Hacksaw Ridge is a 2016 American biographical war drama film directed by Mel Gibson and produced by Bill Mechanic, David Permut, Terry Benedict, Paul Currie, Bruce Daley, Brian Oliver and William D. Johnson. The screenplay was written by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight and is based on The Conscientious Objector by Terry Benedict.
Rated: R (movie contains intense prolonged realistically graphic sequences of war violence including grisly bloody images)
Run Time: 2h 19min
Release Date: November 4, 2016 (USA)
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Director: Mel Gibson
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Hacksaw Ridge stars Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, Luke Bracey, Hugo Weaving, Sam Worthington, Rachel Griffiths, Milo Gibson, Nathaniel Buzolic, Richard Roxburgh, Luke Pegler, Robert Morgan, Bill Young, Philip Quast and Ryan Corr.
Hacksaw Ridge is the true story of Private First Class Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII based on religious grounds.
Doss volunteered to serve in the Army as a medic but was ostracized by fellow soldiers during boot camp for his pacifist stance and refusal to carry or shoot a firearm. Although he excels physically during boot camp, the Army requires him to clear his firearms training to complete his basic training. Desmond’s pacifist stance and refusal to handle a weapon lands him in the brig and facing a Court-Marshall for refusing to follow a direct order from his superiors. Standing his moral ground, he refuses to plea-bargain and goes to military court where he stands to lose his case and be incarcerated. His father, a corporal in the Army during WWI petitions his former commander and now a General who writes a letter stating that based on former precedent, Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector should be able to serve as a medic without the benefit of carrying or using a firearm. The judge agrees and releases Doss to complete his training and serve as a medic.
Desmond Doss gets shipped off with his platoon to the Pacific Island of Okinawa where he goes on to earn respect and adoration for his bravery, selflessness and compassion after he risked his life–without firing a single shot–to save more than 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa.
Movie Quotes
“Did you figure this war is just going to fit in with your ideas?” – Tom Doss
“While everybody is taking life, I’m going to be saving it, and that’s going to be my way to serve.” – Desmond T. Doss
“With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it don’t seem like such a bad thing to me to want to put a little bit of it back together.” – Desmond T. Doss
“Private Doss does not believe in violence. Do not look to him to save you on the battlefield.” – Sergeant Howell
“They’re saying you could go to prison.” – Dorothy Schutte
“I don’t know how I’m going to live with myself if I don’t stay true to what I believe.” – Desmond T. Doss
“Most of these men don’t believe the same way you do, but they believe so much in how much you believe.” – Captain Glover
“Please Lord, help me get one more. Help me get one more.” – Desmond T. Doss
Official Movie Trailer
Movie Stars
Andrew Garfield as Desmond T. Doss
Teresa Palmer as Dorothy Schutte
Vince Vaughn as Sergeant Howell
Luke Bracey as Smitty Ryker
Hugo Weaving as Tom Doss
Sam Worthington as Captain Glover
Rachel Griffiths as Bertha Doss
Milo Gibson as Lucky Ford
Nathaniel Buzolic as Harold ‘Hal’ Doss
Richard Roxburgh as Colonel Sletzer
Luke Pegler as Milt ‘Hollywood’ Zane
Robert Morgan as Colonel Sangston
Bill Young as General Musgrove
Philip Quast as Judge
Ryan Corr as Lieutenant Manville