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The General's Daughter
1999 116 min Germany, United States of America R 18+
★5.8
Thriller, Mystery, Crime
Director: Simon West
🎭 Based on
«The General's Daughter»
byNelson DeMille
Trailers
Description
When the body of Army Capt. Elisabeth Campbell is found on a Georgia military base, two investigators, Warrant Officers Paul Brenner and Sara Sunhill, are ordered to solve her murder. What they uncover is anything but clear-cut. Unseemly details emerge about Campbell's life, leading to allegations of a possible military coverup of her death and the involvement of her father, Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell.
Budget:
$60M
US Gross:
$102.71M
Worldwide:
$149.7M
Starring
John Travolta
Actor
Madeleine Stowe
Actor
James Cromwell
Actor
Awards
3 wins & 5 nominations total
Key opinion
The General's Daughter is widely regarded as a tense, high-stakes military thriller elevated by strong performances and a compelling, gritty atmosphere. While some viewers find the plot predictable or the characters thin, the film is generally praised for its effective blend of mystery and procedural drama.
| Acting | John Travolta anchors the film with a commanding and highly convincing performance as an outsider military investigator. | |
| Direction | The film succeeds in building and sustaining a tense, gritty, and dark atmosphere throughout the investigation. | |
| Acting | The supporting cast—including Madeleine Stowe, James Woods, and James Cromwell—delivers strong, impactful performances that flesh out the complex character dynamics. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay effectively transitions from the source novel by focusing on political maneuvering and procedural tension, keeping the narrative engaging despite minor deviations. | |
| Ending | Opinions on the mystery's predictability vary; some viewers are surprised by the conclusion, while others find the culprit easy to identify early on. | |
| Screenplay | Views on character depth are divided, with some praising the intricate relationships and psychological stakes, while others argue the supporting characters feel thinly sketched. |