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1[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/When_Trumpets_Fade_8310.jpg]]
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3''When Trumpets Fade'' is a 1998 HBO UsefulNotes/WorldWarII film directed by John Irvin (''Film/HamburgerHill''), the script of which was discovered by Creator/StevenSpielberg (who directed [[Film/SavingPrivateRyan that other 1998 WWII movie]] and produced [[Series/BandOfBrothers those]] [[Series/ThePacific other]] HBO WWII series). Set during the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest in November 1944, the film underlines its heavy casualties and relative obscurity (compared to the subsequent Battle of the Bulge), but is [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory not based on specific details of the campaign.]] Instead it follows the CharacterDevelopment of antihero Sergeant Manning, whose [[JustForFun/HowToSurviveAWarMovie attempts to escape the battle]] ironically only [[BadassUnintentional expose his competence]] and lead him into [[SurprisinglyEliteCannonFodder escalating exploits]].
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5Private David Manning, carrying a wounded comrade in from the line, finds himself the SoleSurvivor of his platoon's week in the Hurtgen Forest. This is [[ClosestThingWeGot sufficient reason]] for Captain Pritchett, whose company has sustained 75% casualties, to give Manning not [[ShellShockedVeteran the psychological discharge he begs for]], but a promotion. Placed, to general misgivings, in charge of a squad of [[NewMeat naive replacements]], Manning makes a deal with Pritchett: he will knock out the artillery threatening the assault on a critical bridge in return for a Section 8.
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7As the tagline ''"In the heat of battle, not all soldiers can be heroes"'' suggests, ''When Trumpets Fade'' is set unusually far to the nihilistic end of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism for [[AmericaWonWorldWarII an American World War Two film]], [[GenreDeconstruction subverting]] redemptive tropes like the BandOfBrothers and NoOneGetsLeftBehind through the figure of its [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation ambiguous]] protagonist.
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9----
10!!''When Trumpets Fade'' contains examples of:
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12%%* AntiHero
13%%* AnyoneCanDie
14* BadassUnintentional: Manning has not the remotest interest in heroics and believes himself to be unfit for duty.
15* BadBoss: Manning, when unwillingly put in charge of a squad of replacements, endangers their lives for personal gain, loses Sanderson in the woods on his first day and plans to abandon him, bullies Despin, and [[spoiler: shoots]] Baxter.
16* BandOfBrothers: [[UnfriendlyFire Inverted]]. Most of the cast is understandably certain that they ''can't'' rely on the protagonist.
17-->'''Sgt. Manning:''' Look, if I can help you in any way without endangering my own life, I won't hesitate. If you want my opinion, I'll give it to you. But I'm not taking a bullet for anybody.
18-->'''Lt. Lukas:''' That's not good enough.
19-->'''Sgt. Manning:''' That's as good as it gets.
20* BasedOnATrueStory: It's a fictional story set against the backdrop of a real battle. The movie tries hard to do justice to the nastiness of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest; the real battle was even ''worse''.
21* BewareTheNiceOnes: Mild-mannered nerd Sanderson turns into a ScreamingWarrior when [[VillainousDemotivator properly motivated.]] (Of course, he also runs ''away'' screaming.)
22* BookEnds: Opens with Manning carrying Bobby; closes on Sanderson carrying Manning. Further bookended by period pop songs playing over the beginning and end credits.
23* BunnyEarsLawyer: Pritchett tolerates Manning's [[MilitaryMaverick disrespect]] because he's earned it and they need his experience.
24* ColonelBadass: Colonel Hardass, at least. [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep They call him Lieutenant Colonel]], though [[YouMightRememberMeFrom viewers may know him as]] Music/DwightYoakam.
25* CombatMedic: When conducting unauthorized raids, Chamberlain also moonlights with a bazooka.
26%%* CrapsackWorld: The Hurtgen Forest.
27%%* DeadpanSnarker: Manning.
28* DirtyCoward: Manning, according to Talbot. Ambiguous, since he does in fact [[CowardlyLion expose himself to danger]] and [[TheSoCalledCoward shrugs off contempt]] (and [[UnfriendlyFire death threats]].)
29* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: TheHeroDies and the battle that got him and others killed is now largely forgotten.]]
30* DueToTheDead: Subverted. The division isn't even evacuating bodies, and while Talbot's accusing Manning of selfishness, Manning is helping himself to their boots.
31-->'''Talbot:''' There isn't anything sacred to you, is there, Manning?
32-->'''Manning:''' Warm dry feet.
33* ElitesAreMoreGlamorous: Averted. The 28th Infantry is, for the film's purposes, [[CannonFodder a regular outfit]].
34* EnsignNewbie: Lieutenant Lukas, but Manning refuses to be his SergeantRock.
35* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The opening scene. Manning carries the mortally-wounded Bobby off the front. [[spoiler: Then he [[MercyKill shoots him]].]]
36* FacialHorror: In the opening, Manning is carrying the only other survivor of his squad, Bobby, who has suffered massive burns to one side of his face. [[spoiler:Turns out it's also a case of DeathByDisfigurement when Manning shoots him.]]
37* AFatherToHisMen:
38** Captain Pritchett is interested in his subordinates' welfare. Manning... isn't.
39** Lukas also seems to be this, although he doesn't show it on his sleeve and is too inexperienced to reassure the men, as after his platoon suffers heavy casualties he gathers up the doglegs of the dead and angrily holds home in the face of a superior officer.
40* FieldPromotion: Manning becomes a Sergeant after the rest of his squad is wiped out, then a Lieutenant when Lukas breaks down and is discharged by the Colonel.
41-->'''[[spoiler: 2LT]] Manning:''' I was a private ''three days ago.''
42* GenreDeconstruction: Of western World War II war films. However, it goes further in not only showing that WarIsHell, but ditching many tropes such as the [[FireForgedFriends Fire-Forged]] BandOfBrothers ultimately prevailing against all odds. Manning has only his own survival at stake, and will happily sacrifice his men to save himself. In fact, none of the soldiers appear to fancy themselves to be dying and bleeding for any lofty goals like duty or home and country. There's nothing glorious about the battle of Hurtgen Forest, which is mostly forgotten.
43* GoodScarsEvilScars: The imposing German squad leader seen a few times has a nasty scar below his right eye.
44* TheHeroDies: [[spoiler:Although it's left somewhat ambiguous, Sgt. Manning appears to die from blood loss as Pvt. Sanderson tries to carry him back to the base.]]
45* HiddenDepths: [[spoiler: Manning was BrilliantButLazy [[BeautifulAllALong All Along]], according to Pritchett's recommendation for commissioning him.]]
46* HomeByChristmas: Invoked by Baxter, the newsreel narrator, and Bing Crosby.
47* IDidWhatIHadToDo
48-->'''Talbot:''' You [[spoiler: executed Baxter]]!
49-->'''Manning:''' You're damn right I did... [[JerkassHasAPoint You'd have done the same thing.]]
50* IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace: The 28th know their section of the front affectionately as "the Death Factory."
51* InTheBack: [[spoiler: Baxter.]] Actually, it's In The [[spoiler: [[ManOnFire Fuel Tank]]]].
52* IronicEcho: "''If I can help you in anyway I can without endangering my own life, I won't hesitate''".
53* KillItWithFire: When life gives you 88mm cannons, you make Manning take them out with flamethrowers.
54* LandMineGoesClick: [[StuffBlowingUp Averted]] when the company enters the minefield; subverted when [[spoiler: Manning disarms one.]]
55* LeastIsFirst: Sanderson is the first to agree to Manning's plan.
56* LetsGetDangerous: Talbot, Chamberlain, and Sanderson throw in with Manning's raid; it's also the first time Manning faces danger on his own initiative.
57* MirthlessLaughter: [[spoiler:Manning's last act on this Earth before he dies is to let out a disheartened laugh as Sanderson promises that he'll take him home.]]
58* NewMeat: Manning's entire squad, namely Privates Sanderson, Despin, Baxter, and Lonnie.
59* NoOneGetsLeftBehind: Played straight, mostly by Sanderson, but also subverted all to hell, mostly by Manning, though the replacements don't cover themselves with glory in this respect either.
60-->'''Sgt. Talbot:''' Where's your squad?
61-->'''Sgt. Manning:''' [points at Sanderson] Over there.
62* NotInThisForYourRevolution: Manning's sole motivation is survival.
63* OminousFog: Ubiquitous, but especially atmospheric during the replacements' first patrol and the advance through the minefield.
64* ProfessionalSlacker: Manning.
65-->'''Talbot:''' See, your little routine isn't as seamless as you think it is. Always hanging back a little, never volunteering. Doing just enough to keep outta trouble, but never enough to really help out.
66* RedshirtArmy: The U.S. 28th Infantry Division.
67* SacrificialLamb: [[spoiler: Bobby.]]
68* SceneryGorn: On your left, the blasted remains of the Hurtgen Forest. On your right, the medical clearing station. More literally, notice the incidental blood stains on the ground outside the C Company command post and the leg dangling from the cannon barrel. Mind the exploding trees.
69* ScreamingWarrior: The mild-mannered Pvt. Sanderson storms a German artillery site with a flamethrower while screaming profusely to motivate himself.
70* SergeantRock: Sgt. Talbot, who looks out for the replacements and organizes the bridge retreat. Sgt. Manning is a subversion [[spoiler: but also a reconstruction, since he does get the job done and earn general respect.]]
71* ShellShockedVeteran: Manning, who requests a Section 8; more [[HeroicBSOD dramatically]], [[spoiler: Lukas]].
72* ShootTheDog[[spoiler: [[IncrediblyLamePun face]]]]: [[spoiler: Twice.]] Manning, of course.
73* SinkOrSwimMentor: Manning to the replacement squad.
74-->'''Sgt. Manning:''' This is your first big chance to stay alive. Don't fuck it up.
75** [[spoiler: MentorOccupationalHazard]]: [[spoiler: Specifically, as Sanderson's mentor, as Sanderson takes his place in the BookEnds.]]
76* SociopathicSoldier: Manning is a textbook example of the unwilling conscript. He doesn't want any part in the war, but he keeps being promoted due to the high attrition rate of the battle. His brutality extends mostly to the NewMeat he's been assigned to lead, but he's not really a coward, proving himself pretty damn capable under fire.
77* SoleSurvivor: Manning, of his platoon after a week in the Hurtgen Forest, and later [[spoiler: Sanderson, of Manning's squad.]]
78* SoundtrackDissonance: "Over There", playing over the opening credits, is sandwiched between "Taps" and a scene of retreating survivors; Bing Crosby croons "White Christmas" over the closing credits as the camera pans over snow-topped anti-tank fortifications.
79* SpiritualSuccessor: Averted with subsequent, better-known, rather less cynical HBO UsefulNotes/WorldWarII miniseries ''Series/BandOfBrothers'' and ''Series/ThePacific''. ''When Trumpets Fade'' was, however, retitled ''Film/HamburgerHill 2'' in some markets.
80* StealthPun: The somewhat vague title, reduced to an acronym. Accidental? We like to think not.
81* SuicideMission: Assaulting the Arbaley bridge in the face of 88s and tanks, according to Capt. Pritchett and Manning.
82* SurprisinglyEliteCannonFodder: Manning starts off as the SoleSurvivor of a week in "the Death Factory" and subsequently survives a semi-disastrous exercise a day for the rest of the film, which does not escape his officers' notice.
83* TankGoodness: Unless you're American.
84* TemptingFate: The replacements' mantra is "[[TonightSomeoneDies Nobody dies.]]"
85* ThereAreNoTherapists: Subverted. There is a mechanism for psychological help, the Section 8 discharge. They're just difficult to get.
86* UnfriendlyFire: Talbot threatens to frag Manning if he lets his replacements get killed. Manning [[spoiler: actually does kill Bobby, Baxter, and pulls a pistol on Talbot.]]
87* WarIsHell: Lampshaded:
88-->'''Manning:''' No more room in hell.
89--> '''Chamberlain:''' What are you talking about? There's plenty of room. All they gotta do is stack 'em higher.
90* WeHaveReserves: The commanders of the 28th Infantry Division, in the view of Chamberlain and Manning.

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