|
''Taps'' is a 1981 drama film starring George C. Scott and Timothy Hutton, with Ronny Cox, Tom Cruise, Sean Penn (his acting debut), and Evan Handler in supporting roles. Hutton was nominated for a Golden Globe award in 1982. The film was directed by Harold Becker from a screenplay by Robert Mark Kamen, James Lineberger, and Darryl Ponicsan, based on Devery Freeman's 1979 novel ''Father Sky''. The original music score was composed by Maurice Jarre. The film follows a group of military school students who decide to take over their school in order to save it from closing. This was Cruise's second film role, following a brief appearance in ''Endless Love'', released in 1981 just a few months before ''Taps''. ==Plot== Bunker Hill Military Academy has just concluded another school year. Cadet Brian Moreland (Timothy Hutton), an academic junior, meets privately with the academy commandant, retired Brigadier General Harlan Bache (George C. Scott). Bache promotes Moreland to Cadet Major, the paramount rank at BHMA. Bache also reflects on the time when he was a West Point cadet (Moreland's intended college), as well as a graduate of BHMA prior to that, and how he dreads civilian life with his forthcoming retirement. Moreland is congratulated by several good friends: Cadet Captains David Shawn (Tom Cruise) and Alex Dwyer (Sean Penn), as well as Cadet Lieutenant Edward West (Evan Handler). Shawn, a Red Beret, leads a celebration in the hallway. The commencement is celebrated by a parade and pass & review. Following the ceremonies, General Bache announces that BHMA's board of trustees is selling the school to real estate developers; however, they will remain open for one more 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 - which many of them consider home - can be saved. Bache also expresses his hope that the institute can be saved, as he wryly remarks to Moreland "We are here, and the condos are not". The graduation ceremony is also honored with a ball that evening. Outside the gates, a brawl erupts when several "townies" (local teenagers) harass the cadets, which escalates into one local actually assaulting a sentry. General Bache sees this and tries to play peacemaker by breaking up the fighting boys, however 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 has charges prepared against him for manslaughter. However, the trauma of the event combined with the arrest triggered a heart attack which results in Bache's hospitalization in critical condition. The board of trustees closes BHMA immediately. Moreland meets with the officers of the cadet corps. Since Bache is ill, 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, as well as 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 of restocking BHMA's provisions. One of their trucks breaks down on the way back. As Dwyer is fixing the engine, more 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. As local natives 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 BHMA's campus, but Shawn oversees a defense of the wall which turns into a standoff. A delegation of parents is admitted along with the trustees. Said parents include Moreland's 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 Kerby's 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 Colonel's 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 Academy's utilities are cut off. Cadet Pierce is severely burned while restarting the school's old gasoline-powered generator. An ambulance is permitted to enter and take the injured Pierce away for treatment. Colonel Kerby once again tries to reason with Moreland, and Moreland agrees, provided he be brought to the hospital and if Bache orders him to stand down. Kerby says that is out of the question, as Bache passed away the night before. The cadets, deeply hurt by their commandant's 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 Bache's memory near the gates. The next night, an M60 Patton tank approaches BHMA's 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. Charlie's 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 Kerby's 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, "It's 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 Moreland's body out of the barracks as Kerby looks on. The film ends with a montage of photos and film footage from Bunker Hill Military Academy's proud past. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Taps (film)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|