History Film / TheThinRedLine

* AdaptationPersonalityChange: In the 1998 film Tall has [[HairTriggerTemper a tendency to fly off the handle when disobeyed]] and secretly has a low opinion of himself, while his book counterpart is rather composed for the most part and has a rather high opinion of himself. A scene where he snaps about water being late arriving in the film is changed form the novel where he personally brings up water to the men only to give it to other, equally thirsty men on the way due to being moved by their plight.

* StrangerInAFamiliarLand: in the book Queen is wounded and initially wants to return the the company after being offered a chance to be sent home before learning how much things have Chas bed (jerks being dead, stein relieved, Dale ad doll sergeants etc.)

* StrangerInAFamiliarLand: in the book Queen is wounded and initially wants to return the the company after being offered a chance to be sent home before learning how much things have Chas bed (jerks bieng dead, stein relieved, Dale ad doll sergeants etc.)

The film is also notable for being pitted against ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'' both at the time it came out [[DuelingMovies and ever since]], with the two (very different) war films being (perhaps unfairly) compared to each other and various film critics [[BrokenBase taking sides]]. This is owing to the fact that it depends on what kind of war movie you are looking to see. Both movies are visceral, but ''Saving Private Ryan'' would probably be described as "action-packed" and expounding the attitude that "[[WarIsHell war is hell]], but sometimes necessary, and we will never understand what the Greatest Generation went through." (It could even be said to have popularized this nostalgic approach to UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.) Conversely, ''The Thin Red Line'' would probably be described as philosophical and immersive, expounding the attitude that men don't really know why they fight because they are part of nature, and make excuses for their violence.

The film is also notable for being pitted against ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'' both at the time it came out [[DuelingMovies and ever since]], with the two (very different) war films being (perhaps unfairly) compared to each other and various film critics [[BrokenBase taking sides]]. This is owing to the fact that it depends on what kind of war movie you are looking to see. Both movies are visceral, but ''Saving Private Ryan'' would probably be described as "action-packed" and expounding the attitude that "{{war is hell}}, but sometimes necessary, and we will never understand what the Greatest Generation went through." (It could even be said to have popularized this nostalgic approach to UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.) Conversely, ''The Thin Red Line'' would probably be described as philosophical and immersive, expounding the attitude that men don't really know why they fight because they are part of nature, and make excuses for their violence.

''The Thin Red Line'' is a famous book about the battle of [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII Guadalcanal]] by author Creator/JamesJones. It is a philosophical work about the internal and external battles the various soldiers go through.

It was made into [[TheFilmOfTheBook a movie]] twice, in 1964 and 1998. The more famous of the two adaptations (the 1998 one) was written and directed by Creator/TerrenceMalick, and exhibits many of his [[SignatureStyle trademark directorial characteristics]], including sumptuous [[SceneryPorn nature photography]] and deep philosophizing, often by way of internal dialogues. Malick used the film to expound on the idea that "all men have got the same soul" and are part of nature, and therefore warfare is just an example of mankind fighting against himself.

The film features a huge cast (still more in the book) who each have their own perspectives on the battle raging around them, although most of the characters seem to be surprisingly thoughtful and articulate in their internal monologues, despite (or perhaps because) the ever-present [[AnyoneCanDie threat of impending death]].

The film is also notable for being pitted against ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'' both at the time it came out [[DuelingMovies and ever since]], with the two (very different) war films being (perhaps unfairly) compared to each other and various film critics [[BrokenBase taking sides]]. This is owing to the fact that it depends on what kind of war movie you are looking to see.

Both movies are visceral, but ''Saving Private Ryan'' would probably be described as "action-packed" and expounding the attitude that "war is hell, but sometimes necessary, and we will never understand what the Greatest Generation went through." (It could even be said to have popularized this nostalgic approach to WWII.) Conversely, ''The Thin Red Line'' would probably be described as philosophical and immersive, expounding the attitude that men don't really know why they fight because they are part of nature, and make excuses for their violence.

See also ''Literature/FromHereToEternity'', also by James Jones.

[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant DEFINITELY not to be confused with]] ''The Thin Blue Line'' (whether the [[Film/TheThinBlueLine 1988 Errol Morris documentary]] or the [[Series/TheThinBlueLine 1990s BBC sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson]]). Also not to be confused with an earlier war movie, ''Film/TheBigRedOne''.

!!This work contains examples of:

[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant DEFINITELY not to be confused with]] ''Series/TheThinBlueLine''. Also not to be confused with an earlier war movie, ''Film/TheBigRedOne''.

The film features LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters (still more in the book) who each have their own perspectives on the battle raging around them, although most of the characters seem to be surprisingly thoughtful and articulate in their internal monologues, despite (or perhaps because) the ever-present [[AnyoneCanDie threat of impending death]].

* EnsembleCast: The book has LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters and alternates between which of them it focuses on.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: It's been said there's only one character in the movie, and it's Charlie company.

* AdultFear: Quintard either evokes or feels this (its a bit hard to tell) asking Tall if he wants their sons and grandsons fighting this war in thirty years.

* ObligatoryWarCrimeScene: In the aftermath of the attack on the Japanese camp in the film, American soldiers can be seen executing a number of their prisoners.

[[caption-width-right:300:"[[WhatYouAreInTheDark Every man fights his own war]]."]]

It was made into [[TheFilmOfTheBook a movie]] twice, in 1964 and 1998. The more famous of the two adaptations (the 1998 one) was created by legendary reclusive auteur filmmaker Creator/TerrenceMalick, whose films specialize in deep [[MindScrew philosophizing]], sumptuous [[SceneryPorn nature photography]], and internal dialogue by multiple characters. Malick used the film to expound on the idea that "all men have got the same soul" and are part of nature, therefore warfare is just an example of mankind fighting against himself.

The film features LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters (still more in the book) who each have their own perspectives on the battle raging around them, although most of the characters seem to be surprisingly thoughtful and articulate in their internal monologues, despite (or perhaps because) the ever present [[AnyoneCanDie threat of impending death]].

Both movies are visceral, but ''Saving Private Ryan'' would probably be described as "action packed" and expounding the attitude that "war is hell, but sometimes necessary and we will never understand what the Greatest Generation went through." (It could even be said to have popularized this nostalgic approach to WWII.) Whereas ''The Thin Red Line'' would probably be described as "philosophical" and immersive, expounding the philosophy that men don't really know why they fight because they are part of nature, and make excuses for their violent nature.

-> '''Mazzi''': Come out, you son of a bitch! I said ''come out'', you cowardly shit-eater! Come on out and find out what the men in your outfit think of you, Band! You want to know what we think about you? We call you Glory Hunter! Come on out and volunteer us for something else! C’mon out and ged some more of us killed! You gonna make Captain for takin us to Boola Boola, Glory Hunter? How many medals you ged for that roadblock, Glory Hunter? You’re a ''prick'', Band! A schmuck! C’mon out and I’ll take you myself! Everybody in this outfit hates your guts! Did you know that, Band? How does it feel, Band, how does it feel? You think that fucking helmet makes any goddamn difference? You think anybody cares about the fucking goddamn helmet?

-> '''Mazzi''': Come out, you son of a bitch! I said ''come out'', you cowardly shit-eater! Come on out and find out what the men in your outfit think of you, Band! You want to know what we think about you? We call you Glory Hunter! Come on out and volunteer us for something else! C’mon out and ged some more of us killed! You gonna make Captain for takin us to Boola Boola, Glory Hunter? How many medals you ged for that roadblock, Glory Hunter? You’re a ''prick'', Band! A schmuck! C’mon out and I’ll take you myself! Everybody in this outfit hates your guts! Did you know that, Band? How does it feel, Band, how does it feel? You think that fucking helmet makes any goddamn difference? You think anybody cares about the fucking goddamn helmet?\\
'''Soldier''': Let’s git back to some serious drinking.\\
'''Mazzi''': You really think that fucking hero helmet means anything alongside all the good men that are really ''dead''?\\
'''Suss''': Come on, Frankie.\\
'''Mazzi''': And that’s what we think of you! And so court martial me!

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: In the book a drunk Mazzi gives one to Band for being a GloryHound and TheNeidermeyer, getting his men killed, and constantly telling his men the story of how his helmet was pierced by an artillery shell.

* IrrationalHatred: In the book Welsh hates Fife mainly because Fife is intelligent, but not intelligent enough to share Welsh's nihilistic world view and thus assigns Fife to demeaning jobs and harasses him constantly. This continues even after Fife does have the same nihilistic realization Welsh did, and in fact begins treating him even worse by replacing him with Weld and taking pleasure in Band [[UriahGambit placing Fife in the rifle squad]].

* FamousLastWords: In the book:
** "Come on, boys. Let’s go get ‘em!" [[spoiler:2LT Bill Whyte]]
** "[[OhCrap Oh my God]]!" [[spoiler:PVT Wynn]]
** "[[MercyKill Goodby. Goodby Welsh]]." [[spoiler:PVT Alfredo Tella]]
** "What a fucking recruit trick to pull." [[spoiler:SGT Keck]]
** "Oh Fife. Oh Captain." [[spoiler:PVT Bead]]
* FieldPromotion / RankUp: happens everywhere in the book, the most notable examples being [[spoiler:John Bell and "Skinny" Culn]]), two [=NCOs=] who get a commission.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: Witt recalls his mother's quiet acceptance of her impending demise and hopes he will act the same way when the time comes. [[spoiler:He does.]]
** In the book Lieutenant Gray, after being mortally wounded in battle, calmly prays his own last rites and asks Bell to pray for his soul, before continuing to pray as he bleeds out.

* ObiWanMoment: [[spoiler: After leading them on a merry chase to give his Company time to escape, Witt gets surrounded by Japanese troops pointing their guns at him. After a long standoff he provokes them to shoot him by raising his rifle, dying without fear or regret.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Capt. Stein[=/=]Staros, who (at the cost of his career) refuses a direct order for what he deems a suicidal frontal attack. His successor, Capt. Bosche, appears to be this, too, at least in the book and a deleted scene from the film.
** Captain Gaff also Good at thinking on his feet and makes a TheMenFirst, request to Colonel Tall after taking the hill I need the film while in the book he also praises the men's accomplishments and treats them as equals.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: In the book a drunk Mazzi gives one to Band for being a GloryHound and TheNeidermeyer, getting his men killed, and how he constantly tells his men the story of how his helmet was pierced by an artillery shell.

--> '''Staros:''' You're like my sons. (...) You ''are'' my sons.

* CanonForeigner: Quintard isn't in the book, [[NamedByTheAdaptation unless he's the unnamed regimental commander which received Band in the book]].

** Captain Gaff also Godo at thinking on his feet and makes a TheMenFirst, request to Colonel Tall after taking the hill I need the film while in the book he also praises the men's accomplishments and treats them as equals.

* ArmchairMilitary: Brigadier General Quintard (Creator/JohnTravolta) and captain Charles Bosche (Creator/GeorgeClooney). Quintard shows hints of being aware of this, commenting how hard it can be to understand why the two dies do things from where he's at.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Private Coombs is shot in the stomach in the '98 film but survives by floating.paddlign himself down the river away from the Japanese, although its unclear if he survived his wounds once he got back.

* TheCakieIsALie: subverted. In the book after gaff promises the men medals but a long time passes without anyone's besdies gaff getting one they get discouraged, only for it to turn out he did recommend them for medals, their nutcracker arriving late.

* CassandraTruth: Beads claims to have killed a Japanese soldier are treated with skepticism until welsh goes to check the body.

* SheepInSheepsClothing: Gaff in the book. He comes across as a concerned and grave officer who says his men deserve medals, then I think looks as if he forgot about those medals in the face of his own glory before it turns out he did I need fact see to it they'd receive the credit and decorations but was simply delayed by bureaucracy.

[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant DEFINITELY not to be confused with]] ''Series/TheThinBlueLine''.

** Later band gets a second one from the regimental commander for throwing off everyoens troop movements by venturing out of his assigned sector and setting the campaign back by a week.