IMDb > Death of a Soldier (1986)

Death of a Soldier (1986) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
5.9/10   87 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Philippe Mora
Writers:
William L. Nagle (screenplay)
William L. Nagle (story)
Contact:
View company contact information for Death of a Soldier on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 May 1986 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | War more
Tagline:
The obscenity of war. The brutality of murder. The travesty of justice.
Plot:
Based on a true story, James Coburn portrays a military lawyer assigned to defend a confessed psychotic killer... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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Awards:
2 nominations more
User Comments:
An accurate and important piece of history more (9 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

James Coburn ... Maj. Patrick Dannenberg
Bill Hunter ... Det. Sgt. Adams

Reb Brown ... Pvt. Edward J. Leonski
Maurie Fields ... Det. Sgt. Martin (as Maurice Fields)
Max Fairchild ... Maj. William Fricks
Belinda Davey ... Margot Saunders
Randall Berger ... Pvt. Anthony Gallo
Michael Pate ... Maj. Gen. Sutherland
Jon Sidney ... Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Nell Johnson ... Maisie
Pippa Wilson ... Singer in Boomerang Bar
Kim Rushworth ... Band in bar
John McTiernan ... Col. Williams
Earl Francis ... Police doctor
Ron Pinnell ... Mr. Harmon
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
93 min
Country:
Australia
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia more
Company:
Suatu more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
An accurate and important piece of history, 16 February 2004
Author: nobsnews from USA

It's obvious from the remarks in the previous commentaries by others, that none of them were ever in the military. Coburn was portraying a Military Police major (Maj. Dannenberg) serving as the Assistant Provost Marshal - he was not playing an Army attorney. At that time (and still optional today) an officer from any branch in the military can serve as legal council to an accused soldier - you don't have to be a lawyer (JAG Corps). This particular story was true, and is the event in military history that is directly responsible for the creation and implementation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) applicable to all the Armed Forces. The film is accurate and does not portray any Hollywood political bias. It's a great film and a good piece of history. A little known fact: Gen. MacArthur came close to being court martialed for preventing Maj. Dannenberg from appealing Pvt. Leonski's death sentence and conviction, but political allies in Washington intervened.

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