles Thomas	...	Pvt. Bob Yoder - Sharpshooter
Arthur Kremer	...	Pvt. Abraham Krotoshinsky
Adam Kotz	...	Col. Johnson
Justin Scot	...	Pvt. Omer Richards - Carrier Pigeons
Anthony Azizi	...	Pvt. Nat Henchman
George Calil	...	Pvt. Lowell R. Hollingshead
Wolf Kahler	...	Gen. von Sybel

Storyline

In 1918 in World War I, in the Meuse-Argonne Sector in France, the former New York lawyer and Major Charles White Whittlesey is assigned by Gen. Robert Alexander to a massive suicidal attack against the German forces in the Argonne Forest with his five-hundred-man battalion. However, the forces supposed to be giving support through the flanks retreat and the communications with the headquarter of the 77th American Division are cut. Major Wittlesey holds his position with his men, mostly Irish, Polish, Italian and Jewish immigrants from New York, surrounded by the German army. Without food, water, ammunition and medical supplies, only two hundred men survive after five days of siege.

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Plot Keywords:

france | argonne | army | u.s. army | trench warfare | 

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Taglines:

Caught between two lines of fire, the Germans gave them two options: surrender or die. They chose a third.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

AandE.com On TV: characters,interviews,photos [United States]

Country:

USA Luxembourg

Language:

English German

Release Date:

2 December 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Az elveszett zászlóalj

Filming Locations:

Luxembourg

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&E Television Networks,David Gerber Productions,Fox Television Network

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The doughboys in the film are equipped with the US rifle of 1917, aka, the "American Enfield" or "Eddystone" rather than the iconic M1903 Springfield. This was a good detail, because it's correct- due to manufacturing delays, the majority of doughboys were equipped with the M1917, an adaptation of the British Enfiled, rather than the more famous "-03 Springfield."

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Goofs

When the plane is ready to take off for reconnaissance, the engine is started electronically. At the time of the war, engines were started by spinning the propeller blades manually, rather than by an electric ignition.

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Quotes

Yoder: Hey, how come nobody ever calls me Bob?
Cepheglia: Who's Bob?
Rosen: He's Bob you dumb Dago. Haven't you ever heard of a first name?
Cepheglia: Your first name is Private. You're gonna be Private all your life Rosen. You'll never make Corporal.
Rosen: All I wanna make is civilian.

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Connections

Referenced in Laurel Canyon (2002)

User Reviews

A Tale of Bravery and Courage

In 1918 in World War I, in the Meuse-Argonne Sector in France, the former New York lawyer and Major Charles White Whittlesey (Rick Schroder) is assigned by Gen. Robert Alexander (Michael Brandon) to a massive suicidal attack against the German forces in the Argonne Forest with his five hundred men battalion. However, the forces supposed to be giving support through the flanks retreat and the communications with the headquarter of the 77th American Division are cut. Major Wittlesey holds his position with his men, mostly Irish, Polish, Italian and Jew gangsters from New York, surrounded by the German army. Without food, water, ammunition and medical supplies, only two hundred men survive after five days of siege.

Based on a true event, "The Lost Battalion" is a great tale of bravery and courage. I do not know how accurate the facts are displayed, but I liked this movie very much. The battle scenes are very gore and realistic, in a war of trenches and bayonets, and the actors have great performances, being impossible to highlight an individual acting. Just as a curiosity, this film does not have any actress, only men in the cast. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Último Batalhão" ("The Last Battalion")