I don't know about the rest of you but I cannot and have a hard time believing Richard crenna as colonel trautman. I mean this guy supposedly trained a bunch of bad ass fighting machines and the way he carries himself is laughable. The producers/directors could've gotten someone mean looking or believable. Trautman seems like a kiss ass, effeminate, scared looking little wimp. Like I said just my opinion. But it is an Awesome movie-- Stallone's BEST!
shareTrautman makes this movie, he's funny and a great father type figure. He's like a boxing promoter talking up Rambo as well haha. In Rambo III he nails lots of Russian soldiers as well, proving he's a bad ass.
There's only one man who'd DARE give me the raspberry
Trautman makes this movie, he's funny and a great father type figure. He's like a boxing promoter talking up Rambo as well haha. In Rambo III he nails lots of Russian soldiers as well, proving he's a bad ass.
I don't think the Rambos would be anywhere near as enjoyable without Crenna's Trautman. Getting Crenna onboard for First Blood was an amazing piece of casting when Kirk Douglas bailed on the role after filming started. He brought so much warmth and levity to the part. People saying he isn't tough looking are missing the forest for the trees. It's about his character, not the way he looks (and he looks cool enough btw).
we're almost certain that ghouls and werewolves occupy high positions at city hall
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Exactly 👍
Like you said, a bad movie would've made him a charmless jarhead with huge muscles and military tats. Trautman is all about his attitude and character - that did the talking, not his physical attributes.
He was my C.O. in Nam. CIA listed him as MIA but the V.A. ID'd his M.O. and put out an APB.
Amen, Lonestarr. That's just as effective as any physical attributes. I've seen average-looking men who were pretty damn badass in combat. Put them next to any average man who'd never served in the military, and you wouldn't be able to tell them apart just by looking at them, or listening to them.
shareDefinitely.
Crenna looked as believable a military leader as I've seen in a movie. It's all in the quality of his acting.
Imdb message boards - kick someone's ass on the first day, or become someone's bitch.
Can't really judge a book by its cover. I get what you mean but in reality I've met some military hardasses who if you saw them on the street you wouldn't think twice about them.
shareThat's it, Pinkdaisy.
You can't judge a book by its cover. Crenna, or Trautman didn't have to look like a badass. By the way he carried himself, he didn't have to be a man of many words. His facial expressions often said more than his mouth did. He came off as a convincing full bird Colonel. Like he said, he'd been shining a seat with his ass, which is what a lot of career military men do when they reach that rank. He made a good delegate and diplomat between Rambo and Teasle.
Yeah, he was a bit partial to Rambo. But at the same time, I think Trautman was able to look right through Teasle as a person and a lawman of a small town. And if you want to talk about looks...if you're old enough, look at Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers. Both decorated and downright badasses in their military service. There's still the great, famous story that actor Lee Marvin told about Bill Keenan(Captain Kangaroo), and how Bill saved Lee's life in WWII. And did it with a blaze of gunfire killing enemy soldiers.
One of the things I've always loved about this movie is that it's not so much an action movie. It's really more of a character and behaviorial study of these different characters. Where they've come from, what had happened to them and made them the people they became. If you read the book, you certainly understand Teasle's instant hate for Rambo. Well, not instant hate. But how that rivalry escalated so quickly between the two.
It's funny about Crenna. Whomever was cast to play Trautman had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Crenna got the script on a late Saturday night. By that following Wednesday, he was on the set and shooting his first scene. I think he did damned good job.
Excellent response, TexasBillyAustin. I know a man who was a Navy SEAL. And one wouldn't know him from the next man who'd never even served in the military.
shareBoom. Couldn't have said it better.
Side note: if you look at 80% (probably more) of the U.S. Military on any given Saturday, it's a bunch of kids wearing Vans playing xbox. It's those who put their lives on the line and it's those who too often don't come home.
We have this view in our heads of what people are supposed to look like. They do not look like John Cena.
Exactly. They don't have to look like John Cena, Sylvester Stallone, Vin Diesel, Chuck Norris, etc. They can look like an average man.
shareI agree with the both of you. It goes back to the old saying: Never judge a book by its cover.
I've met a lot of amazing people in my life. Have met and worked with a lot of veterans. Some of the most normal-looking guys I've met were the biggest baddasses in their former military careers. They said what they were. Of course, they didn't talk at ALL about what they did while serving. And they never will. I've worked with some John Rambo's as well. You can't possibly understand that kind of suffering unless you've been through what they have.
One thing I do like. I like when Hollywood casts against the stereotype of what someone is supposed to look like in a role. Anything that makes it more truly believable than it just looking like a bad Hollywood interpretation. The typical cliche's and stereotypes.
Yeah...like others have said, never judge a book by it's cover. In the real world, most bad ass military guys, and guys in general who know can really handle themselves, look like ordinary guys. Not these Hollywood steroid monsters that we see on TV.
And you have to remember, Trautman was probably the only one in that entire town, that could handle Rambo in a combat situation. And if you listen to their final conversation in the Police Station, he was ready to kill Rambo if he had to. That is the main reason he stuck around, because he was the only one could have taken him down if he really went out of control...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart#Military_service
Read this :)
Jimmy Stewart, one of the nicest men in Hollywood, always playing the sweet family man. Calm, nice, everyday appearance. A grampa figure almost.
But, in WWII, the guy was the real deal!
On July 23, 1959, Stewart was promoted to brigadier general. During his active duty periods, he remained current as a pilot of Convair B-36 Peacemaker, Boeing B-47 Stratojet and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress intercontinental bombers of the Strategic Air Command.[53] On February 20, 1966, Brigadier General Stewart flew as a non-duty observer in a B-52 on an Arc Light bombing mission during the Vietnam War. He refused the release of any publicity regarding his participation, as he did not want it treated as a stunt, but as part of his job as an officer in the Air Force Reserve. After 27 years of service, Stewart retired from the Air Force on May 31, 1968.[54]
Exactly, Kojiro!
Another fine example. These days, most people know Jimmy Stewart was a famous actor. And probably best known today as the honest and lovable George Bailey in "It's A Wonderful Life". I know him from so many movies he made. To look at him, he could've been the poster boy for anyone's father or grandfather. A nice, innocent-looking man that probably had good values, character and integrity.
He was already doing pretty good as an actor in Hollywood when he enlisted. As stated, he was every bit as active in World War II as every Tom, Dick and Harry. He didn't want to be treated special or kept out of harm's way, just because he was a big celebrity. He made that very clear to his commanding officers. He flew some dangerous missions and acquired a high-ranking status by his mere duty and military service. And a lot of people didn't know that he stayed in the Air Force Reserve when he was through with active duty. He immediately returned to Hollywood and continued making movies.
He did make it VERY clear to Hollywood and had it in his contract that in no way, shape or form, could any studio or promoter use his military service and career as a way of promoting any movies he starred in. Also was a clause that stated any filming of a movie would shut down or simply resume without him, if he had to serve any extended duty in his Reserve status. Because he retired from active duty with such a high rank, he held good standing with the Armed Forces. But with the aid of a military attorney, he made an agreement with the Air Force and Armed Forces that they not use his name and celebrity status as a way to recruit or draft young men in any way. And because he stayed in Reserve status for so long, the military honored that agreement. By a lot of standards of his service, he was considered a hero. Jimmy was just so humble and modest about it, he always wanted his movie and military career to stay completely separate from each other. Again, he wanted no special treatment whatsoever.
My brother-in-law was in the Air Force. Because he wanted to start a family, he chose B-52s over fighters. He had a very successful military career as a B-52 pilot and has the medals to show for it. Of course, once he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, much like Trautman, he was pushing a desk and shining a seat with his ass. And he retired. In the mid to late eighties, and I don't remember which base he was stationed at, at that time, my brother-in-law was informed that the base would be welcoming a VIP for the weekend, and that he and his squadron stay on active alert. When the VIP arrived, much to my brother-in-law's delight, he discovered it was none other than Jimmy Stewart himself. Of course, he was every bit as honored to meet with B-52 pilots and crew as they were to meet Mr. Stewart. Everyone talked with him for a good while. They boarded a plane and gave him the grand tour. And of course, no one around was going to raise any red flags at a retires USAF pilot going up for a flight. My brother-in-law talked with him quite a bit during flight. The newer planes were upgraded with more electronic and digital equipment than the first B-52s made. But for the most part, the plane had not really changed at all. And Mr. Stewart was very vocal in talking about all of the mechanical aspects he had to deal with in the original ones that the crew was not as familiar with, but knew what he was talking about. And though my brother-in-law never officially confirmed it, he did say that Mr. Stewart might've taken the wheel of the plane for awhile.
Granted, this visit was not for public reasons. It never made the news, nor did the story land in any newspapers. So no one except those on the base knew Mr. Stewart was there. He joined the crew in the mess hall for dinner, said their goodbyes and he left. Before he did, in true tradition and fashion, my brother-in-law got his autograph in the form of a Short Snorter. And Mr. Stewart got a Short Snorter in return from my brother-in-law and the entire crew. If you've stuck with my long-ass story this long, look up what a Short Snorter is. Though his visit wasn't classified as confidential, it was still one of those things that would happen on a base that they simply KEPT on the base and told no one. And he didn't tell the rest of the family until about two years after that happened. But he brought the Short Snorter of his to show us. I always thought that story was so interesting, and how being a pilot and interest stayed in Mr. Stewart's blood until he died.
Okay, I'm done talking. But one more example. For those who know Humphrey Bogart. He took a break from Hollywood and enlisted during WWII. He became a fighter pilot. He was a short man with big ears. Does that sound like what a fighter pilot is supposed to look like? And like Jimmy Stewart, he kept his military career private and did not use it to push his movies. So, what does a person supposed to look like in a certain role?
How about normal. Peace.
do you know Richard Crenna served in the army in real life?
shareMy brother-in-law was in the Air Force. Because he wanted to start a family, he chose B-52s over fighters. He had a very successful military career as a B-52 pilot and has the medals to show for it. Of course, once he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, much like Trautman, he was pushing a desk and shining a seat with his ass. And he retired. In the mid to late eighties, and I don't remember which base he was stationed at, at that time, my brother-in-law was informed that the base would be welcoming a VIP for the weekend, and that he and his squadron stay on active alert. When the VIP arrived, much to my brother-in-law's delight, he discovered it was none other than Jimmy Stewart himself. Of course, he was every bit as honored to meet with B-52 pilots and crew as they were to meet Mr. Stewart. Everyone talked with him for a good while. They boarded a plane and gave him the grand tour. And of course, no one around was going to raise any red flags at a retires USAF pilot going up for a flight. My brother-in-law talked with him quite a bit during flight. The newer planes were upgraded with more electronic and digital equipment than the first B-52s made. But for the most part, the plane had not really changed at all. And Mr. Stewart was very vocal in talking about all of the mechanical aspects he had to deal with in the original ones that the crew was not as familiar with, but knew what he was talking about. And though my brother-in-law never officially confirmed it, he did say that Mr. Stewart might've taken the wheel of the plane for awhile.
Granted, this visit was not for public reasons. It never made the news, nor did the story land in any newspapers. So no one except those on the base knew Mr. Stewart was there. He joined the crew in the mess hall for dinner, said their goodbyes and he left. Before he did, in true tradition and fashion, my brother-in-law got his autograph in the form of a Short Snorter. And Mr. Stewart got a Short Snorter in return from my brother-in-law and the entire crew. If you've stuck with my long-ass story this long, look up what a Short Snorter is. Though his visit wasn't classified as confidential, it was still one of those things that would happen on a base that they simply KEPT on the base and told no one. And he didn't tell the rest of the family until about two years after that happened. But he brought the Short Snorter of his to show us. I always thought that story was so interesting, and how being a pilot and interest stayed in Mr. Stewart's blood until he died.
I didn't want to write a long post like that. But at the same time, it is such a neat story in regards to Jimmy Stewart. But I'm glad you enjoyed it!
shareBogart NEVER served in World War Two. However, he did serve a hitch in the Navy in World War One, before he became an actor
shareWell, the original actor who was supposed to play Teasle was Kirk Douglas, a legendary and more believable tough guy actor, but he dropped out when he disagreed with the narrative of Rambo surviving at the end so Richard Crenna replaced him at the last minute and did what he could with the script and character apparently.
shareWho did you think was gunna show up and look like a badass colonel...Jesse ventura? Trautman was the best character in the movie..his voice too was great
shareRambo died in the final scene as originally filmed...he wanted Trautman to shoot him, but he refuses, so Rambo pulls Trautman's pistol and in effect kills himself. Douglas had creative differcenes with the filmmakers. According to Stallone, Douglas wanted Trautman to take down Rambo mano a mano.
shareYou need to look up a guy named Audie Murphy. One of the biggest badass' and decorated combat vets from WWII.
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