The Lost Battalion (2001) (TV)

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writer (WGA):

James Carabatsos (written by)

Release Date:

2 December 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

France | Argonne | Army | Homing Pigeon | Remake

Awards:

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

Cast

Rick Schroder	...	Maj. Charles White Whittlesey
Phil McKee	...	Capt. George McMurtry
Jamie Harris	...	Sgt. Gaedeke
Jay Rodan	...	Lt. Leak
Adam James	...	Capt. Nelson Holderman, Co. K 307 th
Daniel Caltagirone	...	Pvt. Phillip Cepeglia
Michael Goldstrom	...	Pvt. Jacob Rosen
André Vippolis	...	Pvt. Lipasti
Rhys Miles Thomas	...	Pvt. Bob Yoder (sharpshooter)
Arthur Kremer	...	Pvt. Abraham Krotoshinsky (runner)
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

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA | Luxembourg

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R13

Filming Locations:

Luxembourg

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

At one point, there is an exchange to the effect of: "You're never gonna make it to Corporal." "I just want to make it to civilian." This dialogue is taken almost verbatim from the WWII film A Walk in the Sun (1945).

Goofs:

Factual errors: Lt. Holderman uses what is commonly known as the Weaver stance to shoot his pistol. This is a two handed stance. At the time the military trained officers and NCOs to fire sideways and one handed.

Quotes:

[Cooking soup]
Cepheglia: It's done.
Rosen: It's not done. Anyhow, why should I share this with you?
Cepheglia: Because I killed the guy you took it off.
Rosen: Minor detail.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Cinemania: I anodos kai i ptosi tou Nazismou" (2008)

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")