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Samuel Trautman, Colonel
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Real name Sam
Colonel Samuel "Sam" Trautman is a fictional character in the Rambo novel and film series. His first appearance was in David Morrell's novel First Blood. His character was expanded on in the film series where he was played by Richard Crenna, although Kirk Douglas was cast in the part, had been outfitted and shown up on the first day of shooting. It was then that Douglas, already unhappy with the ending, decided more rewrites were required. Director Ted Kotcheff and producers Mario Kassar and Andrew G. Vajna strongly disagreed and Douglas left the production. Richard Crenna was then contacted and arrived on set the next day. Marketing stills of Kirk Douglas in the uniform of Col. Trautman exist and are now part of the extras on the DVD of First Blood.
Biography
Military serviceSam Trautman was born in 1929 and joined the United States Army at the end of World War II. After serving in the Korean War, Trautman joined the fledgling Special Forces and gained a commission. At the start of the Vietnam War, Trautman began his first combat tour as an adviser to the ARVN. Following his return to the United States, Trautman was selected to form a special forces unit along the lines of S.O.G.. It was here that Trautman first came face to face with a certain John Rambo, who at that time was a young man who had left both his home and an abusive father. Over the months in training, Trautman became a substitute father for the young Rambo, especially as Rambo was the youngest of the group. When Trautman completed the group's Special Forces training, they were sent on the first of two tours of Vietnam. Trautman's team received the code name of Baker Team and usually consisted of eight men.
Known members -
John "Raven" Rambo, Delmore Barry, Joseph "Joey" Danforth, Manuel "Loco" Ortega, Paul Messner, Delbert Krackhauer, Giuseppe "Greasy Cunt" Colletta, Ralph Jorgenson.
Rambo, Barry, and Trautman are said to be Baker Team's only surviving members from Vietnam, though Barry eventually dies of cancer (possibly from multiple myeloma) the summer prior to the events of First Blood.
First Blood
Trautman is flown in from Washington, D.C. to warn the Hope, Washington, sheriff's department of the extent of Rambo's capabilities once Rambo starts a one-man war against the brutal deputies. But nobody listens and Trautman is the only one who can effectively communicate with Rambo. Trautman later stops Rambo from killing Sheriff Will Teasle, listens to his traumatic war memories and persuades Rambo to surrender.
Rambo: First Blood Part II
After Rambo's rampage in First Blood, he was arrested and sent to work in a quarry. Trautman is now a member of Delta Force and was part of the operation to rescue POWs in Vietnam. Trautman uses his influence to have Rambo released from prison to join the mission in the Far East so he can get a pardon. But when Rambo rescues a POW, CIA bureaucrat Marshall Murdock realizes that his war profits may be in jeopardy and forces his people to abort the mission, allowing Rambo to be captured by the Vietnamese and their Soviet Russian allies. Trautman, unable to help Rambo, knows that Rambo will survive and return for revenge, and argues with Murdock about the situation, warning him of Rambo's anger. After Rambo comes back to the base, he gives Murdock an ultimatum to rescue the remaining POWs.
Rambo III
Trautman tracks John Rambo down to a Buddhist Monastery in the jungles of Thailand and tries to convince Rambo to join him on a mission in Afghanistan to supply Stinger missiles to the Afghan Mujahideen rebels, fighting the invading Soviet armies. Rambo refuses to join, because he wants to put his violent past behind him and start a new life, and Trautman understands. On the way to deliver the shipment, however, Trautman gets captured by the Soviets in Afghanistan and Rambo decides to launch a one-man rescue mission into the Russian prison camp so he can get his only friend back home. Once again, Trautman's warnings about Rambo's brutality fall on deaf ears, and Trautman is saved by John.
Rambo (2008)
The character's fate after Rambo III was never clearly specified in Rambo IV, but because Richard Crenna died before the fourth film could be made, it can be assumed that Trautman died between Rambo III and IV. Trautman is only in this film through Archive Footage of the previous films. The fourth film is dedicated to his memory.
Best films
Played by the actor
Filmography of Samuel Trautman, Colonel (4 films)
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Rambo (2008)
, 1h31Directed by Sylvester Stallone
Origin USA
Genres War, Thriller, Action, Horror
Themes Films about religion, Films about terrorism
Actors Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Matthew Marsden, Graham McTavish, Jake La Botz, Tim Kang
Rating69%
Twenty years after the events in Afghanistan, amid the political protests of the crisis in Burma, ruthless military officer Major Pa Tee Tint leads an army of Tatmadaw soldiers to pillage small villages in a campaign of fear. He watches with indifference as innocent villagers are forced into mine-infested marshes and orders his men to abduct the teenage boys of the villages to be drafted into his army.
Rambo III (1988)
, 1h42Directed by Peter MacDonald, Ernest Day
Origin USA
Genres War, Thriller, Action, Adventure
Themes Films set in Africa, Politique, Films about terrorism, Political films
Actors Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Marc de Jonge, Kurtwood Smith, Spiros Focás, Sasson Gabai
Rating58%
In 1988, Colonel Sam Trautman (Richard Crenna) visits his old friend and ally John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) in Thailand. He explains that he is putting together a mercenary team for a CIA-sponsored supply mission on behalf of anti-Soviet fighters in Afghanistan. Despite being shown photos of civilians suffering at the hands of the Soviet military, Rambo refuses to join, as he is tired of fighting. Trautman proceeds anyway and is ambushed by enemy forces near the border, resulting in all of his men being killed. Trautman is captured and sent to a large mountain base to be interrogated by Soviet Colonel Zaysen (Marc de Jonge) and his henchman Kourov (Randy Raney).
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
, 1h32Directed by George Cosmatos
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Thriller, Action, Adventure
Themes Politique, Political films
Actors Richard Crenna, Charles Napier, Sylvester Stallone, Steven Berkoff, Julia Nickson-Soul, Martin Kove
Rating65%
A year into his sentence, former commando John Rambo is visited by his old commander, Colonel Sam Trautman. With the war in Vietnam over, the public has become increasingly concerned over news that a small group of American POWs have been left in enemy custody. To placate their demands for action, the US government has authorized a solo infiltration mission to confirm the reports. As one of only three men suited for such work, Rambo agrees to undertake the operation in exchange for a pardon. He is taken to meet Marshal Murdock, a condescending bureaucrat in charge of overseeing the project. Rambo is temporarily reinstated into the army and told that he is only to photograph, not rescue the prisoners or engage enemy personnel.
First Blood (1982)
, 1h30Directed by Ted Kotcheff
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Thriller, Action, Adventure
Themes Politique, Transport films, Films about automobiles, Political films, Road movies, Chase films
Actors Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy, Bill McKinney, David Caruso, Jack Starrett
Rating76%
John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is a Vietnam War veteran. In December 1981, seven years after he was discharged, he travels by foot to visit one of his old comrades, only to learn upon his arrival that his friend had died from cancer due to Agent Orange exposure during the war.