Der Antikriegsfilm “Johnny zieht in den Krieg / Johnny Got His Gun” [USA 1971] mit Timothy Bottoms, Jason Robards und Donald Sutherland, 1971 Gewinner der Goldenen Palme in Cannes und einzige Regiearbeit des bekannten amerikanischen Drehbuchautors Dalton Trumbo (Roman Holiday, Spartacus, Papillon), wird am 28. April 2009 über das US-Label Shout! Factory auf DVD veröffentlicht. Diese Disc wird bedeutend besser ausgestattet sein, als die deutsche Scheibe aus dem Hause Kinowelt. Von dieser übernommen wird die sehenswerte einstündige Dokumentation “Dalton Trumbo: Rebell in Hollywood” von Robert Fischer. Erstmals auf einer DVD des Films verfügbar sein wird das Musik-Video “One” von Metallica aus dem Jahr 1989, welches zum Großteil aus Szenen des Films besteht.

Interessant wird es werden, ob die US-DVD eine bessere Bildqualität aufweisen kann, als die Kinowelt-DVD. Diese besitzt nämlich ein recht unscharfes Bild und hat erheblich Probleme mit der Kompression.

Die Pressemitteilung von Shout! Factory:

Academy Award® winner Dalton Trumbo was one of Hollywood’s most celebrated screenwriters and as one of the blacklisted “Hollywood Ten.” After four decades writing such monumental Hollywood films as Spartacus, Kitty Foyle, Exodus, Roman Holiday and The Brave One, Trumbo made his directorial debut on Johnny Got His Gun, from his own adaptation of his award-winning novel. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the novel’s publication, but its pacifist themes and message are as relevant today as ever. On April 28, 2009, Shout! Factory will honor Dalton Trumbo’s cinematic landmark with the long-awaited DVD release of Dalton Trumbo’s Johnny Got His Gun. Available for the first time in North America, this DVD boasts a wealth of bonus content, including a revealing documentary, a new interview with Timothy Bottoms, rare behind-the-scenes footage, a 1940 radio adaptation starring James Cagney, the music video for Metallica’s “One”, a replica of the original poster and much more! A must-own for film enthusiasts and DVD collectors to complete their film library, Johnny Got His Gun is priced to own at $19.99.

The all-star cast of Johnny Got His Gun is lead by Golden Globe®-nominee Timothy Bottoms and features Oscar®-winner Jason Robards, Golden Globe® winner Donald Sutherland, Kathy Fields, Marsha Hunt and Diane Varsi. The film debuted at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix Special du Jury and the International Federation of Film Critics Prize there. Actor Timothy Bottoms garnered a Golden Globe® nomination in 1972 for his powerhouse performance from the title role. The film is regarded as an antiwar classic and has earned rave reviews from critics as well as Jimmy Carter: “Johnny Got His Gun should be shown to everyone in the government, the military and the United Nations as required viewing…” Moreover, the movie inspired Metallica to use extensive footage from the film in their popular music video for “One.”

Set against the backdrop of the First World War, Johnny Got His Gun is a masterfully crafted film that explores the consequences of war in a uniquely intimate way. The film is a moving journey that takes you through the mind of a young injured soldier, trapped within the confines of his memory, fantasy and limited sensation – somewhere on the edges of sanity and insanity, of life and death – as he struggles to communicate with the outside world.

A young American soldier, Joe Bonham (Timothy Bottoms), is wounded by a mortar shell on the last day of World War I. He lies in an army hospital bed, a blind, deaf and mute quadruple amputee, searching for meaning with only his memories and fantasies to distract him from the grim reality of his situation. Doctors have written him off, and even an imagined Jesus (Donald Sutherland) is unable to help him. All is hopeless until his nurse, an angel of compassion, discovers a way to reach him.

Dalton Trumbo’s Johnny Got His Gun is a Bruce Campbell Production; Associate Producers, Tony Monaco and Christopher Trumbo; Director of Photography, Jules Brenner; Composer and Conductor, Jerry Fielding; Novel and Screenplay, Dalton Trumbo; Director, Dalton Trumbo.

Expansive DVD Bonus Features

• Dalton Trumbo: Rebel In Hollywood (2006)
  This hour-long documentary by Robert Fischer explores the career of Dalton Trumbo, his struggles as a member of the Hollywood Ten, and the creative challenges he faced turning his celebrated novel into a film. Includes interviews with Christopher Trumbo and several cast and crew members of Johnny Got His Gun.
• All-New interview with Timothy Bottoms
• Music video for Metallica’s “One”
  For many, the film Johnny Got His Gun was known primarily from film clips used by Metallica in its first music video—“One.” Directed by Bill Pope and Michael Salomon, the music video debuted on MTV on January 20, 1989 and was inspired by Metallica’s heartfelt response to the film.
• Rare behind-the-scenes footage with commentary by Timothy Bottoms and Director of Photography Jules Brenner
• 1940 radio adaptation of Johnny Got His Gun starring James Cagney
• Johnny Got His Gun feature article from American Cinematographer (August 1971)
• Original theatrical trailer
• Includes replica of the original poster

Dalton Trumbo’s Johnny Got His Gun DVD
Street Date: April 28, 2009
Preorder Date: March 31, 2009
SRP: $19.99
Main Feature Running Time: +/- 106 min
16 x 9 Widescreen main feature presentation