hen two African-Americans - Lieutenant Lincoln Scott (Terrence Howard) and Lamar Archer (Vicellous Reon Shannon) - land in an all-white Nazi prisoner of war camp, they become the targets of racist taunts and bullying from the other Americans. The tension escalates until a white soldier is found murdered one night. All the evidence points to Scott as the murderer, but before the Nazis summarily execute him, Colonel William McNamara (Bruce Willis), the commanding officer of the American POWs, goes to the head of the camp, Nazi Commandant Wilhelm Visser (Marcel Iures), to demand that the accused be given a fair trial per the rules of the Geneva Convention.

  His request is granted, and McNamara convinces Lieutenant Tommy Hart (Colin Farrell), who dropped out of his third year at Yale law school to join the war, to defend Scott. At first reluctant to take on the responsibility, Hart dutifully prepares his case, but when he delves under the surface to find out what really happened the night of the murder, he runs into opposition from the other POWs. As Hart digs deeper into the mystery, he uncovers dangerous secrets and evidence of underground activity within the camp.

  Hart's War is based on the 1999 novel of the same name by John Katzenbach, author of two other books made into films: Just Cause, starring Sean Connery, was produced in 1995; and The Mean Season, starring Kurt Russell, was based on 
actors
Bruce Willis
Colin Farrell
Terrence Dashon Howard
Cole Hauser
Vicellous Reon Shannon
Marcel Iures

director
Gregory Hoblit

location
Prague, Czech Republic

outtake
Before agreeing
to sign a contract, Bruce Willis provided MGM with a list of young actors with whom he wanted to co-star - Colin Farrell (American Outlaws) was chosen from that list.
Katzenbach's novel, In the Heat of the Summer. Katzenbach has experience with
court proceedings - he worked as a criminal court reporter for many years. As well, Katzenbach's father, Nicholas, was a WWII prisoner of war who was held captive at Stalag 3 and went on to serve as attorney general of the United States under President Lyndon Johnson.

  Producers David Foster (The Mask of Zorro) and David Ladd (Mulholland Falls) were sent early copies of the novel and both were immediately drawn to the unique, yet complex nature of the story. Says Foster, "The book shows the human side of the enemy, as well as the survival instincts of the captive, and that's what fascinated me."

  Director Gregory Hoblit (Frequency) agrees. "I thought this was a very good story I had not seen before - a volatile trial in a POW camp where prejudice, honor and duty come into conflict," he says. "I've always been fascinated by WWII and wanted to make a movie about the men I really do believe were of our greatest generation."

- Alexandra Heilbron