..The director argues that conditions have changed in heir "troublous times." To discourage him, Hadrian pointedly asks Sullivan about his own real-life experiences with trouble - knowing full-well that the director had an educated upbringing and privileged life rather than a life of want and hard luck.The US reporter is here to cover the secret US bombing campaign in Cambodia, along with American cameraman Al Rockoff (John Malkovich) and English reporter Jon Swain (Julian Sands).Only a small group of survivors -- Rennie, Sean, McCulloch, Miss Van Deusen, and Rennie""s dog Toby were able to escape the ship in a lowered life-boat - also joined by Julius who climbed into the boat from the water.The inspirational, life-affirming and uplifting, old-fashioned style Hollywood product (resemblingThe Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)andCool Hand Luke (1967)) is a combination prison/dramatic film and character study.It was a tremendous oversight that both Edward G.Robinson (as supporting actor) and Fred MacMurray (as lead actor) were denied Academy Award nominations.