Saints and Soldiers

Plot

The film begins with the Malmedy massacre and the escape of American soldiers from their German captors. During the escape, Corporal Deacon Greer (Corbin Allred) manages to disarm a German soldier but does not shoot him - even at the insistence of medic Gould (Alexander Niver).

Gould and Deacon are joined by two other survivors, Kendrick (Larry Bagby) and Sergeant Gunderson (Peter Asle Holden). Gunderson explains it would be better to hide out until the Allies retake the area and the four hide out in an abandoned building. When a German patrol comes along, the soldiers hide under the floor. While there Deacon loosely translates a German message about a downed plane in the area. Leaving after the Germans, the Americans find British pilot Flight Sergeant Oberon Winley (Kirby Heyborne).

Winley explains he has important intelligence photographs he has to get back to the Allies and the group decide to try and reach the Allied lines some 20 miles away. While on point, Deacon has a hallucination and breaks down. Gunderson explains that Deacon had inadvertently, when clearing a building during street fighting, killed two women and six children recently. Gould begins to criticize Deacon for not shooting the German and for being religious. Deacon offers him his Bible, which Gould refuses. Deacon says that Gould is asking too many questions for someone who is not interested in faith.

Shortly afterwards, Kendrick falls through the roof of an old building that had been covered by the snow. Looking for shelter, Gunderson enters a house and finds a woman and girl who speak French, Catherine and Sophie Theary. A coming snow storm causes Gunderson to surmise that the Germans will be pinned down and immobilized. He suggests staying the night but Winley insists that he must get the information to the Allied troops and leaves during the storm. The others are sure he will die in the cold.

Catherine brings some bread to the soldiers. While with the soldiers, two Germans arrive and Catherine talks to them. One German starts scouting the building while the other attempts to rape Catherine. She yells and Deacon kills one German as the other runs into the woods. Winley returns with this German as his prisoner. Deacon recognizes the German as Rudolph, an convert during his mission serving as a minister for his Church in Berlin. Deacon understands then why he, who was well known for never failing to hit what he aimed at, missed Rudolph.

In the morning, Deacon has let Rudolph go, after Rudolph had told him where the Germans lines were and how to get through them. With captured weapons they set out but soon encounter a small group of German soldiers. Gunderson is fatally shot by a sniper, whom Deacon then kills. More Germans attack and Winley is hit in the leg. During the firefight the Allied group is split in two. While carrying Winley, Kendrick is shot in the stomach and dies. Winley kills the German and, trying to hobble away, falls into a river. Deacon and Gould find him. While they care for Winley, Rudolph finds them and tells them where there is a jeep, and an escape route they could use with it closer to the Allied lines, then goes off in the direction of the pursuing Germans.

The three remaining Allied soldiers, now dressed as German soldiers, get in the jeep and head toward the German lines. They manage to talk their way past a German guard (as Deacon speaks fluent German) but when they veer towards the American lines the Germans open fire. Speeding toward the safety of the American lines (where observers work out they are Allied soldiers) the jeep is overturned by mortar fire. Deacon gives covering fire as Gould and Winley head for safety. Deacon is killed by a sniper but the other two make it through and the important intelligence is passed on to headquarters.

As Gould sees Deacons body being carried away, he takes out Deacons Bible, places the photo of Deacons wife into Deacons hands and keeps the book, which Deacon had offered to him earlier, and wishes him to rest in peace. After this, he looks up and sees a P-51 Mustang fighter flying over, signaling that the weather is improving, and the turning of the tide in the Battle. Gould encounters a now captured Rudolph, nods to him, with Rudolph answering back in kind, and then helps an injured German soldier whom he recognizes from the massacre at the start of the film.

Malmedy massacre

Ryan Little (director), Adam Abel (Producer) and Matt Whitaker (writer) give background and insight into the film and its historicity on the commentary track of the DVD. In this commentary, before the massacre, after a shot of a German soldier lighting a cigarette for one of their prisoners, Whitaker and Little discussed the scene:

Actual events

At the beginning of the film is the text "based on actual events". Besides World War II, the Malmedy massacre and the Battle of the Bulge, the commentary mentions the following events that actually happened to soldiers in World War II:

Historical accuracy

Several members of the 101st Airborne Division are depicted as being present at the massacre. In reality, the 101st was held in strategic reserve by SHAEF at this point in time to recover from combat in Operation Market-Garden. The 101st did not reach the front until December 18 (the massacre was on the 17th), and was sent to Bastogne, far to the south of where Kampfgruppe Joachim Peiper operated. Most of the victims were actually from the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion.

The events of the massacre are depicted as taking place in deep snow, while in fact it snowed heavily only the day after the massacre.

Production and release

First-time director Ryan Little teamed up with actors Corbin Allred, Peter Holden, Alexander Niver, Kirby Heyborne, and Lawrence Bagby, along with a small production team to make the film. It was shot in the forested hills of northern Utah with a budget of less than $1 million. However, through special connections, the production team was able to obtain dozens of re-enactors, extras, and rare period equipment.

Saints and Soldiers was originally rated "R" by the MPAA, solely for war violence and related images, not for nudity or sexual situations. The director, writers, and producer wanted a rating of "PG-13". Little said the following on the commentary track of the DVD about the scene where Gunderson is fatally shot:

Some criticism has been leveled against the MPAA rating board with regard to their rating independent films more harshly than those of the large studios. (See also "LDS cinema and MPAA ratings".) Producers edited the film to receive a "PG-13" rating for commercial distribution.

Production went smoothly and the film opened at film festivals nationwide. It was the highest grossing film ever produced by Excel Entertainment. It grossed over $1 million.

Saints and Soldiers was released on video and DVD in May 2005.

Religious overtones

Although this film is classified as a film about Allied soldiers during World War II, it can also be generalized to any soldier, from either side of the battlefield. In the film, Kendrick, Gunderson and Winley do not make any identifications regarding religion, but Gould says that he does not believe in an afterlife. Deacons religion is not mentioned in the film itself, but is identified on the commentary track as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the film it is revealed that he is from Snowflake, Arizona, served a LDS mission in Berlin, Germany, spends every spare moment reading a small book, and the following is said of him by Gunderson:

Hence the reference to the church office of a Deacon. There is some antagonism between Gould and Deacon that comes to the surface several times during the film. But when it comes down to it, they protect each other, regardless of their differences. During an exchange during the film, Deacon offers Gould his Bible. Gould refuses, and Deacon responds by saying that for someone who isnt interested, Gould sure has a lot of questions. At the end of the film, Gould takes the book from Deacons pocket.

The Excel Entertainment Group is heavily influenced by LDS Church and the films content reflects this. "LDS people see our films as a mirror," Simpson (CEO) says of his products. "But they are also a window into the LDS culture."

Sequels

A second film, Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed, was released on August 17, 2012, in limited release. A third film, Saints and Soldiers: The Void, was released on 2014