Filmium
Back to search
Movie Backdrop

Johnny Got His Gun streaming

1971 Movie United States War, Drama 112 min Ages 12+
By: Dalton Trumbo With: Charles McGraw, Jason Robards, Sandy Brown Wyeth, Donald Sutherland, Marsha Hunt

Joe, a young American soldier, is hit by a mortar shell on the last day of World War I. He lies in a hospital bed in a fate worse than death - a quadruple amputee who has lost his arms, legs, eyes, ears, mouth and nose. He remains conscious and able to think, thereby reliving his life through strange dreams and memories, unable to distinguish whether he is awake or dreaming. He remains frustrated by his situation, until one day when Joe discovers a unique way to communicate with his caregivers.

Filmium rating
78%

Festival Achievements

Rotterdam International Film Festival 1993
Selections:
main programme
Festival de Cannes 1971
Awards:
In Competition - Feature films • In Competition - Feature films

Mood

Disturbing
Melancholic
Reflective
Sad
Thought-Provoking
Tragic

Cast & Crew

Dalton Trumbo
Luis Buñuel
Timothy Bottoms
Charles McGraw
Sandy Brown Wyeth
Jason Robards
Kathy Fields
Marsha Hunt
Donald Sutherland

Adaptation

Based On Novel
Literary Adaptation

Budget

Independent Film
Low-Budget

Cinematic Technique

Black-And-White Sequences
Color Saturation
Contrast
Fantasy Dream Scenes
Symbolism
Visual Metaphor

Narrative Structure

Fantasy Sequences
Flashbacks
Nonlinear

Pace

Contemplative
Deliberate
Introspective
Meditative
Slow
Slow-Paced

Runtime

Feature Film
Meditative Length

Soundtrack

Diegetic Sounds
Minimalist Score

Style

Black And White
Black-And-White
Cinematic
Color
Colorful Fantasy
Dramatic

Time-Period

Early 20Th Century
World War I

Central Conflict

Communication Barrier
Desire For Euthanasia
Living Death

Characters

Family Members
Injured Soldier
Nurse

Ending

Ambiguous
Hope For Help
Living In Silence

Historical Context

Early 20Th Century
World War I

Key Plot Points

Attempts To Communicate
Loss Of Senses
Shell Explosion

Plot

Anti-War
Living Death
Prisoner In Own Body
Survival
Trapped
War Trauma

Setting

Dreams
Hospital
Hospital Ward
Memories
World War I Battlefield

Shooting Location

Hospital Scenes
Various Flashback Locations

Theme

Anti-War Message
Autonomy
Horror Of War
Human Dignity
Life And Death
Value Of Life

Genre

Anti-War
Drama
Psychological
War Film

Audiences

Adults
Anti-War Advocates
Art-House Viewers
Drama Lovers
War Enthusiasts

Titles

Dalton Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun
Johnny cogió su fusil
Johnny Got His Gun
Johnny s'en va-t-en guerre
Johnny zieht in den Krieg

Awards

Fipresci Prize
Grand Prix

Box Office Success

Cult Following
Modest Earnings

Critical Reception

Critic Opinions
Mixed Reviews
Positive (Ebert)

Festivals

Cannes Film Festival

Popularity

Cult Status
Music Video Influence

Ratings

67% Rotten Tomatoes

Reception

Award-Winning
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Prize
Critical Acclaim
Cult Classic
Mixed Reviews

Production Countries

United States

Release Year

1971
mowizz ID: 03029e5a-5ea4-438a-ba25-1e84ecf77ceb
Imprint
Privacy policy
Terms and Conditions
About us
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Supported by:
KtBE
BAK
EGS
Suissimage
Swissperform
© 2026 Filmium GmbH - all external content remains the property of the rightful owner
Version: v1.2.40 (frontend) | (backend)