Shot “live on stage, on film,” Dalton Trumbo's JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN is a cross between Lars Von Trier's Dogville and Jonathan Demme and Spalding Gray's stage monologue, Swimming to Cambodia. All of the action takes place on stage in a black box theatre with minimal scenery. Ben McKenzie gives a riveting tour-de-force performance as an American soldier hit by an artillery shell on the last day of World War I. The movie takes place in the mind of 'Joe Bonham', a quadruple amputee who has also lost his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Regaining consciousness, Joe discovers that while his brain is healthy and able to reason, the rest of his body is irreparably shattered, leaving him trapped forever within the confines of his own imagination. He struggles valiantly to find some way to communicate with the outside world. Tapping his head in Morse code, he breaks through and pleads with his caretakers to be put on display as a living example of the cost of war.
The film is adapted from the 1982 Off-Broadway play, Dalton Trumbo's JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN.
ABOUT THE PLAY
Dalton Trumbo's JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN, adapted for the stage by Bradley Rand Smith, was first presented Off-Broadway in 1982 at the Circle Repertory Theatre, starring a then unknown 28-year old actor by the name of Jeff Daniels. Daniels won an Obie Award for his performance in the play and has since gone on to become one of Hollywood's most versatile leading men, having played everything from villains and cads to heroes and romantic leads to tragic figures and lovably goofy idiots, in movies of almost every genre.
Adapted from the 1939 National Book Award-winning novel, JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN, most of play's dialogue is taken word-for-word from the book.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Written by legendary literary icon, Dalton Trumbo in a “stream of consciousness style,” JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN
Teachers!
Study Guide now available!
A study guide is now available for Dalton Trumbo's JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN. The study guide is meant to compliment the film and the novel by stimulating class discussion and encouraging critical thinking among students. Click Here to download the guide.
PRESS ROOM
Click HERE to download the 8/20 Press Release.
HIGH RESOLUTION PRESS PHOTOS
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PRESS PHOTO 1 'Joe Bonham' (Ben McKenzie) contemplates the meaning of time.
PRESS PHOTO 2 'Joe Bonham' (Ben McKenzie) struggles to awaken from his nightmare of drowning in the Colorado River.
PRESS PHOTO 3 'Joe Bonham' (Ben McKenzie) is utterly alone in his own mind in "Dalton Trumbo's JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN."
PRESS PHOTO 4 'Joe Bonham' (Ben McKenzie) takes a moment to rest from working iȱKÌAÕaضí#@5»Âe desert D’† /font>
PRESS PHOTO 5 "It's dawn!" Despite his lack of sight, 'Joe Bonham' (Ben McKenzie) 'sees' the sunrise for the first time since losing most of his face to an artillery shell explosion.
PRESS PHOTO 6 "My left arm." 'Joe Bonham' (Ben McKenzie) strains against the unseen forces around him as they work to amputate his arm after being severely wounded.
PRESS PHOTO 7 Actor Ben McKenzie watches a take with director Rowan Joseph on the set of "Dalton Trumbo's JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN." Photo by Derek Van Oss.
PRESS PHOTO 8 Stunned and horrified, 'Joe Bonham' (Ben McKenzie) gazes blankly into the void that is now is life.
PRESS PHOTO 9 Director Rowan Joseph focuses on a camera set-up as actor Ben McKenzie looks on during a break in filming. Photo by Derek Van Oss.
PRESS PHOTO 10 Actor Ben McKenzie, director Rowan Joseph, and producer Shane Partlow watch the previous take as the camera is reloaded on set. Photo by Derek Van Oss.