Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

The life stories of the six men who raised the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in World War II.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

William Broyles Jr. (screenplay), Paul Haggis (screenplay)

Stars:

Ryan Phillippe, Barry Pepper, Joseph Cross

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 25 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Phillippe	...	John "Doc" Bradley
Jesse Bradford	...	Rene Gagnon
Adam Beach	...	Ira Hayes
John Benjamin Hickey	...	Keyes Beech
John Slattery	...	Bud Gerber
Barry Pepper	...	Mike Strank
Jamie Bell	...	Ralph "Iggy" Ignatowski
Paul Walker	...	Hank Hansen
Robert Patrick	...	Colonel Chandler Johnson
Neal McDonough	...	Captain Severance
Melanie Lynskey	...	Pauline Harnois
Tom McCarthy	...	James Bradley
Chris Bauer	...	Commandant Vandegrift
Judith Ivey	...	Belle Block
Myra Turley	...	Madeline Evelley

Storyline

In 1945, the Marines attack twelve thousand Japaneses protecting the twenty square kilometers of the sacred Iwo Jima island in a very violent battle. When they reach the Mount Suribachi and five Marines and one Navy Corpsman raise their flag on the top, the picture becomes a symbol in a post Great Depression America. The government brings the three survivors to America to raise funds for war, bringing hope to desolate people, and making the three men heroes of the war. However, the traumatized trio has difficulty dealing with the image built by their superiors, sharing the heroism with their mates.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to arizona | pima indian | japanese soldier | japan | japanese army | 

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Taglines:

The real heroes are the ones left on the island.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sequences of graphic war violence and carnage, and for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie cost $55 million, although it was originally budgeted at $80 million. In a 2006 interview, Paul Haggis stated that Clint Eastwood had shot the movie in just over 50 days, or nearly half the original shooting schedule. Variety subsequently downgraded the price tag to $25 million. The budget for the companion piece, Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), was officially credited at $20 million, but according to Variety, the actual cost was "under $70 million" for both movies combined, meaning Letters from Iwo Jima cost $15 million. It is possible that Warner Brothers inflated the budget as part of its campaign when it became evident that Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) had Academy Award potential. As of April 2007, this movie and Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) had a combined worldwide theatrical gross of $135 million, with this movie having performed, according to Variety, "very strongly" in the home video market.

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Goofs

In explaining the importance of a successful bond drive, the treasury representative says that the fuel dumps are empty and "our Arab friends only take bullion." At the time of World War II, America was essentially self sufficient in oil production and not dependent on Arab oil. While oil was discovered in some Arab countries before the war, it was not extensively developed until after the war.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Soldiers: Corpsman! Corpsman! Corpsman! Corpsman! For God sakes, corpsman! Corpsman! Corpsman!

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Crazy Credits

There is an additional short sequence after the credits have ended.

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Connections

Referenced in Red Sun, Black Sand: The Making of 'Letters from Iwo Jima' (2007)

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Soundtracks

Any Bonds Today?
Written by Irving Berlin

User Reviews

Story of my father...we are all sons of war.

One of Clint's and Spiel's best. But maybe 'cause it's personal. Old faded medals and photos of from the Philippines campaign in the attic found after dad died. He never spoke much of it, just a warning before I joined the Army in 1974: "Don't." Funny they don't do War Bonds anymore. They just raise taxes and raid savings accounts if u don't pay. I guess that's more direct, and does not require the manufacture and then parade of Heroes that don't want to be named so. Like dad. Faded brown photos of brown people on an island, buddies in arms, smiling on the outside, wounded inside. Bit's of metal, faded ribbon - shrapnel tied up in a flag.

For generations we have been sons of war, and our sons will be fathers of sons of war. Will it end? Perhaps not. Will there be stories like this one told in film or whatever media is next for all generations yet to come, just as there has been for all past? It's a very sad testament to the human condition, but I'll be paying my respect the next time I am in DC with a better understanding of the statue in question.

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [Germany] Warner Bros. [Spain]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Flags of Our Fathers

Filming Locations:

1842 Oxley Street, South Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$90,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,245,190, 22 October 2006

Gross USA:

$33,602,376

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$65,900,249

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks, Warner Bros., Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1