The year is 1965 and America is at war with North Vietnam. Commanding the air cavalry is Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Gibson), a born leader committed to his troops. His target: the Ia Drang Valley, called "The Valley of Death." As Moore prepares for one of the most violent battles in U.S. history, he delivers a stirring promise to his soldiers and their families: "I will leave no man behind...dead or alive. We will all come home together."
Acting
Sam Elliott's thousand-yard stare steals every scene.
Practical Effects
They trained 800+ extras in actual boot camp.
Score
Bagpipes and explosions: an unholy but effective combo.
Director
Randall Wallace
Mel Gibson
Lt. Col. Hal Moore
Madeleine Stowe
Julie Moore
Greg Kinnear
Maj. Bruce 'Snake' Crandall
Sam Elliott
Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley
Chris Klein
2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan
Keri Russell
Barbara Geoghegan
Barry Pepper
Joe Galloway
Đơn Dương
Lt. Col. Nguyen Huu An
Ryan Hurst
Sgt. Ernie Savage
Robert Bagnell
1st Lt. Charlie Hastings
Marc Blucas
2nd Lt. Henry Herrick
Josh Daugherty
Sp4 Robert Ouellette
Jsu Garcia
Capt. Tony Nadal
Jon Hamm
Capt. Matt Dillon
Clark Gregg
Capt. Tom Metsker
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Hal Moore himself, then 79, was on set daily correcting Mel Gibson's salute. He died in 2017.
Released months after 9/11, it became accidental propaganda for Iraq War support—despite being about a war America didn't win.
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