Death of a Soldier
“The obscenity of war. The brutality of murder. The travesty of justice.”
Synopsis
Based on a true story, James Coburn portrays a military lawyer assigned to defend a confessed psychotic killer. Set in the context of WWII and the uneasy US-Australian military alliance. The accused killer claims to have killed 3 women in order to possess their voices. Despite the defense lawyer's concerns that the killer is not fit to stand trial, the US military presses forward with the case and its desire to have the killer executed in order to strengthen the shaky alliance.
Top Cast
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James Coburn
Maj. Patrick Dannenberg
Bill Hunter
Det. Sgt. Adams
Reb Brown
Pvt. Edward J. Leonski
Maurie Fields
Det. Sgt. Martin
Max Fairchild
Major William Fricks
Belinda Davey
Margot Saunders
Randall Berger
Pvt. Anthony Berger
Michael Pate
Major General Sutherland
Jon Sidney
General Douglas MacArthur
Nell Johnson
Maisie
Pippa Wilson
Singer in Boomerang Bar
Kim Rushworth
Band in Bar
John McTernan
Col. Williams
Earl Francis
Police Doctor
Ron Pinnell
Mr. Harmon
Len Kaserman
Maj. Gen. Eichelberger
John Cottone
Maj. Gen. R.G. Marshall
Lisa Aldenhoven
Girl #1 in Bar
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 16, 1986
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Philippe Mora
- Screenplay & Story
- William L. Nagle
- Original Score
- Allan Zavod
- Original Title
- Death of a Soldier
- Country of Origin
- Australia
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Production Studios
- Suatu Film Management LTD.
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Philippe Mora
William L. Nagle
Allan Zavod
John Scott
David Hannay, William L. Nagle, Oscar Scherl, Richard Tanner
Department Leadership Roster
David Hannay
Producer
William L. Nagle
Producer
John Scott
Editor
Geoff Richardson
Production Design
Philippe Mora
Director
William L. Nagle
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Death of a Soldier.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Death of a Soldier.
War: World War II
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Frequently Asked Questions About Death of a Soldier
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Death of a Soldier about?
Based on a true story, James Coburn portrays a military lawyer assigned to defend a confessed psychotic killer. Set in the context of WWII and the uneasy US-Australian military alliance. The accused killer claims to have killed 3 women in order to possess their voices. Despite the defense lawyer's concerns that the killer is not fit to stand trial, the US military presses forward with the case and its desire to have the killer executed in order to strengthen the shaky alliance.
Who directed Death of a Soldier?
Death of a Soldier was directed by Philippe Mora.
Who stars in Death of a Soldier?
The principal cast of Death of a Soldier includes James Coburn, Bill Hunter, Reb Brown, Maurie Fields, Max Fairchild.
When was Death of a Soldier released and how long is it?
Death of a Soldier was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 33m.
Who composed the musical score for Death of a Soldier?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Death of a Soldier was composed by Allan Zavod.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Death of a Soldier?
Death of a Soldier holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).