Taps

Memorable mostly as the film that introduced filmgoers to Tom Cruise and Sean Penn, both of whom nearly steal the film from its nominal star, Timothy Hutton. Hutton, fresh from his Oscar for Ordinary People, plays the top cadet at a private military school run by George C. Scott. When the announcement is made that the school will be closed, the inmates take over the asylum with military precision. Hutton is caught among his sense of duty to mentor Scott, the rabid militarism of cadet Cruise, and the rational arguments of Penn, as Hutton's best friend. Then a cadet kills one of the cops responding to the crisis, and suddenly this game of playing soldiers takes on a warlike atmosphere. But director Harold Becker can't hold it together; Hutton isn't up to carrying the film, and the tension rapidly drains from the Darryl Ponicsan script. --Marshall Fine

Movie Details

Cast: George C. Scott, Timothy Hutton, Ronny Cox, Sean Penn, Tom Cruise, Brendan Ward, Evan Handler, John P. Navin Jr., Billy Van Zandt, Giancarlo Esposito, Donald Kimmel, Tim Wahrer, Tim Riley, Jeff Rochlin, Rusty Jacobs
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 126 min
DVD Aspect Ratios: 1.85:1

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DVD Features:

Audio Commentary by Director Harold Becker

"The Bugler's Cry: The Origins of Playing 'Taps'"

"Sounding the Call to Arms: Mobilizing the TAPS Generation"

Theatrical Teaser (2)

Theatrical Trailers

Work Print Trailer

TV Spots

International rating:

Europe: PG
Australia: PG

DVD International release dates:
North America: Jun 3, 03

VHS International release dates:
North America: May 19, 93