Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11355 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-24
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 89 minutes

Synopsis
Set during one of the Second World War's most shocking and unforgettable battles - the battle of Hurtgen Forest in the Autumn of 1944. American forces are under orders to secure a bridge flanked by enemy tanks. Men already trapped in a hellish minefield face death from all sides as shells rain down from the sky. Hundreds of lives have been lost, and the surviving troops are bloodied and shell-shocked. There are only four renegade soldiers remaining, who all have one thing in common: a desperate will to stay alive.

Customer Reviews

Authentic battle scenes
A good post Pvt Ryan experience, where the battle scenes capture much of the intensity, as well as showing the general disaffection of the troops. You will also get to see (albeit fleetingly) authentic German AFVs, of the type likely to be found at that time. Definitely watchable.

Hidden Gem
I guess this is the type of movie that the so called experts are these days calling a guilty pleasure - it'll never win awards, storm box offices or indeed feature in any tedious C4 top 100 lists. But I loved it all the same. I caught Trumpets late one Sunday night on Sky Movies several years ago and it was one of those evenings where I should have gone to bed as I had to be in work early the next day but stayed up anyway and was so glad I did.

A previous reviewer commendably explained the history and background to the film so I won't go into it too much here. Suffice to say it involves one of America's less celebrated periods in military history and does indeed tread the now well worn path of 'isn't war terrible?' etc.

But there were two aspects for me that raised the film above the norm and placed it firmly in my mind as an excellent piece of entertainment: Firstly Ron Eldard's (who??) central performance, perfectly playing the role of 'is he a hero or is he a coward?' better than it has ever done before and secondly the ending. Not only do you get enough action to please the most gung ho fans but you also get a logically thought out and surprisingly grown up and satisfying finish. The kind of ending that sent me to bed thinking about it and to me that is always good!

I'm surprised to read from other reviewers that this was a made for TV film as they tend to be dross. But if you also think that and are planning to avoid this film accordingly then take it from me that When Trumpets Fade is most definitely the exception which proves the rule.

Not so much brotherly love going on here
Band of Brothers raised the bar for the genre, but this is a very solid, short war movie concentrating on an attempt to capture a bridge at Hurtgen Forest. Ron Eldard leads a squad very much against his wishes, showing a different picture to the brotherhood portrayed in BoB. His motivations are purely personal, colouring his leadership and courage. This is a low budget effort from '98, and the dialogue is stilted, but the action is intense and brutal, displaying the chaos and fear to great effect. Worth a look for sure, but don't expect the glitz of Hollywood.