Hacksaw Ridge
Short description
Hacksaw Ridge tells the true story of Desmond Doss, a young American from rural Virginia who enlists during the Second World War while refusing, on religious grounds, to carry a weapon or take a life. He serves as an army medic instead, and his convictions put him at odds with his fellow soldiers and his superiors, leading to a military hearing over his refusal to bear arms. Sent to the Pacific, he takes part in the battle for Okinawa, where he works to bring wounded men to safety under enemy fire.
The film was directed by Mel Gibson, its fifth feature behind the camera, following The Man Without a Face, Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto. Andrew Garfield plays Doss, with Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn, Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey and Hugo Weaving among the cast. Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight wrote the screenplay, and Bruce Davey, David Permut and Brian Oliver produced.
Made for a budget of about 40 million dollars, the film took roughly 180 million dollars worldwide, a strong return on its cost. On IMDb it holds 8.1 out of 10 from around 675,000 votes, and on TMDB 8.2 out of 10 from more than 15,000 votes, while the critics' rating stands at 7.3 out of 10 from 280 reviews, so audiences have rated it somewhat higher than critics.
What's left behind the scenes
- While filming this movie, Teresa Palmer was simultaneously finishing work on 'Berlin Syndrome' (2017) in the same city of Melbourne.
- Thanks to his involvement in the film, Vince Vaughn visited Australia for the first time since filming "The Rundown" (2004).
- One of the reasons that prompted Mel Gibson to take on the project was that it was about a 'real' uncostumed superhero.
- When asked how many lives he had saved, Desmond Doss replied approximately 50. However, according to those involved, the number of people he saved was closer to 100.
- At the Venice Film Festival in September 2016, after a screening of the film, the audience gave a ten-minute standing ovation.
- According to an article in Variety, 14 years passed from the inception of the idea to the start of the film's production.
- The second collaboration between Theresa Palmer and Luke Bracey following "Point Break" (2015).
- The original title of the film Hacksaw Ridge means "sawtooth ridge." This is the English nickname for the Maeda mountain slope, the site of the main character's feat.
- James Horner, who had worked with Mel Gibson on films such as 'The Man Without a Face' (1993), 'Braveheart' (1995), and 'Apocalypto' (2006), was originally slated to compose the music for the film. After Horner's sudden death in June 2015, John Debney (with whom Gibson had collaborated on 'The Passion of the Christ' (2004)) took his place. However, his score was rejected, and Rupert Gregson-Williams ultimately became the film's composer.
- The first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor was Sergeant Alvin York (portrayed by Gary Cooper in "Sergeant York" (1941)). However, the main difference between York and Desmond Doss was that the former never refused to carry a firearm.
- Initially, Randall Wallace was considered for the director's chair.
- Producer Hal B. Wallis had already tried to acquire the rights to this story from Desmond Doss in the 1950s and hoped that Audie Murphy would play the lead role. However, Doss showed no interest in cinema and did not want his story turned into a typical Hollywood film.
- Before leaving for basic training, Desmond receives a Bible from Dorothy with a bookmark in the First Book of Samuel, telling the story of David and Goliath. Many parallels can be drawn between these two stories.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
