Word of Honor (2003 film)

Word of Honor is a 2003 American drama television film directed by Robert Markowitz, based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Nelson DeMille. The film was directed by Robert Markowitz and stars Don Johnson, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Sharon Lawrence, John Heard and Arliss Howard.[1] It aired on TNT on December 6, 2003.

Word of Honor
DVD cover
GenreDrama
Based onWord of Honor
by Nelson DeMille
Written by
Directed byRobert Markowitz
Starring
Music byGary Chang
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Michael Jaffe
  • Howard Braunstein
  • Wendy Hill-Tout
  • Lance Robbins
  • Leslie Greif
ProducerClara George
CinematographyGuy Dufaux
EditorDavid Beatty
Running time91 minutes
Production companies
  • Voice Pictures
  • Jaffe Braunstein Films
  • Greif Co.
  • Robbins Entertainment Group
Release
Original networkTNT
Original releaseDecember 6, 2003 (2003-12-06)

Background

Executive producer Leslie Greif cast Don Johnson based on his presence and past roles: "He can be the bad guy, he can be the good guy. He can walk that line."[2] Johnson called his role a throwback to classic Henry Fonda and James Stewart characters.[1]

While the film came out at the start of the Iraq War amid conflicted opinions, and some writers drew those parallels,[1] Greif said that they did not want the film to get "too political." The filmmakers, he said, instead wanted to explore broader questions of morality and the "murkiness of war."[2]

Premise

30 years after serving in Vietnam, ex-Army Lieutenant Ben Tyson is brought forward for war crimes. Now a business executive, Tyson witnessed a massacre during the war. While he kept silent about it for decades, another veteran speaks out in a magazine article that mentions Tyson's involvement. A military attorney gets involved in the case, and a media frenzy ensues, as Tyson's family and military bonds begin to fray.

Cast

Critical reception

The film received several poor reviews. The New York Times wrote that it wasted its potential on "platitudes and plot contrivances."[3] Variety, while praising the "top-notch cast," called the film a disappointment.[4]

Nominations
  • Nominated for a Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing in Television Long Form - Sound Effects & Foley - 2004

References
  1. Bobbin, Jay (30 November 2003). "A Soldier Who Wears a Medal of Silence; In 'Word of Honor' on TNT, Don Johnson portrays a veteran who played a role in a massacre and its cover-up". Los Angeles Times.
  2. Byrne, Bridget (3 December 2003). "Father and son team up for TNT movie, Don Johnson, son playing same role in different eras". The Associated Press.
  3. Wertheimer, Ron (5 December 2003). "TV Weekend; What Did You Do In the War, Daddy?". The New York Times.
  4. Lowry, Brian (December 2003). "Word of Honor". Variety.


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