Taps is a 1981 American drama film directed by Harold Becker and starring George C. Scott, Timothy Hutton, and Sean Penn in his feature film debut. The movie is set in a fictional military academy called Bunker Hill, where the students are preparing to become officers in the US Army.
The story begins when the academy's commander, General Bache (George C. Scott), announces to the students that the school will be shutting down at the end of the academic year due to financial trouble. The news shocks and distresses the cadets, especially when they realize that the academy's prestigious history and traditions will soon be forgotten. As a result, they decide to take matters into their own hands and take over the school. They barricade themselves inside the academy and refuse to leave.
The situation then escalates when a group of local condo developers, led by Mr. Moreland (Ronny Cox), demand that the cadets leave the academy so they can demolish it and build luxury condos on the land. The developers approach General Bache to force the cadets out of the academy, but he refuses to use force against the young students. Instead, he tries to negotiate with them, but the cadets remain stubborn in their cause.
As tensions rise, the cadets become more aggressive and start to take actions that endanger their lives and those around them. They steal weapons and ammunition from the academy's armory and threaten to use them against anyone who tries to remove them from the campus. The situation becomes even more chaotic when local media starts to report on the cadets' rebellion, and people from all over the country come to support them.
The movie reaches its climax when the National Guard is called in to remove the cadets from the academy. The cadets refuse to surrender and decide to fight back. The result is a tragic and violent confrontation that leaves several people dead, including one of the cadets.
Taps is a powerful and emotional movie that explores themes of loyalty, traditions, and sacrifice. It features excellent performances by the cast, especially Hutton, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Cadet Major Brian Moreland. The film has since become a cult classic and is considered one of the best military dramas of all time.