USA: WORLD PREMIERE FOR MEL GIBSON'S LATEST FILM "WE WERE SOLDIERS" HELD IN LOS ANGELES

Record ID: 392535

  • Title: USA: WORLD PREMIERE FOR MEL GIBSON'S LATEST FILM "WE WERE SOLDIERS" HELD IN LOS ANGELES
  • Date: 9th February 2002
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 25, 2002) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEL GIBSON SAYING: "Well I just wanted to get through it determination sort of walk out the door once you are kind of winded and sort of trying to climb up a fifty foot ladder with seven rungs on it. its there are some wild things going there but I enjoyed it the one good thing it d
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAC9PRZNADMTHLGSGLQQGIVSLTI
  • Story Text: Mel Gibson's latest film "We Were Soldiers," puts a new spin on America's most controversial war. The drama brings to life the true story of the battle of LZ X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam. Based on the best-selling book by retired Lieutenant General Harold G. Moore and civilian war correspondent Joseph L. Galloway, the movie brought real-life heroes and big screen stars together in a landmark movie.
    Writer-Director Randall Wallace brings heroism to life once again with the help of Mel Gibson, who won an Oscar for his leading role in Wallace's last blockbuster "Braveheart."
    Their newest release, "We Were Soldiers" depicts the true-life story of Lieutenant General Harold G. Moore and civilian war correspondent Joseph L. Galloway, both of whom survived the deadly battle of LZ X-Ray in Vietnam.
    "Soldiers" delves deep into the lives of the men who fought at LZ and the women and children who awaited their return back home.
    "People keep asking me why I make war movies and I say, well, I don't, I make love stories, but war puts love in the context." The movie is based on the best-selling novel "We Were Soldiers Once...And Young," written by Moore and Galloway in honor of the soldiers who fought and died alongside them in the Ia Drang Valley in November 1965.
    "We Were Soldiers" also stars Madeleine Stowe, Keri Russell, Chris Klein, Barry Pepper, Sam Elliott and Greg Kinnear.
    In honor of the first Battalion of the Seventh Cavalry, who fought in the first major conflict of the Vietnam War in the Ia Drang Valley, Paramount Pictures held a special ceremony before the "We Were Soldiers" world premiere. The ceremony took place outside the premiere's venue in Los Angeles.
    In attendance at the ceremony was director/writer Randall Wallace; the film's stars Mel Gibson, Madeleine Stowe, Sam Elliott, Chris Klein, Keri Russell and Barry Pepper. Also on hand were the real-life participants of the battle, including Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.); war correspondent Joseph L.
    Galloway, the only civilian to receive the bronze star for valour in the Vietnam War.
    The ceremony began with cavalry marching with various battle streamers from campaigns such as the U.S. Revolutionary War and Desert Storm blowing in the evening breeze. Prior to the stars entering the theatre, Mel Gibson and others from the film joined outside as a lone rider bearing yellow roses and the bugle used in the movie approached the red carpet.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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