A historian explains how The thin red line Accurately describes the role of the U.S. it. Army during one key battle of World War II. Released in 1998, The thin red line is directed by Terrence Malick and based on the 1962 novel of the same name by author James Jones. The World War II film, which stars Sean Penn, Jim Caviezel, Nick Nolte, Adrien Brody and George Clooney, chronicles the struggles of select soldiers during the bloody Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and earned a total of seven Oscar nominations, including Best Image.
In a recent video for InsideHistorian John McManus analyzes selected scenes from The thin red lineFound that the film gets a lot right with its depiction of the Battle of Guadalcanal. The historian praises the film for the way it portrays the military’s role in the conflict, which he says is often “Overlooked“ In favor of chronicling the battle from the perspective of the US it. Marines.
While McManus had reservations about some moments, such as a bayonet stabbing and one lieutenant’s choices, He ultimately awards the film a solid nine out of 10 for historical accuracy. Check out his analysis below:
“So the Battle of Mount Austin is sort of the climax of Guadalcanal. When the 25th Infantry Division is assigned to take a lot of the high ground that overlooks the airfield, that’s the key objective of the whole campaign. We want to make Make sure the Japanese don’t control the high ground so they can attach artillery at the airfield.
“The stab you see at the beginning, that would be quite unusual. Bayonet wounds, especially against Americans, are really unusual. You could have it, under certain circumstances, fixed to the end of your gun. It is possible, because if you Expected that kind of close quarters fighting, maybe.
“The Japanese are more vulnerable here than they are elsewhere because they are not in fixed fortifications anymore because they have lost most of the key ridges and hills that comprise Mount Austen.
“Guadalcanal has a lot of this kind of grass. Kunai grass had these sharp edges. You’d be quite vulnerable to get the almost small paper cuts, but these are grass cuts, and they can be infected. This was just one Of the many things that just lead to a miserable environment to work in.
“You have something quite accurate where you have a fire support element with the guys firing their rifles at the ridges and the distance. And then the other group led by the lieutenant is trying to maneuver forward. So that’s fire and maneuver, exactly As you would have.
“What I think is a little questionable is that a lieutenant sent a couple of first scouts out, which is exactly what you would have done, but he lost both of them, but he still decides to go ahead with The full frontal attack. I think more likely he would have looked around to find out where the Japanese were before sending your whole element forward.
“I’ll give it a nine out of 10. These two clips definitely present what is a really good picture of the Army’s role, especially in the Battle of Guadalcanal, which tends to get overlooked.”
What the historical accuracy means of the thin red line for this movie
How the Terrence Malick movie fared with critics and audiences
On top of featuring a number of elements that are historically accurate, The thin red line was a success with critics. The film currently holds a score of 80% critics Rotten tomatoes And a matching 80% audience score. The thin red line Cast was a major point of praise, and the movie featured a number of now-famous stars in the earlier days of their careers. The movie was also praised, however, for its more philosophical exploration of the Battle of Guadalcanal. And the experience of the soldiers in the Second World War more generally.
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The thin red lineIts historical accuracy and critical reception helped the film go down as a key title in the larger war movie space, but it did not help the film succeed at the box office at the time. The movie was made on an estimated budget of $52 million and would ultimately gross $98 millionMeaning it probably didn’t break even during its theatrical run. It is very likely, however, considering the film’s current positive reputation, that it eventually became profitable due to DVD and digital sales/rentals​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Our take on the historical accuracy of The Thin Red Line
How it helped the movie stand the test of time
For the average moviegoer, historical accuracy may not be a major concern. In general, it is more important for movies to be entertaining than to get every historical detail right. that is, A movie like The thin red line Its historical accuracy has undoubtedly helped it stand the test of time and gain favor with those familiar with the Battle of Guadalcanal. And the history of World War II in general.
Crucially, however, Malick’s World War II movie offers more than just correct historical details, and it couples this attention to detail with strong performances and a compelling story. Together, all the elements combine to create The thin red line A staple of the war movie genre, and one that sheds light on aspects of Pacific theater warfare not covered in other war films.
Source: Inside