When Trumpets Fade: Difference between revisions

* [[Bad Boss]]: 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.

* [[Band of Brothers]]: [[Unfriendly Fire|Inverted]]. Most of the cast is understandably certain that they ''can't'' rely on the protagonist.

'''Sgt. Manning:''' That's as good as it gets. }}

* [[Beware the Nice Ones]]: Mild-mannered nerd Sanderson turns into a [[Screaming Warrior]] when [[Villainous Demotivator|properly motivated.]] (Of course, he also runs ''away'' screaming.)

* {{spoiler|[[Downer Ending]]}}: {{spoiler|[[The Hero Dies]].}}

* [[Due to the Dead]]: Subverted. The division isn't even evacuating bodies, and while Talbot's accusing Manning of selfishness, Manning is helping himself to their boots.

'''Manning:''' Warm dry feet. }}

* [[Elites Are More Glamorous]]: Averted. The 28th Infantry is, for the film's purposes, [[Cannon Fodder|a regular outfit]].

* [[Establishing Character Moment]]: The opening scene. Manning carries the mortally-wounded Bobby off the front. {{spoiler|Then he shoots him.}}

* [[Field Promotion]]

* {{spoiler|[[Hidden Depths]]}}: {{spoiler|Manning was [[Brilliant but Lazy]] [[Beautiful All Along|All Along]], according to Pritchett's recommendation for commissioning him.}}

* [[Home by Christmas]]: Invoked by Baxter, the newsreel narrator, and Bing Crosby.

* [[I Did What I Had to Do]]

'''Manning:''' You're damn right I did... [[Jerkass Has a Point|You'd have done the same thing.]] }}

* [[I Don't Like the Sound of That Place]]: The 28th know their section of the front affectionately as "the Death Factory."

* [[New Meat]]: Manning's entire squad, namely Privates Sanderson, Despin, Baxter, and Lonnie.

* [[No One Gets Left Behind]]: 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.

'''Sgt. Manning:''' [points at Sanderson] Over there. }}

* [[Not in This For Your Revolution]]: Manning's sole motivation is survival.

* [[Ominous Fog]]: Ubiquitous, but especially atmospheric during the replacements' first patrol and the advance through the minefield.

* [[Professional Slacker]]: Manning.

* [[Redshirt Army]]: The U.S. 28th Infantry Division.

* {{spoiler|[[Sacrificial Lamb]]}}: Bobby.

* [[Shoot the Dog]] {{spoiler|[[Incredibly Lame Pun|face]]}}: {{spoiler|Twice.}} Manning, of course.

* [[Sink or Swim Mentor]]: Manning to the replacement squad.

** {{spoiler|[[Mentor Occupational Hazard]]}}: {{spoiler|Specifically, as Sanderson's mentor, as Sanderson takes his place in the [[Book Ends]].}}

* [[Sole Survivor]]: Manning, of his platoon after a week in the Hurtgen Forest, and later {{spoiler|Sanderson, of Manning's squad.}}

* [[Unfriendly Fire]]: 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.}}

* [[War Is Hell]]: Lampshaded:

'''Chamberlain:''' What are you talking about? There's plenty of room. All they gotta do is stack 'em higher. }}

* [[We Have Reserves]]: The commanders of the 28th Infantry Division, in the view of Chamberlain and Manning.

 

{{reflist}}