"Such a tragedy. They will think this was their victory. So this will become an American war. And the end will be the same... except for the numbers who will die before we get there."

"[voice-over] These are the true events of November, 1965. The Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam, a place our country does not remember in a war it does not understand. This story is a testament to the young Americans who died in the Valley of Death, and a tribute to the young men of the People's Army of Vietnam who died by our hand in that place."

"Sir, Custer was a pussy. You ain't."

"Neither the new technology nor your status as officers will keep you above the danger. Sergeant Major Plumley and I come from the paratroopers, where the officer is always the first man out of the plane. Because to follow your instincts and inspire your men by your example, you have to be with them — where the metal meets the meat...Now, I hope you men like training, 'cause me and the Sergeant Major... we love it!"

"[addressing his troops on the parade ground.] Look around you. In the Seventh Cavalry, we got a captain from the Ukraine. Another from Puerto Rico. We've got Japanese, Chinese, blacks, Hispanics, Cherokee Indians, Jews and gentiles — all Americans. Now, here in the States, some men in this unit may experience discrimination because of race or creed. But for you and me now, all that is gone. We're moving into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, where you will watch the back of the man next to you, as he will watch yours. And you won't care what color he is or by what name he calls God. They say we're leaving home. We're going to what home was always supposed to be. I can't promise that I will bring you all home alive. But this I swear before you and before Almighty God: that when we go into battle, I will be the first to set foot on the field, and I will be the last to step off. And I will leave no one behind. Dead or alive, we will all come home together. So help me God."

"Paul Bettany – Stephen Maturin"

"Russell Crowe – Jack Aubrey"

"[Is drunk and is insulting Hollom by bringing the "Jonah theory" out into the open] It's like Killick says. Mornin' o' the battle, 'e doesn't 'ave the guts to beat to quarters. Then 'is entire gun crew's killed, 'cept for 'im. Momen' 'e goes up the mizzen, Will falls. And whose watch was it when we lost our wind?"

"[After amputating Blakeney's arm] I've never seen a braver patient."

"You know, I'm very sympathetic of mutineers – men pressed from their homes, their chosen occupations …"

"[Quoting Alexander Pope] He who would pun would pick a pocket, sir."

"We do not have time for your damned hobbies, sir!"

"Down! All hands down!"

"Right lads, now, I know there's not a faint heart among you, and I know you're as anxious as I am to get into close action. But we must bring them right up beside us before we spring this trap. That will test our nerve, and discipline will count just as much as courage. The Acheron is a tough nut to crack … more than twice our guns, more than twice our numbers, and they will sell their lives dearly. Topmen, your handling of the sheets to be lubberly and un-navy like. Until the signal calls, you're to spill the wind from our sails, this will bring us almost to a complete stop. Gun crews, you must run out and tie down in double quick time. With the rear wheels removed, you've gained elevation, but without recoil, there'll be no chance for re-load, so gun captains, that gives you one shot from the larboard battery … one shot only. You'll fire for her mainmast. Much will depend on your accuracy … however … even crippled, she will still be dangerous, like a wounded beast. Captain Howard and the marines will sweep their weather deck with swivel gun and musket fire from the tops. They'll try and even the odds for us before we board. They mean to take us as a prize. And we are worth more to them undamaged. Their greed … will be their downfall. England is under threat of invasion, and though we be on the far side of the world, this ship is our home. This ship is England. So it's every hand to his rope or gun, quick's the word and sharp's the action. After all, Surprise is on our side."

"For England, for home, and for the prize!"

"What is it with this man, did I kill a relative of his in battle perhaps? His boy, God forbid?"

"This is the second time he's done this to me. There will not be a third."

"Name a shrub after me – something prickly and hard to eradicate."

"Men must be governed. Often not wisely, I will grant you, but they must be governed nonetheless."

"Do you not know that in the service … one must always choose the lesser of two weevils?"

"What's the butcher's bill?"

"Ryan Hurst - Sgt. Ernie Savage"

"Don Duong - Lt. Col. Nguyen Huu An"

"Barry Pepper - Joe Galloway"

"Keri Russell - Barbara Geoghegan"

"Chris Klein - 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan"

"Sam Elliott - Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley"

"Greg Kinnear - Maj. Bruce "Snake" Crandall"

"Madeleine Stowe - Julia Moore, Hal's wife"

"Mel Gibson - Lt. Col. Hal Moore"

"400 U.S paratroopers. 4000 Vietnamese soldiers. 12 000 miles away from home. 1 man led them into battle."

"We were... young, brave, husbands, wives, sons, mothers, daughters, soldiers."

"Fathers, Brothers, Husbands & Sons."

"Bad news sells best. 'Cause good news is no news."

"Frank Cady - Mr. Federber"

"Porter Hall - Jacob Q. Boot"

"Robert Arthur - Herbie Cook"

"Jan Sterling - Lorraine Minosa"

"Kirk Douglas - Charles 'Chuck' Tatum"

"I've met a lot of hard-boiled eggs in my time, but you--you're twenty minutes."

"I don't go to church. Kneeling bags my nylons."

"How'd you like to make a thousand dollars a day, Mr. Boot? I'm a thousand-dollar-a-day newspaperman. You can have me for nothing."

"You know what's wrong with New Mexico, Mr. Wendel? Too much outdoors."

"When they bleached your hair, they must have bleached your brain too."

"I can handle big news and little news. And if there's no news, I'll go out and bite a dog."

"It's a good story today. Tomorrow, it'll be yesterday's news and they'll wrap a fish in it."