Taps (film)

Plot

It is the eve of Bunker Hill Military Academys Graduation parade. Cadet Brian Moreland (Timothy Hutton) meets privately with the academy commandant, retired Brigadier General Harlan Bache (George C. Scott). Bache promotes Moreland to Cadet Major, the highest possible rank at BHMA. Moreland is congratulated by several good friends: Cadet Captains David Shawn (Tom Cruise) and Alex Dwyer (Sean Penn); Cadet Lieutenant Edward West (Evan Handler). Shawn, a Red Beret, leads a celebration in the hallway. At Graduation the next day, General Bache announces that BHMAs board of trustees is selling the school to real estate developers; however, they will remain open for one more year...allowing the senior cadets to graduate, and the underclassmen to find other schools. The delay gives many cadets hope that BHMA - which many of them consider home - can be saved.

A dance is held at BHMA after Commencement. Outside the gates, a brawl erupts when several "townies" (local teenagers) harass the cadet-sentries. When General Bache attempts to end the fight, his service pistol is seized by one of the townies. During their scuffle, the weapon discharges - killing a second townie. Although the magazine was removed, a round was still in the chamber. Bache is arrested and, while in jail, has a heart attack which leaves him in critical condition at the hospital. The board of trustees closes BHMA immediately.

Moreland meets with his fellow cadet-officers. They take control of BHMAs campus. The Dean of Students arrives with the local Sheriff to empty the armory. They find the weapons in the hands of an armed cadre led by Major Moreland...who demands to meet with General Bache, and to negotiate with the trustees so that BHMA will be kept open. The Dean and Sheriff are escorted off the campus by armed cadets, who secure the perimeter.

More cadets are sent to a local food-warehouse for the purpose or restocking BHMAs provisions. One of their trucks breaks down on the way back. As Dwyer is fixing the engine, another group of townies threaten them and surround the truck. Shawn fires several bursts from his M16 into the air, dispersing the mob. As more townies gather around, the cadets abandon their stalled truck. They flee the scene in their second truck, ramming a police car that was blocking their path.

The police surround BHMAs campus. A delegation of parents is admitted along with the trustees. Said parents include Morelands father, a master sergeant in the US Army. Sergeant Moreland speaks privately with his son, bluntly ordering him to end this standoff. He fails to sway Brian by insulting him. To show the police and parents that none of the boys are being held against their will, Moreland assembles the cadets and offers them a chance to walk out. All of them choose to stay. The siege grows more tense when the National Guard, led by Colonel Kerby (Ronny Cox), arrives. Kerby negotiates with Moreland; the Colonel admires Bunker Hill Military Academy, and does not wish to see it closed down either. Yet Kerbys loyalty is to the state legislature - which has been inundated with calls from concerned families - and from locals who are scared out of their wits by the standoff. Despite the Colonels relatively-diplomatic approach, he fails to sway Moreland.

The next morning, it is discovered that eleven cadets have fled the campus. Moreland assembles the battalion, whom he again offers the opportunity to leave rather than desert. Led by Lieutenant West, several of the remaining cadets discard their weapons and leave BHMA. Shortly thereafter, the Academys utilities are cut off. Cadet Pierce is severely burned while restarting the schools old gasoline-powered generator. An ambulance is permitted to enter and take the injured Pierce away for treatment. Moreland offers to stand down if General Bache so orders him. Colonel Kerby replies that Bache has passed away. The cadets, deeply hurt by their commandants death, hold a military memorial service in his honor...complete with a riderless horse and a half-staff flag. Even Kerby and his Guardsmen salute Baches memory near the gates.

The next night, an M60 Patton tank approaches BHMAs main gate. Two young cadets, Derek and Charlie, are on sentry duty. Derek, the younger of the two sentries, panics and rushes to surrender. Charlie tries to stop him. Derek drops his rifle, which goes off as it hits the ground. The Guardsmen panic as well, opening fire. Derek safely reaches the gate, but Charlie is gunned down.

Charlies death weakens Moreland’s resolve. Dwyer persuades Moreland to end the occupation. They muster their fellow cadets and order them to stand down. Everybody complies except the rebellious Shawn, who fires a .30 caliber machine gun at Colonel Kerbys Guardsmen from the barracks. An M60, followed by an M113 APC, breaks down the main gate of BHMA. As the M113 fires its .50 caliber machine gun at the barracks, Dwyer and Moreland rush inside to stop Shawn - who just grins maniacally and proclaims, "Its beautiful!" When Moreland attempts to forcibly commandeer the .30 caliber MG, both he and Shawn are riddled with gunfire from outside. The siege is over. Dwyer, in tears, carries Morelands body out of the barracks as Kerby looks on.

The film ends with a montage of photos and home movie-footage from Bunker Hill Military Academys proud past.

Cast

Production

This movie was filmed on location at Valley Forge Military Academy and College (VFMAC) in Wayne, Pennsylvania during the summer recess. VFMAC is also known as the Military College of Pennsylvania. Most of the filming took place at Wheeler Hall and the now demolished Clothier Hall. The brick and iron gate featured in the film was constructed just for the movie and was torn down after filming wrapped. Many of the actual students of VFMAC were used as extras. The uniforms shown in the movie were accurate VFMAC uniforms of that period, with modifications. The film was originally going to be filmed at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. Producers changed their minds after a tour of the campus and deciding that it "didnt have enough walls." RMA officials countered by saying that allowing production would have caused too much disruption of the cadets daily lives. The second proposal of filming locations was at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana. The school denied the request upon hearing the ending of the story. The third proposal of filming locations was at Hargrave Military Academy (HMA) in Chatham, Virginia. Again, school officials turned down the request after learning of the films plot and after discovering that producers wanted to erect a wall around the front of the campus.

Similar Movies

The Lords of Discipline (1983). Maurice Jarre composed the music for Taps and Dead Poets Society. The Strange One (1957). Ronny Cox appears in Taps and Vision Quest. The Gay Sisters (1942).

Reception

Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 80% of the 15 sampled critics gave the film a positive review and that it got an average score of 6.1 out of 10. Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film 3 stars (out of four), comparing the film to the classic novel Lord of the Flies (1954).

The film earned North American rentals of $20.5 million.