Taps
Tags: philosophical, violence, entertaining, flashback

Plot synopsis:
Bunker Hill Military Academy has just concluded another school year. Cadet Brian Moreland, a junior, meets privately with the academy commandant, retired Brigadier General Harlan Bache. Bache promotes Moreland to Cadet Major, the paramount rank at BHMA. Bache also reflects on the time when he was a cadet at West Point (Moreland's intended college), as well as a graduate of BHMA prior to that, and how he dreads his forthcoming retirement. Moreland is congratulated first by his friend Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer, as well as by Cadet Captain David Shawn and Cadet Lieutenant Edward West. Shawn leads a celebration in the hallway. The commencement is celebrated with a parade and pass and review. Following the ceremonies, General Bache announces that BHMA's board of trustees is selling the school to real estate developers. The school will remain open for one year in order to allow the seniors to graduate and give the underclassmen time to apply to other schools. The delay gives many cadets hope that BHMA can be saved. Bache also hopes that the institute can be saved, as he remarks to Moreland "We are here, and the condos are not".
The graduation ceremony is followed by a ball that evening. Outside the gates, a brawl erupts when several local teenagers harass the cadets, which escalates into one local assaulting a sentry. General Bache tries to break up the fight, but his service pistol is seized by one of the teens and the weapon discharges, killing a second teen. Although the magazine had been removed, a round was still in the chamber. Bache is arrested and charged with manslaughter. However, the trauma of the event combined with the arrest triggered a heart attack and Bache is hospitalized in critical condition. The board of trustees closes BHMA immediately.
Since Bache is ill, Moreland meets with the officers of the cadet corps and they take control of Bunker Hill. 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 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 warehouse for the purpose of restocking BHMA's provisions, but one of the trucks breaks down on the way back. As Dwyer is fixing the engine, townies surround the truck, demanding vengeance for the death of their friend. Shawn fires several bursts from his M16 into the air, dispersing the mob. The cadets abandon the stalled truck, fleeing the scene in the second truck, ramming a police car that was blocking their path.
The police surround the campus, but Shawn oversees a defense of the wall which turns into a standoff. A delegation of parents and trustees is admitted. The parents include Moreland's father, a master sergeant in the US Army, who bluntly orders his son to end the standoff. He fails to sway Moreland. 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. They all choose to stay. The siege grows more tense when the National Guard, led by Colonel Kerby, arrives. Kerby negotiates with Moreland; the Colonel admires the academy, and does not wish to see it closed. But his loyalty is to the state legislature, which has been inundated with calls from concerned families and from locals who are scared by the standoff. Despite the Colonel's diplomatic approach, he fails to sway Moreland.
The next morning, it is discovered that eleven cadets have fled. Moreland assembles the battalion, to whom he again offers the opportunity to leave. Led by Lt. West, a number of the cadets discard their weapons and leave. Shortly thereafter, the Academy's water and electricity are shut off. Cadet Pierce is burned while restarting the school's gasoline-powered generator. An ambulance is permitted to enter and take the injured Pierce away. Colonel Kerby once again tries to reason with Moreland, and Moreland agrees, provided he be brought to the hospital and Bache orders him to stand down. Kerby says that Bache died the night before. The cadets hold a military memorial service in his honor. Kerby and the Guardsmen stand at attention at the front gates.
The next night, a tank approaches the main gate. Two young cadets, Derek and Charlie, are on sentry duty. Derek, the younger of the two, panics and rushes to surrender. Charlie tries to stop him. Derek drops his rifle, which goes off as it hits the ground. The Guardsmen open fire. Derek safely reaches the gate, but Charlie is killed.
Charlie's death weakens Moreland’s resolve and Dwyer persuades him to end the occupation. They muster the cadets and order them to stand down. Everyone complies except Shawn, who opens fire from the barracks with an M60 machine gun. As the Guardsmen return fire, Dwyer and Moreland rush inside to stop Shawn. When Moreland attempts to stop Shawn, they are both riddled with bullets. Dwyer carries Moreland's body out of the barracks as Kerby, the National Guardsmen, and the remaining Cadets look on.

Review: "Taps" presents a twist in the way students in a military academy of certain reputation perceive how honor is, above all, the thing to live for, even over all other qualities a man could possess.
The teachings of this military institution, molding young men 12 to 18 years old, have a profound effect, especially in the intense Brian Moreland, who is a clear favorite of the academy director, General Bache.Harold Becker directed "Taps", which is based on a novel by Devery Freeman.
The action of the film takes place in the fictional Bunker Hill Military Academy, that has just been sold to private investors who want transform the site into condominiums.With a history of having molded young minds during its distinguished history, Gen. Bache is horrified by the mere thought of losing the academy and the young people he has helped to involve in the rich life of the military.
After a tragic incident that involves the killing of a townie, Bache suffers a heart attack, leaving the academy in the hands of people that are seen trying to undermine the fallen leader.Brian Moreland, the serious minded young man, takes it into his own hands to take care of what he thinks would be Gen. Bache's reaction in saving the school by getting the rest of the students left at the academy to hold it hostage and not give in to the upcoming changes, or to other people who don't have the same purpose in mind.Timothy Hutton is about the best thing going for the film.
This film is basically the big screen debut for Sean Penn and Tom Cruise, who went to build spectacular careers of their own.
In my case the fight didn't get violent, however like the cadets in the movie I picked the losing side.In the movie I was heart broken that the governor would send troops to the school rather than try and work out a peaceful compromise when he saw the measure that people were willing to go to in order to protect their school.
Taps is about the cadets of Bunker Hill Military Academy and their commanding officer, George C.
His scenes with the idealistic and obstinate Hutton are the highlight of the film for me.Tom Cruise and Sean Penn got their first real notice in this film right at the start of their respective mega-careers.
Hold the fort seems to be the slogan of these military cadets when they decide to rally behind TIMOTHY HUTTON who wants an armed defense of the school from authorities who want to shut it down after an accidental shooting by the presiding General Bache (GEORGE C.
Aiding and abetting are TOM CRUISE and, in his film debut, SEAN PENN.The tale seems highly improbable but is played so earnestly, is scripted so well, and directed so competently that it manages to hold the attention until the more or less predictable outcome.The cadets are all extremely well played, from the very young boys to those who appear to be in their early twenties.
I agree with Maltin who says it "plays its cards too soon, leaving a lot of dead weight before the outcome." Summing up: Improbable story, but entertaining in a curious way.Memorable line from Hutton's father resonates today: "They think you're home grown terrorists.".
But what a time capsule!Of all of the young actors here, only Timothy Hutton was already a star, having become the youngest actor ever to win an Oscar for his role in Robert Redford's 'Ordinary People.'  Ironically, among the suporting actors in 'Taps' are Tom Cruise and Sean Penn, one of whom has become the biggest box office draw of his generation and the other its most respected acting talent.
A story often overlooked for less-than-stellar acting and direction, Taps brings into question if classical military leadership and the traditional honor of fighting men has a place in the modern age.Providing a springboard for young actors into future careers, the film showcases a number of actors ranging in ages from pre-teen to late teens with varying results.
Some perform predictably while others really shine (particularly Brendan Ward as Charlie Auden).The film holds up well after 30 years, feeling more like a story SET in the early 80's rather than being burdened by its age.
Through powerful performances by Penn, Cruise and Hutton, the film is able to show that one's young age is not a prohibiter of understanding of one very important word: Honor..
You're still young enough to follow what adults tell you is a way to think and old enough to act on it.It wasn't an academy award type movie but it was entertaining.
Taps is one of my favorite movies and it is without a doubt one of Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn's best performances.
The message of the film, which is while there is honor and valor in war there is also young and meaningless death, is one of the best messages a movie can convey and is also conveyed so perfectly that it is easily noticeable and understandable.
That isn't so in regard to TAPS, the great majority of the comments that I've read about it here - and, I admit, I haven't read them all - are totally on target, whether the poster liked or didn't like the message that TAPS had about what goes into the correct training of a military officer, and what happens if that training becomes short-sighted.TAPS is an important movie because it is an excellent study into what a soldier IS and what he ISN'T.
Scott and Timothy Hutton to the courageous stand the cadets front to prevent their academy to close, it is clear to me "Taps" will remain lodged in memories for years to come.I knew "Taps" would be a special film from the very beginning; however, it turned out to be much more than that.
Scott as General Harlan Bache, head of the Bunker Hill Military Academy who is proud of its tradition, but is dismayed by the times he lives in, and when the board of trustees votes to shut the Academy down for the redevelopment of Condos, he and the cadets(led by Timothy Hutton, Tom Cruise, and Sean Penn) are dismayed.
In my opinion, "TAPS" is probably the best military academy-based film I have ever seen so far.
Their roles basically made the movie better (and this was only their first film) I thought that Timothy Hutton, Ronny Cox, & George C.
There is nothing more one can ask for when all of the elements are there."Taps" spawned the careers of Tom Cruise, Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn.
There is nothing more one can ask for when all of the elements are there."Taps" spawned the careers of Tom Cruise, Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn.
There is nothing more one can ask for when all of the elements are there."Taps" spawned the careers of Tom Cruise, Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn.
There is nothing more one can ask for when all of the elements are there."Taps" spawned the careers of Tom Cruise, Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn.
Scott and Timothy Hutton to the courageous stand the cadets front to prevent their academy to close, it is clear to me "Taps" will remain lodged in minds for years to come.I knew "Taps" would be a special film from the very beginning; however, it turned out to be much more than that.
Scott and Timothy Hutton to the courageous stand the cadets front to prevent their academy to close, it is clear to me "Taps" will remain lodged in minds for years to come.I knew "Taps" would be a special film from the very beginning; however, it turned out to be much more than that.
Scott and Timothy Hutton to the courageous stand the cadets front to prevent their academy to close, it is clear to me "Taps" will remain lodged in minds for years to come.I knew "Taps" would be a special film from the very beginning; however, it turned out to be much more than that.
The fact that so many cadets unquestioningly follow Hutton's armed resistance to commercial takeover of the military school is only one of the movie's many stretches.
Continuing my plan to watch every Tom Cruise movie in order, I come to his second movie, Taps (1981)Plot In A Paragraph: Military cadets take extreme measures to insure the future of their academy when its existence is threatened by local condo developers.I really enjoyed this movie.
This was used later in my favourite Becker film, "City Hall".The performances from Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn and even Tom Cruise are quite decent.
The movie was one of the first in both the careers of Tom Cruise as well as Sean Penn, and Timothy Hutton once more (after Ordinary People) proves he's a fine actor.But otherwise, there's a lot lacking in the movie.
Scott revises a Patton character is this film about students at a military academy who take arms to prevent their campus from being turned into condo's.
Those in the military are taught about honor, loyalty, and duty, while their civilian counterparts seem only interested in financial gain.Cadet Major Brian Moreland (Timothy Hutton) is the central figure, the leader of the "rebellion".
"TAPS" from 1981 is a decent drama about cadets at a military academy who make a stand after the school board decides to shut the school down in favor of a condominium complex.Timothy Hutton plays the leader of the cadets whereas Sean Penn and Tom Cruise play his two top guys.
He has been told so often about the importance of loyalty and honour that when an unexpected event occurs, he duly does what he has been trained to do, he  well, that's just the problem  At Commencement Day, in the presence of all the parents, following the parade and file-past with elaborate salutes to the General (the boy officers even hold swords to their noses as they do 'eyes right', it is all far more elaborate than any drill I ever did, and I was a cadet officer in a non-military school when young and did that kind of thing, but not with real rifles and a sword up my nostrils like we see here), the General announces that the trustees of the Academy have decided to close the school and sell off the land to commercial developers.
Some, however stay for 'the summer session', among them being Timothy Hutton who is now de facto in charge of the Academy, and Sean Penn and Tom Cruise leading figures amongst the other cadets.
(The film through was filmed in historic Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne, Pennsylvania, near the famous fields where Washington and his men took camp for the winter in 1777.) The academy, similar to the Surovov Military Schools in Russia and Belarus as a junior military college, trains middle and high school level boys academics, character and leadership skills preparing them to become part of the US Army soon as officers in the USMA in West Point, and is led by the great George Scott, a retired US Army general officer, as its Commandant.
soldiers on a mission to save this piece of history for good, all at the cost of their lives.While on the go for supplies the truck that CDT CPT Esposito drives with some of the cadets (Hutton was left behind and had told to the dean and others in the armory about his future plans to prevent the school's closure) is stalled and is attacked by the same teens that disturbed the prom but later comes back thanks to Cruise's efforts.
Although it is entertaining, 34 years on, to see a young Timothy Hutton, Tom Cruise and Sean Penn in action..
It's beautiful!" – Tom Cruise ("Taps")"Taps" is a confused but entertaining military drama about a group of young military school cadets (led by a kid called Brian Moreland) who take over their military school in order to save it from closing.
Abstract this further, and you have a comment on the Vietnam war: a government starting a war to "preserve the honour of democracy" when in reality it seeks only to install its own power.7.9/10 – Sean Penn, Tom Cruise, George C Scott and Timothy Hutton make up for director Harold Becker's flat direction.
Timothy Hutton,Sean Penn and (aside from the younger kids)the 17/18 year old Tom Cruise are all fantastic in their roles.
In the case of Penn & Cruise a pre-view of good things to come for them as actors.Penn is a great friend to Hutton's character and this may seem like a simple role at first but as the story goes on his performance builds on itself with his still very fresh abilities as an actor.Cruise is unsettling but electric as the cadet who likes the power & control he's been trained with just a little too much.
"It's beautiful man!" is the most remembered line from the whole film.Hutton,the veteran actor of the 3,plays a young man who has a more idealistic view of his education at the academy and of the overall meaning.
The pressure of that later resulting in a bit of a dissension between Penn & Hutton.The thing that has not set to well with those that have seen this movie is the senseless killing of a boy who's only about 10 or 11 by the military.
Even over 27 years later,it still feels like it was not a necessary thing to put in this movie to make the point of what happens to these boys when they end up in "a real war".
The idea wasn't even intended to be real-life anyway; it was meant to show how idealistic students go crazy with the idea of honor and end up confronting the outside world.The film is most notable for its cast of then-young actors such as Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton who would go on to bigger careers later on.
General Bache won't take that without a fight, and neither will his new cadet commander Major Brian Moreland (Timothy Hutton).
He sees that all cadets are armed, the school gates are locked, and there is a stand-off with local police and the national guard.Other cadets with key roles are Sean Penn as Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer and Tom Cruise as the over zealous Cadet Captain David Shawn.
Hutton, Penn, and Cruise all were in the 17 to 20 year old range when the movie was filmed, and it was nice seeing them in good early roles.SPOILERS.
(tho the neanderthalic attitudes of reagan would drive the military budget up to new heights even tho it was never cut under carter contrary to most people's beliefs) ...but sean penn and tom cruise add a great deal to the movie as counter weights on the fearless and desirous warriors to hutton's cooler level headed leadership and the contrast between the blood thirst of these two lower ranking 'soldiers' and the leader looking at the big picture leads to some very good scenes and exchanges between them and the others involved ...a solid movie, i give it a solid 8 out of ten ...
Taps is a 1981 movie that stars the late George C.Scott,Timothy Hutton,Ronny Cox and introduced future Hollywood superstars,Sean Penn and Tom Cruise.The story was about how military cadets revolted to the announcement that their school,Bunker Hill Military Academy, a military school institution, is to be torn down and replaced with commercial condominiums.This sets off the young cadets led by their commander General Harlan Bache,who unfortunately passed away during an incident.With the passing of General Bache,the students continued their revolt under the command of a student cadet major,Cadet Major Brian Moreland.Eventaully,the cadets seize the campus, refuse entry of the construction crews and ultimately confront the real military led by Colonel Kerby.Aside from that,the story also presented two interesting characters in Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer and Cadet Captain David Shawn.The film's theme was about military idealism and how the cadets have yet to realize what the real world is all about.It was a great to see how twisted ideas and priorities can help the cadets realize their immaturity and gain knowledge on what the real world is all about..
I was only two when this film came out but it's long sat on my list of must-see movies, and finally at 34yrs old I have watched it and was very glad to say the wait was worthwhile.The film tells us how the changing times are going to take away this military school, an institution loved by those who attend and run it, in it's place condominiums.
It's the end of the year at Bunker Hill Military Academy but for the young cadets, it's a matter of honor when they learn that their school is going to be demolished by next summer to make way for new condos to be built.
Some of the students are staying for the summer, including Cadet Major Brian Moreland (Timothy Hutton), Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer (Sean Penn), and Cadet Captain David Shawn (Tom Cruise).
It was fun watching Tom Cruise in an early role as a young army cadet who gets trigger happy, and Sean Penn as the relatively normal one(!).(Spoiler warning)This is one of the few films in the 70s where a young kid is allowed to get mortally wounded, and it works for the dramatic impact.
Scott, which never disappoints, playing an old school General Harlan Bache who rules the Military School with a code of honour and a sense of moral & values that seems out of place in the modern Era and Tom Cruise, in his first prominent part, as the reckless Cadet Captain David Shawn, well aware & committed on his performance, stealing every scene he's in.
"Taps" also features Sean Penn, in his debut role, playing the prudent, but loyal Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer; Giancarlo Esposito & Evan Handler, also in their first appearances on-screen and a solid performance by character actor Ronny Cox as Colonel Kerby, the head of the National Guard.