Since Hollywood’s inception, there has been a cooperative relationship between filmmakers and the U.S. military, beginning in 1927 with the production of the silent war film “Wings.” This film was the first to win an Academy Award and received military assistance for its production. Since then, many directors and producers have sought to strengthen this relationship to gain military support, aiming to portray their war scenes more realistically and relying on military advice to depict the U.S. military with the utmost accuracy. In return, this often involves promoting the U.S. military and its heroics, even if embellished.
Despite Hollywood’s general independence in film production, its portrayal of war is subject to restrictions. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has the authority to intervene in any dramatic work related to military matters, making modifications or additions as needed. If disagreements arise, the DoD can even halt or cancel the project. This article explores several war films that underwent significant modifications due to DoD intervention, illustrating the extent of military influence in the film industry.
Black Hawk Down
Released in 2001, this film is based on real events involving U.S. military operations in Mogadishu, Somalia, which resulted in the deaths of 18 American soldiers and an unknown number of Somali civilians. The battle was considered an embarrassment for the DoD due to the high casualties. Despite initial surprise at the Pentagon granting director Ridley Scott permission to make the film, the goal was to highlight the bravery of the soldiers rather than the bloody details of the failed operation. The Pentagon provided technical advisors, 100 real soldiers, and eight Black Hawk helicopters, and even promoted the film through its public relations officials and arranged screenings at military bases.
However, the military imposed conditions for the film’s completion. They pressured the screenwriter to alter certain aspects of the script, including changing the name of a real soldier, John Stebbins, who was court-martialed in June 2000 for the rape of a minor. The Pentagon wanted to avoid controversy and thus requested the name be changed to John Grimes, who was portrayed as a hero in the film.
Pearl Harbor
This 2001 film tells the story of the Japanese attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, which led to significant U.S. losses and entry into World War II. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film was a box-office success and received substantial military support from the DoD. This included permission to film at the actual Pearl Harbor, as well as the provision of advisors and historians, notably Jack Green from the Naval Historical Center, who spent eight weeks with the film crew providing detailed information about the Japanese naval formations and the lives of the soldiers present.
Green intervened to have one character, Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, portrayed more favorably than initially planned. Originally depicted as an unpleasant character, the role was rewritten to make him more sympathetic, aligning with Green’s suggestions and enhancing audience empathy.
Transformers
The U.S. military’s involvement extends beyond war films into other genres, particularly those involving extraterrestrial threats. The Pentagon played a significant role in the production of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” which was described as one of the largest collaborations between the military and a film. They provided a liaison officer, Colonel Gregory Bishop, and supplied a vast array of military equipment, including weapons, B-2 bombers, F-16 fighters, military helicopters, and an aircraft carrier with a 5,000-member crew.
The extensive military presence in the film sparked criticism from some who believed the military’s support for a film aimed primarily at children was a transparent attempt to influence future recruits. The military responded by acknowledging the presence of a recruitment message but maintained that it was secondary to the film’s entertainment value.
GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies
These are two of the most famous James Bond films starring Pierce Brosnan. For “GoldenEye,” released in 1995, the DoD objected to the portrayal of an inept American admiral being seduced and killed by the film’s villainess, Xenia Onatopp. The filmmakers revised the scene, changing the admiral’s nationality from American to Canadian.
In “Tomorrow Never Dies,” produced in 1997, a scene involving a dialogue about Vietnam was altered due to concerns over its potential diplomatic impact. The original script featured an American intelligence agent telling James Bond, “You know what’s going to happen… there will be war… and maybe this time we will win.” The Pentagon, wary of any potential diplomatic fallout, requested changes, leading to the removal of this dialogue from the final cut.
Clear and Present Danger
Released in 1994, this war film depicts a covert conflict between Colombian drug traffickers and the U.S. government. Due to its scope, various military and security branches reviewed the script and requested significant changes. The Navy objected to a scene where its personnel ignored civilian casualties after an air raid, while the Army was concerned about the negative depiction of the Colombian government. Adjustments were made to address these concerns, including removing references suggesting Colombian government collusion with drug traffickers.
Additionally, the military was uncomfortable with the portrayal of the President authorizing covert operations in Colombia, reflecting a close parallel to the illegal funding of Contra rebels in Nicaragua during the Reagan administration. The scenes were adjusted to depict the operations as legal but highly classified.
The Right Stuff
Produced in 1983, this film chronicles the lives of Navy and Air Force pilots involved in early space research. Based on Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book, the original script contained numerous expletives that the military found objectionable. The DoD expressed concerns that the film’s coarse language would limit its audience to adults, reducing the number of teenagers—potential recruits—who could view it. Consequently, the filmmakers agreed to tone down the language to meet the military’s standards.
1984
Following World War II and the onset of the Cold War, the CIA funded various pro-democracy and anti-communist cultural activities, including films. In the 1950s, the agency acquired the rights to a film adaptation of George Orwell’s novel “1984” (1956). However, the CIA altered the ending to ensure it aligned with its objectives. The novel depicted the protagonist’s defeat by a totalitarian regime, while the film changed this outcome to show the protagonist’s victory. The film was largely forgotten until it was made available for free on YouTube in early 2010.
The Sum of All Fears
Released in 2002, this film, based on Tom Clancy’s 1991 novel, involves a Palestinian group planning to detonate a football stadium. The film faced scrutiny from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which feared it might portray Muslims as extremists. In response, the film was revised to replace the Palestinians with a new Nazi group. The military provided significant support, including B-2 bombers, F-16s, military helicopters, and an aircraft carrier with its 5,000-man crew. However, the CIA and military advisors objected to a scene involving an aircraft carrier being attacked and sunk, leading to modifications where only aircraft on the carrier were destroyed.
Zero Dark Thirty
Nominated for an Oscar in 2012, this film follows the global hunt for Osama bin Laden. During the screenplay’s development, the writer and director collaborated closely with CIA counterterrorism unit members. After bin Laden’s death, the screenwriter, Mark Boal, met with CIA officials to refine the script and attended a ceremony honoring the soldiers involved in the raid. The CIA requested seven changes, including altering a scene depicting the use of dogs to intimidate detainees. The CIA argued that dogs were never used in such a manner, despite evidence from Abu Ghraib prison. The writer complied with these requests, resulting in the scene being modified accordingly.
