| Director: | Richard Benjamin |
| Producer: | Howard Meltzer |
| Music: | Joseph Vitarelli |
| Cinematography: | Robert Yeoman |
| Editor: | Jacqueline Cambas |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Company: | HBO NYC Production |
| Network: | HBO |
| Runtime: | 103 min |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
The Pentagon Wars is a 1998 HBO comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin based on The Pentagon Wars: Reformers Challenge the Old Guard, a book written by retired United States Air Force Colonel James G. Burton about the development of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle project, already stalled in development for seventeen years and at the running cost of $14 billion is the charge of Major General Partridge. In an effort to curtail further excessive Pentagon spending, Congress appoints U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel James Burton to observe the Bradley's field development and tests.
Burton delves into the extensive and protracted development history, beginning in the 1960s originally under design supervision of then Colonel Robert L. Smith, who quickly becomes frustrated with the continuous change of design by the higher ups, eventually leading to the Bradley being drastically changed from its original role as a light troop carrier into a bulky tank-like vehicle that can only carry half of its original capacity.
Burton also quickly discovers discrepancies within the Bradley's tests starting with the use of inferior rocket-propelled grenade weaponry as well as the deliberate manipulation of live fire tests largely due to Partridge's cronies, Colonel Bock and Major Sayers. Burton is eventually fed confidential information by Smith but only on the condition of his anonymity. Furthermore, Burton finds out from Master Sergeant Dalton, the man in charge of the live fire exercises, that he is routinely ordered to manipulate the test results, begrudgingly admitting that honest officers such as Burton always end up buckling to the pressure of corruption to gain their next promotions.
Burton's continuous insistence of a fair test leads to Partridge reassigning Burton to a new position in Alaska. However, another anonymous leak from General Smith leads to Defense Secretary Weinberger demanding a full written report on the Bradley. Partridge cancels Burton's transfer and orders him to write the report with the intention of changing it once Burton sends it to him for approval. Burton, playing strictly by the rules and regulations of his position, uses this to his advantage by highlighting the changes made on Partridge's orders in a memorandum which finds its way to the press and ultimately a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee.
Partridge is humiliated in the ensuing hearing and the Committee Chairwoman orders the tests Burton has demanded to go ahead. Burton visits the test soldiers the night before the test is scheduled, reminding them that despite Partridge having most likely told them to manipulate the test again, that they are duty-bound to their fellow soldiers and their lives and to perform the test honestly.
On the day of the test, Partridge gives a passionate speech to the waiting crowd regarding the excellence and power of the Bradley but is completely humiliated when the live fire test results in the total and complete destruction of the vehicle. Dalton and his men confide in Burton that despite the tactics of Partridge before, they had become swayed by Burton's sincerity and integrity.
In the postscript, it is explained that the Bradley was extensively redesigned in response to Burton's demands. These changes significantly reduced casualties during its use in the Gulf War. Most of the officer's involved in the Bradley's development earned promotions and high paying jobs whereas Burton was forced to retire.
Col. James Burton is credited as a consultant on the film. Russell Murray II is also credited as a consultant on the film. Murray served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Analysis from 1962 to 1969 and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Program Analysis and Evaluation from 1977 to 1981, both during the development of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Writer Martyn Burke also wrote the 1999 film version of Animal Farm, also starring Kelsey Grammer.[1]
HBO rated the film TV-MA-L upon release.[2] The MPAA rated the film "R for Language".[3]
The Pentagon Wars was filmed at Camp Roberts, California.[4]
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86%, and an average rating of 3.9/5.[5]
Upon its premiere on HBO, Daryl Miller reviewed the film for the Los Angeles Times and described it as "a savvy satire of military spending—an epic tale of boys and their toys ... a triumph for that cable outlet."[6]