The Pentagon Wars - Wikipedia
Jump to content
Search
Search
Donate
Create account
Log in
Personal tools
Donate
Create account
Log in
The Pentagon Wars
6 languages
Беларуская (тарашкевіца)<br>Español<br>Français<br>עברית<br>Nederlands<br>Svenska
Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1998 comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
This article relies excessively on references to primary sources . Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.<br>Find sources: "The Pentagon Wars" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
This article consists almost entirely of a plot summary . Please help improve the article by providing more real-world context. (December 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
This article includes a list of general references but lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations . Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (August 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
(Learn how and when to remove this message)
The Pentagon WarsHBO release poster<br>GenreComedy<br>War
Based onThe Pentagon Wars<br>by Col. James G. Burton<br>Screenplay byJamie Malanowski<br>Martyn Burke
Directed byRichard BenjaminStarringKelsey Grammer<br>Cary Elwes<br>Olympia Dukakis<br>Richard Benjamin
Music byJoseph VitarelliCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishProductionExecutive producersMartyn Burke<br>Danny DeVito<br>Michael Shamberg<br>Stacey Sher
ProducerHoward MeltzerProduction locationsWashington, D.C.CinematographyRobert YeomanEditorJacqueline CambasRunning time103 minProduction companyHBO NYC ProductionOriginal releaseNetworkHBOReleaseFebruary 28, 1998 (1998-02-28)<br>The Pentagon Wars is a 1998 HBO comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin based on The Pentagon Wars: Reformers Challenge the Old Guard, a book written by retired United States Air Force Colonel James G. Burton about the development of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Plot<br>[edit]
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle project, stalled in development for seventeen years at the running cost of $14 billion, is the charge of Major General Partridge. To curtail further excessive Pentagon spending, Congress appoints U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel James Burton to observe the Bradley's field development and tests.
Burton delves into the complicated development history, beginning in the 1960s under Colonel Robert L. Smith, who becomes frustrated with the continuous design changes mandated by higher ups, leading to the Bradley's transformation from a light troop carrier into a bulky tank-like vehicle poorly suited to its original role. Burton also discovers discrepancies in testing of the Bradley's survivability due to Partridge's cronies, Colonel Bock and Major Sayers. Burton receives confidential information from Smith on the condition of anonymity. Master Sergeant Dalton, the man in charge of live fire testing, reveals he's been routinely ordered to manipulate the test results, asserting that honest officers such as Burton always end up buckling to the pressure of corruption to gain their next promotions.
Burton's continuous insistence on fair testing prompts Partridge to reassign Burton to Alaska but another anonymous leak from General Smith convinces Defense Secretary Weinberger to demand a full written report on the Bradley. Partridge cancels Burton's transfer and orders him to write the report which he plans to alter when it is sent to him for approval. Burton circumvents this by highlighting the changes made on Partridge's orders in a memorandum, which is leaked to the press and instigates a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee.
Partridge is humiliated at the hearing and the Committee Chairwoman orders the tests Burton has demanded go ahead. Burton reminds the soldiers performing the survivability tests that despite Partridge's orders to manipulate the tests, their real responsibility is to their fellow soldiers whose lives depend on honest testing. Partridge is humiliated when the live fire testing results in the complete destruction of the vehicle. Dalton and his men admit they were swayed by Burton's sincerity and integrity.
A postscript explains the Bradley was extensively redesigned in response to Burton's demands, significantly reducing casualties during its use in the Gulf War. Most of the officers involved in the Bradley's development earned promotions and high paying jobs while Burton was forced to retire.
Cast<br>[edit]
Kelsey Grammer as Major General Partridge
Cary Elwes as Lieutenant Colonel James G. Burton
Viola Davis as Sergeant Fanning
John C. McGinley as Colonel J.D. Bock
Tom Wright as Major William Sayers
Clifton Powell as Sergeant Benjamin Dalton
Dewey Weber as Spec-4 Granger
Richard Schiff as Colonel Smith
J.C. MacKenzie as Jones
Richard...