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Death of a Soldier (1986)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
16 May 1986 (USA) moreTagline:
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 synopsisAwards:
2 nominations moreUser 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
93 minCountry:
AustraliaLanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyFAQ
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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.