Straight Up Reviews: Johnny Got His Gun

 

Dalton Trumbo.  Most people when they hear that name, they often think of a few things: 1. The Blacklist. 2. I'm Spartacus. And 3. The biopic staring Bryan Cranston. However, while I've only heard of 2 of three of those things. I never really got an in depth look at his work until a few months ago. With his most well known work, Johnny Got His Gun.  This was one of the rarities in film where the Author of the Book also served as writer and director of the movie. A notion shared with William Peter Blatty who both wrote and directed Exorcist III (Based on his book Legion) and The Ninth Configuration a spin-off of the franchise. As well as Stephen King who directed Maximum Overdrive (Based on Trucks.) Just to name a few.  This was also one of the world's first medias to delve into the subject of Anti-War. 

When one thinks of an Anti-War book or movie, they often always have The War in Vietnam in mind.  However Trumbo had the distinction of predating that medium 17 years prior to when the War in 'Nam began. His subject, while written just as World War II was about to begin, was on a well known, lesser looked at War. World War I. The book was written in 1938 and published in 1939. However Trumbo had to halt publishing, in support of WWII, because even he thought the Nazis were that bad and didn't want them or sympathizers to use this work as a means of propaganda.  Once WWII ended, he republished the book.

The movie, later made in 1971, was his first and only movie he served as director. Both tackling the consequences of the draft and involvement in the war. 

Now let me go on record and say I do not like Communism.  Nor do I support the Communist Party past, present or future.  However I do believe that while Political views do factor in with a story like this, that Trumbo could be Liberal, Conservative, Libertarian and so forth and so on and it wouldn't impact what the story was trying to say whatsoever. The meat of the story while it has political aspects, is moreso on the consequences of War as a whole. Which is often something everyone agrees on regardless of where they come from. With that said, let's get into the story. 

The movie stars Timothy Bottoms, who would later go on to play a parody of George W. Bush in the comedy series, That's My Bush. However this story is not very humorous I can tell you that. 

He plays Joe Bonham. A typical American Man, who seems to have it all. A family to support through his job as a baker and a girlfriend who loves him very much. After spending one last night with her, he goes off to fight the war, despite his girlfriend's protests.  After disposing a body found caught in barbwire, Joe gets hit with an Artillery shell. Costing him his arms, legs, hearing and face.  He's taken to a hospital where they keep him alive, through a breathing tube and sustain him through a feeding tube. They initially assume he's brain dead. However that is far from the case. For the only thing intact other than his torso and his genitals is his brain.  Most of the movie revolves around him piecing together what has happened to him. While also flashing back to his memories.  Trumbo was very unique in his choice of cinematography. Having Joe's present day be in black and white, while his dreams and memories were in colour.  While the movie does not show any gorey details, we get a sense of what has happened to poor Joe through his inner monologue.  Describing in graphic detail, what he has lost.  His body kept in a supply closet in an undisclosed military hospital.  Initially kept in the dark, until the more compassionate nurses let the sunlight in for him allowing him to develop a concept of time and tell how many days he's been in the room that he knows of.  Every time the doctors see him move, they mistake it for involuntary muscle spasms and tranquilize him. Causing his dreams and memories to mash together. Two of which involving him meeting Jesus Christ, played by Donald Sutherland. While most of them involve his girlfriend disappointed that he left her behind only to become what he is now. As well as his father, who initially encourages him to join the war for democracy, then laments over his own death. All hope seems to have been lost, until a nurse, testing his sense of touch, traces the words "Merry Christmas" on his chest.  To which he understands. Giving him some semblance of hope. During his final fantasy, his father gives him the most useful advice.  Telling him to remember when he used to telegraph his friend and asks him if he remembers Morse Code.  Initially Joe refuses that plan, because he has no arms to use a telegraph, but his dad gives him one last piece of advice "Use your head."  With that, Joe begins tapping S-O-S. The nurse initially mistakes it for another spasm, but then realizes he's trying to communicate, so she brings in some officials. One of which understands Morse.  He understands the call for help and asks Joe what he wants.  Joe makes two requests. The first, to be put on a freak show, so that he personally can show the audience the horrors of war.   The Second, barring the first request, two words "Kill me."  They refuse both requests citing that it's against regulation and try to get his name. Only for him to keep repeating the second request.  They all leave except the nurse who tries to honor his request, only to be stopped by one of the officials. Joe is then put back in the dark and succumbs to insanity. Repeating "S-O-S Help Me." over and over again. 

The movie I can safely say, is way scarier than any horror movie and war movie I have ever seen in my life and I've seen a lot of them. It was a minor success and mostly forgotten. That is until Metallica bought the rights to it abridging the movie through their music video "One"as seen here. 

As a result of buying the rights and forgetting about them, Metallica nearly ruined a chance of future home releases, before authorizing them. Due to the popularity of the music video and many anti-war activism that went on over the years, the movie gathered a cult following. 

Before Trumbo adapted it, it was originally adapted on NBC Radio, with James Cagney playing Joe in 1940.

It was then later adapted into a stage play in 1982 with Jeff Daniels as Joe.

Then adapted as a TV Film in Prague titled Johnny Si Vzal Pušku in 1984.

Then adapted into a one man show stage play starring Ben McKenzie in 2008. 

It's last known adaptation is a stage play in the UK that went from May 2014 to  June 2014.

The movie should be on the list of movies to watch before you die, because despite your views on Trumbo, I guarantee that it's an experience you'll never forget.