TAPS

US, 1981, 121 minutes, Colour.
George C. Scott, Sean Penn, Timothy Hutton, Tom Cruise, Ronny Cox.
Directed by Harold Becker.

Tapes is a very interesting military film of 1981, reflecting the period of the 70s and the Vietnam War, the fall of Saigon, the aftermath and the attitude of the American public towards the military.

The theme of the film is the closing of an academy after one hundred and forty-one years for development of condominiums. The loyal students take it into their own hands, close off the school to developers and create a siege. They are led by the general of the academy. However, things get out of hand. The cadets break into factions, clashing with each other. There are a variety of motives, the repercussions of the strict military training, the demands for obedience and action. When they get out of control, disaster follows.

The film raised a number of questions about American attitudes towards military command, training, attitudes. The film was released at the beginning of the Reagan presidency, although it was in development during the years of Jimmy Carter’s presidency.

George C. Scott, who had won an Oscar for Patten, is an ideal choice for the general. Timothy Hutton had won an Oscar the year before for best supporting actor in Ordinary People and was at the beginning of his career. Two other young cadet captains stand out at the beginning of their respective careers: Sean Penn and Tom Cruise. Cruise displays quite some force as a cadet who becomes psychopathic.

The film was written by Robert Mark Cayman, a prolific writer of movies. This was his first screenplay. He was to go on to the film about sects and brainwashing, Split Image, as well as the three Karate Kid films. Other screenplays include The Power of One, Lethal Weapon 3 and a number of films for Luc Besson: The Fifth Element, Kiss of the Dragon, The Transporter and Transporter 2.

The film was directed by Harold Becker who began his career in the United Kingdom with The Ragman’s Daughter in 1972. On his return to the United States he made film versions of Joseph Wambaugh novels about the police, The Onion Field and The Black Marble. Other films include Sea of Love, City Hall, Domestic Disturbance.

1. An interesting piece of Americana? Impact for American audiences? In the light of American politics and military involvement in the '70s? Universal impact?

2. The viewpoint of screenwriters and director? Right-Wing?, Left-Wing?, Centre? Adequate presentation of the complexity of the issues?

3. The film as a study of the military: military training, creeds, leadership, elitism, honour? Codes of honour and the glorification of the abstractions about military and honour? In the light of American military tradition?

4. The film as a study of human conflict: the presentation of ideals, the influence of a teacher, parents, father-figures, the capacity for moulding children, enthusing them? Children and their growing up, learning models, idealism? The morality of education? Moulding, freedom, brainwashing? Children as images of adults? Children and play, games? Games and reality?

5. The authentic atmosphere of the film: the Bunker Hill Academy and its appearance, style, the atmosphere of the '80s (records and songs, television, language)? The town, the National Guard, the police? Traditional songs? Musical score?

6. The impact of the opening: Onward Christian Soldiers and its ironic as well as realistic use? The long track through the chapel? The ceremony, the tradition of 141 years? Salutes, the Last Post, the Honour Roll? The reading from the Book of Remembrance? The Academy as a school for children? The presence of the parents? The military style blending with educational style - of the traditional boarding school?

7. The transition to General Bache: from the ceremony to the private dinner, the talk, memoirs of war and honour. honour as more important than death? Brian Morland enthralled by General Bache? Receiving the medal? His return to the boys? The ceremonial salute by Shawn down the corridor? Brian and the support from Alex? The setting of the stage for the conflict?

8. George C. Scott's performance as Bache: his strong presence, the chapel, receiving the salute, reading from the Book of Remembrance? Seen from the boys' viewpoint? Courtesy and style? His resentment of the war of paper clips? His influence at the dinner? His presence at the parade? The announcement about the closing down of the school - objective but with edge? The interview with Brian and the discussion about the Academy? The dance and his receiving the guests? The fight, his shock at the death? His heart attack and being shattered? His later speech on the film? His link with Brian, the pervading presence throughout the film? The strong influence? others' views about him - the truth? The information about his death? The tribute and service? Brian ultimately disillusioned with what he had left out of their formation?

9. The issue of the closing down of the school, real estate interests, the people making the decisions. their lack of consultation? The giving of one year's grace? The manner of decisions and communications compared with military codes? The military and their talk of the outside world, the despising of civilians? The impact on the boys? Their decision to fight? The complication with the dance, the brawl and the shooting? The inevitability of the Academy being shut at once? The strength of the issue for the ensuing drama?

10. The range of ingredients for the explosive situation? The apportioning of blame? The inevitability of the ending? The loyalty to the school, the long tradition, military involvement, American might, discipline, the expectations of parents. the nature of leadership. the training in aggression? The changed attitudes of the '70s and the critique of the military and militarism? The attitudes of the adolescents from the town? Shifts in political awareness? Kirby and the differing point of view about honour and survival? The fact that the siege was caused by children -stubborn. not realising all the issues, eventually full of fear? The militaristic and mad trigger-happy Shawn? Accidents? The explosive situation culminating in death? A symbol of political and military issues of the '70s and '80s in America? Symbol of social issues?

11. The style of the school: formality, polished. disciplined. the emphasis on rank? Twelve-year-olds and over in a strict boarding school? Their hopes for career? Ambitions? Graduates going to academies? The style of military training - in techniques and strategy? The importance of loyalty? The testing of values under fire? The eventual running away and desertion? The group who finally left officially? The small boys and their fears? Boys expecting to act, being expected to act as men with the ruggedness of adults?

12. Timothy Hutton as Brian Morland sustaining the film and its drama? The introduction to him at the dinner, his devotion to Bache (and his discussion about his own father and his military career, the 15 minutes for crying at his mother's death, his eventual confrontation of his father and his being slapped by him)? Bache as substitute father? His intensity, ambition, hoping for the best from the school? His awareness of his concern for himself? His ability at command? His control of the situation, taking the arms? His laying down conditions - in the style of war films? His relying on Bache? Implicit belief in him, watching his films? The impact of his death and the memorial service? His gradual realisation that his teaching was inadequate? His control of the boys: parades, strategy, confrontation with the parents, clashes with the police, the discussions with Kirby and the differing point of view? His coping with internal difficulties - people leaving, Shawn's militarism, the lack of water, the student burnt? His military dress. manner? Reliance on Alex for friendship, their fight? Shawn and his madness? West and his leaving? The impact of Charlie's death and his telling Alex of the difference between ideas and the reality of the dead boy? His convictions about responsibility? His enjoyment of power? The cause for its own sake? Death shattering him and the disillusionment? Trying to save the situation with Shawn - the ugliness and futility of his death? The strengths of Timothy Hutton's performance?

13. The portrayal of the other boys: Alex with more humanity, an inherent scepticism, intellectually bright. his intense loyalty to Brian and support of him. clashes with Shawn, the mock interviews about the situation. the intensity of the fight with Brian, his grief at Brian's death? Shawn his Red Berets and the pig-headed militaristic intensity? Brooking no opposition? Despising those who left? His final trigger-happy massacre? West and the discovery of what was happening in questioning the sentry? His leaving? The variety of boys with different backgrounds, black and white, their parents? At the parades, at the dances, fighting? The truck incident in the town? Getting water from the boiler? Watching the television - and the irony of watching M*A*S*H? The details of their life in the Academy - corridors, rooms, showers etc.?

14. The contrast with the police and the military - not understanding the boys. treating them as adults, yet despising what they were doing? Kirby as the tough military man, representing the Governor, trying to bargain, setting down conditions? His being wounded? The National Guard - doing a necessary job? The military hardware, especially the tanks. the lights, the guns?

15. Arms, strategies, a mini-war? Accidents, death and grief?

16. Shawn's trigger-happiness as bringing the story to conclusion? Melodramatic - was there any other way?

17. The pace of the film, its moods, attention to detail? Presentation of American issues, traditions and challenge? How much insight in this film?