US media revisionism

It's no joke, and it has been used as a metaphor since the original event, but as far as this movie is concerned there isn't even the slightest connection beyond the fact that a battle is being waged.

I've never met you, so I can hardly object to meeting you.

Easy one for me. What happens when the tide draws the ocean up on the beach then recedes? You get a foamy line across the sand.

What happens when two armies meet in battle? Generally speaking, following combat one army will advance while the other withdraws. What is left behind to mark where they met? A thin red line of blood and carnage. But like any macrocosm, study that in microcosms of individuals engaged in battle.

It's taken from a Kipling poem, about the British army in the Crimean War, he talks about the thin red line of heroes.

"[u]English[/u] defence manoeuvre"?

That's like saying the 29th Infantry Division who stormed Omaha Beach were Mexican. :)
British would have been fine, Scottish would have been accurate.

p.s. On the subject of accuracy, Russell also omitted to give any credit whatsoever to the British forces Turkish allies during the battle.

"In the film, this theme is most obviously seen with Witt ("mother" nature) and Tall's (Nolte) characters (animalistic nature)".

Thank you, I couldn't have said it as well. This is a brilliant film, both in terms of the very plausible and realistic portrayal of the day to day grind of the Guadalcanal Campaign, and the psychological aspects of brutal combat. Those bored by this have seen too many cookie cutter WW2 films, and are unable to understand the nuance.

OP is also wrong about this being a fictional action. Many battles exactly like this took place in the later days of the Guadalcanal Campaign. After the heroics of the Marines in the early days, the Army moved in to "mop up". The problem was that the Japanese were reinforcing in number, by night from Rubal. So many objectives switched hands multiple times over the course of the campaign.

The film also depicts psychological aspects of the American experience in the PTO, which were completely unique.

This is one of the best war films ever made.

"For dark is the suede that mows like a harvest"

"The Thin Red Line" was originally "... thin red streak tipped with steel..." as war correspondent William Russell's dispatch appeared in The Times, reporting events during the Battle of Balaklava, 25th October 1854. The 93rd's were left guarding the British supply base harbour of Balaklava, whilst the rest of the Highland Brigade of the 1st Division was up on the heights in siege trenches in front of Sevastapol with the rest of the British and French infantry. Russian reinforcements from the interior attempted to capture artillery positions, mannned by Turkish troops, on the open flank of the allied army, then proceed into the valley where cavalry would destroy the British cavalry camp and the supply base. The majority of Russian cavalry headed for the British cavalry camp (but were intercepted by cavalry of the British Heavy Brigade) while about 800 cavalry split off to attack Balaklava. With a wide valley floor to defend, with only the 93rd on hand, plus Royal Marines and retiring Turkish troops, survivors from the heights, Highland Brigade commander General Sir Colin Campbell realised an infantry square could be bypassed by cavalry. He therefore elected to draw up his available force in two lines to block the cavalry, which meant receiving a cavalry charge direct - an unheard of tactic for infantry. Campbell told his troops "You must die where you stand !" to which a 93rd replied "Aye Sir Colin, if needs be, we'll do that". The first volley from their Minie rifles was seemed ineffective as the enemy force kept riding toward them. The second volley, at closer range, however, bore results, casualties toppled from saddles and and the cavalry veered to its left. Soldiers started to get ready to charge the cavalry until halted their enthusiasm. Major Ross's Grenadier Coy of the 93rd was ordered to form an angled line to fire on the flank of the veering Russians and hurried them on their way back to their own positions. After the war, Russian cavalry officers mentioned that more casualties had been caused than seemed apparent at the time, as wounded troopers clung onto their horses wherever possible rather than falling off.