This article is being published with the cooperation of john phelps, the father of chance phelps. With kevin bacon, tom aldredge, nicholas art, blanche baker. Taking chance, though, is a completely different theme dealing with. Strobl kevin bacon learns that phelps had once lived in his hometown, and volunteers to escort the body to its. To my mind you just dont see too many movies that have this kind of honesty. Taking chance is a 2009 american historical drama television film directed by ross katz. Inspired by the true story of the united states marine who volunteered to escort the remains of a nineteen year old soldier who was killed in iraq to his small hometown in remote wyoming, taking chance stars kevin bacon in the feature directorial debut of. As you realize from the trailer, this is a story about a marine escort a reallife lt. Strobl was assigned the duty of an escort, that is, taking chances body home to his family. In honor of memorial day, see an encore presentation of taking chance at 4. Taking chance shows how this duty affects not only strobl, but also the ordinary citizens he meets on the journey. Watch taking chance, the original hbo film online at or stream on your own device. Private first class chance phelps of the united states marine corps was killed in action on april 9, 2004, in baghdad.
The story of chance phelps, as told by ltcol strobl, is also featured in the book faces of freedom. Colonel michael strobl, who wrote eloquently of them in a widely circulated 2004 article, taking chance is a profoundly emotional look at the military rituals taken to honor its war dead, as represented by a fallen marine killed in iraq, lance corporal chance phelps. Working as a strategic analyst at marine corps base quantico in va, lt. Some of these civilians are not shy about voicing their opposition to the war in iraq, but without exception they show nothing but support for phelps and his fallen brethren. Michael strobl, a volunteer military escort officer, accompanies the body of 19yearold marine chance phelps back to his hometown of dubois, wyoming. Colonel michael strobl played by kevin bacon, who escorted the body of a fallen marine, pfc chance phelps posthumously promoted to lance corporal, back to his hometown from the iraq war. Good emotion and great acting by kevin bacons character, lieutenant colonel michael strobl. It shows the reverence, dignity, honor, and respect with which soldiers killed in iraq and afghanistan are brought home. Taking chance by ross katz kevin bacon, paige turco. Taking chance is directed by ross katz producer of lost in translation. Colonel mike strobl played by kevin bacon for a casket containing a young killediniraq soldier named chance phelps.
The script was also written by ltcol strobl and filming completed in the fall of 2007, and premiered on february 21, 2009. Colonel michael strobl kevin bacon voluteers to escort the remains of lance corporal chance phelps back to his hometown in wyoming. Michael strobl, outside the gates of the marine base at quantico, va. Eight days later, i handed the medallion to his mother. Colonel michael strobl volunteers to escort the remains of lance corporal chance phelps back to his hometown in wyoming. Chance phelps, as he is returned to his family for burial. Kelly then a brigadier sent to lieutenant colonel michael strobl after the general had read ltcol strobls trip report which you now know as taking chance. Mike strobls personal journal of his assignment escorting the remains of pfc phelps, killed. Taking chance lacks very little and although this is a slow film with some repeated visuals and sequences it really hits you inside. Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available. Updated chance phelps last stand according to major. A uniquely nonpolitical film about the war in iraq pays tribute to all of the men and women who have given their lives in military. An hbo movie based on ltcol strobls essay taking chance screened at the 2009 sundance film festival and competed for the grand jury prize in the category of drama. Hbo films taking chance kevin bacon, michael strobl interview gerald d.
Chance phelps was wearing his saint christopher medal when he was killed on good friday. Taking chance friends of the vietnam veterans plaza. Lieutenant colonel strobl coauthored a screenplay based on his original story. The stirring hbo movie taking chance brought tears to my eyes. Michael strobl, a volunteer military escort officer, accompanies the body of 19yearold marine chance phelps. Its with an amazing bit of respect that this film tells the story of pfc phelps and all the people he touched before and especially after his death. Taking chance tells a true story, adapting marine lt.
Taking chance is a 2009 historical drama based upon the. Marking the directing debut of producer ross katz from a script he wrote with strobl, taking chance succeeds best in its attention to ritual, meticulously portraying a. The real story of chance phelps aka taking chance the new. Strobl kevin bacon, the story is really about marine pfc chance phelps 19842004, who was killed in action in the war in iraq. Taking chance, premiering saturday on hbo television. The overwhelming comment that we got was either i was surprised at the tone of the film or surprised at just what the reality of escort duty is. The convoy came under intense fire, but chance returned fire with the big gun, covering the rest of the convoy, until he was fatally wounded. I liked the taking chance trailer the moment i saw it a few days ago. The very beginning of the film shows this from the point of view of the military personnel delivering the notice, with a short segment of them coming outside, clearing the snow off of their car, and driving to chances home. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in december of 1987 and served around the world. Taking chance a personal narrative by lieutenant colonel michael r. Starring kevin bacon and premiering today on hbo, it was shown at sundance film festival and competed for the grand jury prize.
John kelly on the movie taking chance and military death time. Michael strobl kevin bacon escorting the body of a marine, pfc chance phelps. His personal memoir entitled taking chance 2004 has appeared in numerous books and was included in the 2007 documentary operation homecoming which was nominated for both an academy award and an emmy award. The following is marine lieutenant colonel strobls account of escorting the remains of lance corporal chance phelps. Taking chance tv listings, tv schedule and episode guide. The remarkable true story of one soldiers death in battle, another soldiers journey of discovery and a nations reverence and gratitude toward its war dead.
Award winning author michael strobl shares the powerful story behind his memoir and hbo movie, taking chance, starring kevin bacon. After hearing of the heroic death of a young marine in iraq, veteran officer lt. Taking chance, a new film by hbo airing february 21st, gives us a rare glimpse into the process of bringing our fallen service men and women home through the. Colonel michael strobl, who wrote eloquently of them in a widely circulated 2004 article, taking chance is a profoundly emotional look at the military rituals taken. Taking chance tells the story of volunteer military escort lt. Taking chance tv movie 2009 frequently asked questions.
The film is based on an essay the real strobl wrote about escorting chance phelps home death notification. Taking chance is an incredible picture starring kevin bacon that tells the true story of lieutenant colonel michael strobl who volunteered to escort the remains of chance phelps, a marine killed. Its a long and beautifully written and it deserves to be read in its entirety. The book focuses on the motion picture, taking chances, along with the real life story of lt. Hbo films taking chance kevin bacon, michael strobl. Taking chance movie published by robon december 27, 2008in taking chance.
Taking chance chronicles one of the silent, virtually unseen journeys that takes place every day across the country, bearing witness to the fallen and all those who, literally and figuratively, carry them home. To book speaker michael strobl visit his profile page. Michael strobl, a career military man who volunteers to accompany the body of a dead marine, 19yearold lance corp. Michael strobl kevin bacon escorts the body of chance phelps, a young marine who was killed in iraq.
The story is based on lt col mike strobls accounts of escorting lcpl chance phelps home, from dover afb, delaware to dubois, wy. Michael strobl enlisted in the marine corps in 1983. Michael strobl please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. Strobl is a lieutenant colonel with the marine corps in quantico, va. Corporal seamus sends us this message from april 2004 about lance corporal chance phelps. Michael strobl please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or. Strobl chance phelps was wearing his saint christopher medal when he was killed on good friday. A longer version of this piece will appear in the july issue of marine corps gazette. America at a crossroads examines the war on terrorism, the conflicts in iraq and afghanistan, the experience of american troops, the struggle for balance within the muslim world and global. Michael joined the service when he was 17 years old as told in the movie taking chance 2009. Such a moment comes in the powerful hbo film taking chance. You might want to check your supply of kleenex before you slip taking chance into the dvd player.
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