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When Trumpets Fade (1998)

TV Movie  |  R  |   |  Action, Drama, War  |  27 June 1998 (USA)
7.3
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Ratings: 7.3/10 from 4,746 users  
Reviews: 81 user | 8 critic

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.

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Title: When Trumpets Fade (TV Movie 1998)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Manning
...
Warren
...
Medic Chamberlain
...
Sgt. Talbot
...
Lonnie
...
Despin
...
Baxter
...
Lt. Colonel
...
Captain Pritchett
...
Lt. Lukas
...
Bobby
...
Captain Zenek
Frank-Michael Köbe ...
German Sergeant (as Frank Köbe)
András Stohl ...
Wounded Soldier
Matthew Rutson Cooney ...
Driver Cpl. (as Matthew Ruston Cooney)
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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. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

In the heat of battle not all soldiers can be heroes

Genres:

Action | Drama | War

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic war carnage and strong language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

27 June 1998 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Hurtgen  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (DVD) | (video)

Sound Mix:

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

One of only two war movies in Ron Eldard's career. He would later be cast in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down (2001). See more »

Goofs

The map used by the Lt. Col. at the company command post to show the Captain where they are to secure a river crossing on the advance to Schmidt is not standard U.S. Army issue, which were black and white, but a modern color version mounted on cardboard. See more »

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.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

White Christmas
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Bing Crosby
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User Reviews

 
One of the best war movies ever made
9 December 2004 | by (Arizona, United States) – See all my reviews

This is a must see film. It presents war realistically. Just as in real combat, some soldiers are reluctant to attack, some officers are not that smart, many soldiers are scared, and the mission is of dubious value.

This particular story focuses on one soldier who was the lone survivor of an allied attack or the Germans. He is promoted to Sgt. against his wishes because they are short of people. Put in charge of new replacements, he is torn between training the new men, and staying out of the fight so he will stay alive.

After another failed attack by his company, he is promoted to Lt. Again he does not want this responsibility, but now has to lead men into battle.

Its one of the few films that show how inept some officers are. Band of brothers is the only other film I can think of that shows an inept American officer, Capt. Herbert Sobel (played by David Schwimmer).

Its also one of the few American films about the Battle of the Hertgen Forrest, which was overshadowed a few months later by the Battle of the Bulge.


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