We Were Soldiers

2002
R
2h 18m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

153K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,720

Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment

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1 Video

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Action Drama History War

The story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the go... Read allThe story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the good news or the bad news.The story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the good news or the bad news.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

153K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,720

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 5 nominations

Trivia
Sam Elliott became so close to the real Basil L. Plumley and his family that during Plumley's funeral with military honors Elliott sat in the front row beside Plumley's daughter as she received the folded flag.

Goofs
Contrary to what's shown in the movie, Lieutenant Henry Herrick and 2nd Platoon did not recklessly charge after a lone NVA soldier, but were in fact ordered to advance out to the flank by Captain John Herren and did so in a disciplined manner. However, he encountered a group of retreating PAVN soldiers and followed them, losing contact with the rest of the company and leaving the flank exposed. At one point, when coming to the clearing shown in the film, Herrick stopped and radioed back on whether or not he should continue through it or go around it, which was when he and his men were attacked by the NVA.

It was also Herrick's platoon that inflicted the first casualties on the NVA in said attack, not the other way around as shown in the movie.

Quotes
Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: [Hal Moore speaks to his men before going into battle] Look around you. In the 7th cavalry, we've got a captain from the Ukraine; another from Puerto Rico. We've got Japanese, Chinese, Blacks, Hispanics, Cherokee Indians. Jews and Gentiles. All Americans. Now here in the states, some of you in this unit may have experienced discrimination because of race or creed. But for you and me now, all that is gone. We're moving into the valley of the shadow of death, where you will watch the back of the man next to you, as he will watch yours. And you won't care what color he is, or by what name he calls God. They say we're leaving home. We're going to what home was always supposed to be. Now let us understand the situation. We are going into battle against a tough and determined enemy.
[pauses]
Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: I can't promise you that I will bring you all home alive. But this I swear, before you and before Almighty God, that when we go into battle, I will be the first to set foot on the field, and I will be the last to step off, and I will leave no one behind. Dead or alive, we will all come home together. So help me, God.

Alternate versions
Trailers include a scene where Julie Moore explains that the last thing most dying soldiers say is "Tell my wife I love her". This is not included in the theatrical release.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: We Were Soldiers/40 Days and 40 Nights/Queen of the Damned (2002)

Soundtracks
Hold On I'm Coming
Written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter
Performed by Tommy Blaize
Produced by Nick Glennie-Smith

User reviews833

Review

Featured review

Seeing the enemy and home in a different light

This film is so different from the traditionally cynical (and rightly so) Vietnam War movies. While it goes without question that this film depicts the bloody and gruesome horrors of the tragedy of the first major conflict of the war, it does so while juxtaposing the story with that of stories of the home front and the enemy. The enemy in this film is not the animalistic, silent enemy we are used to. We hear this enemy speak, we see his love for his family and his devotion to his cause. While being bombarded with images of death and destruction on the battlefield, we are brought back home to see the wives as they face the death themselves.

While of course not a flawless movie, it was without a doubt moving, and I highly recommend it.