Timothy Bottoms plays Joe Bonham, an average all-American boy, questioning the wisdom of going off to fight in World War I and possible death but never faltering when it comes to his turn to do his duty.
He is hideously wounded in an explosion in the trenches (losing his arms, legs, eyes, ears, mouth and nose) and although he is beyond saving as a contributing member of society, the medical profession patch him up as best they can, seeing him as a guinea pig and a challenge to their professional skill.
While he lies there, only alive because his heart has not stopped beating, tubes and pipes performing all his bodily functions, he thinks back and his past life is recreated: scenes of family life, his sexual initiation and the awakening of true love.
He has grotesque fantasy imaginings too, where his mutilated body is touted around as a carnival exhibit – “The Self-Supporting Basket Case” – for other men to gasp at the product of war. But who would say that the reality is any less ghastly?
Full praise to Timothy Bottoms for his remarkable performance as Joe and to Diane Varsi as the compassionate nurse who realises that the vegetable she is caring for can feel and communicate in spite of everything. The scenes with Jason Robards as his father are also rewarding and Kathy Fields as the girl he loves oh so briefly, blends youthful curiosity with real emotional involvement.
The directorial debut from Dalton Trumbo (he also wrote the screenplay from his own novel) is arguably the most poignant anti-war film of them all.
Joe Bonham
Timothy Bottoms Kareen
Kathy Fields Joe’s Mother
Marsha Hunt Joe’s Father
Jason Robards Christ
Donald Sutherland Mike Burkeman
Charles McGraw Lucky
Sandy Brown Wyeth Jody Simmons
Don ‘Red’ Barry Ancient Prelate
Peter Brocco Hospital Offical
Kendell Clarke Corporal Timlon
Eric Christmas Colonel/General Tillery
Eduard Franz Little Guy
Craig Bovia Bakery Girl
Judy Howard Chaikin Orator
Dalton Trumbo (as Robert Cole) British Colonel
Maurice Dallimore Second Doctor
Ben Hammer Third Doctor
Robert Easton Nurses
Marge Redmond
Jodean Russo
Alice Nunn
Diane Varsi Russ
Larry Fleischman Redhead
Anthony Geary Priest
Ed Gilbert Captain
Wayne Heffley Rudy
Joseph Kaufmann Bill Harper
Mike Lee Brigadier General
Byron Morrow Swede
David Soul
Joe Bonham
Christ
Corporal Timlon
Third Doctor
