The Bridges at Toko-Ri

Rating:
Summary: An Anti-War Film
Review: THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI gives a very realistic account of fighting during the Korean War. The movie also repeatedly raises questions about the futility of war. Most of those questions are asked by Lieutenant Harry Brubaker, a navy reserve pilot called back to duty from his job as a lawyer in civilian life.

Brubaker is played by William Holden in one of his most unforgettable roles. Grace Kelly as Brubaker's wife has a minor but important part. The supporting cast of Fredric March, Mickey Rooney, Robert Strauss and Earl Holliman is superb.

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Summary: No Propaganda Cliches Here
Review: The Bridges at Toko-Ri is a simple, yet powerfully told story of Navy pilot William Holden, really a lawyer and father of two daughters, questioning his role and purpose during the Korean War. Having narrowly escaped two brushes with danger, he finds himself being sent on a mission he fears may be his last. Holden is quietly excellent in this role, thoughtfully playing the real man behind the hero. I was somewhat surprised by the film's questioning of the war, having assumed that a film made during the Korean War would feature the usual flag waving cliches. I enjoyed the film's honesty, the realistic depiction of the attitudes of its characters, and I especially enjoyed the flight sequences, well filmed and exciting. It's a terrific, mature depiction of war.

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Summary: Of Individual Sacrifice and Courage
Review: The Korean War is the setting for "The Bridges At Toko-Ri," a story of individual sacrifice and the high cost of freedom, from director Mark Robson. Navy fighter-pilot Harry Brubaker (William Holden), a veteran of World War II, is called to serve again when the conflict in Korea escalates, which takes him away from his wife, Nancy (Grace Kelly), two young children and a successful law practice. When his plane goes down after a mission, into the sea just short of the carrier, he survives; but he bitterly questions the fairness of what he has been asked to do, while everyone back home is able to go on with the routine of their lives, uninterrupted. Rear Admiral George Tarrant (Fredric March), a man who has had his own share of personal tragedy (he looks upon Brubaker as the son he has lost to the war, himself), tells Brubaker it's a matter of distance; we do this because we're here; back home they're only doing just as you would be doing if you were there. When Brubaker is granted shore leave, strings are pulled, and arrangements are made for Nancy and the children to join him; a brief respite, after which he must return to face his most formidable challenge yet, flying against the bridges that span the canyons at Toko-Ri. Very probably a suicide mission, it is nevertheless believed that knocking out these particular bridges could bring about a turning point in the war, and Lieutenant Brubaker is called upon once again to play a pivotal roll in deciding the outcome. An excellent supporting cast ably brings to life the characters that infuse this drama with humanity. Mickey Rooney is unforgettable as Mike Forney, the fighting, Irish helicopter pilot who fishes Brubaker out of the sea when his plane crashes. Memorable as well are Earl Holliman (Nestor Gamidge, Forney's partner), Robert Strauss (Beer Barrel), Charles McGraw (Commander Wayne Lee), Keiko Awaji (Kimiko) and Willis bouchey (Captain Evans). An excellent precursor to the more recent "Saving Private Ryan," and "U-571," "The Bridges At Toko-Ri" is an intimate study of individual courage and responsibility, and of the moral fortitude of which man is capable in times of crisis. There is a finality to the climax of this film that underscores the intense personal aspects of the larger conflict, and of the price demanded by certain individuals chosen to fulfill a seemingly random destiny. At the end of the movie, Admiral Tarrant sums it up succinctly when he ponders aloud: "Where do we get such men?" To which we can only answer: Where, indeed.

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Summary: A reluctant vetran is called back to fly combat in Korea
Review: This is a spectacular cast with a good story about a war that is largely forgotten today. William Holden flies from his carrier against the feared bridges despite his fears and misgivings. Holden is effective in conveying that his charater, Brubaker, doubts his chances for survival, especially when crounching in a mud filled trench awaiting for rescue by Mickey Rooney a second time. The first happened after ditching at sea when his jet's engine failed. Grace Kelley provides another reason for his hatred for the war and how it is disrupting his family life and legal practice in Denver. Earlier in the film Federick March reminds him that US Forces in Korea are the point of the spear providing security to the folks at home during the Cold War--now hotter. Mikey Rooney asks Holden when he too crashes in a rescue attempt, "Why us." Holden replies, "because we are here." As the film ends, March wonders where do we get such men.

This has well done flying scenes, excellent special effects, and a distinct but muted anti-war message. Adults will especially enjoy the maturity of the scipt. See it.

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Summary: The best !
Review: This is without a doubt, the best film of the Korean war from a naval aviation perspective. The color film is outstanding, the footage of Panthers (F9F's) operating from the straight deck of the old Oriskany is unmatched.

Bill Holden stars as a fighter pilot recalled to active duty from his civilian life. Also stars Princess Grace, in her pre-princess days, and F9F panther jets, one of the most beautiful jet planes ever produced.

Mickey Rooney appears as an enlisted helicopter rescue pilot.

Buy it!, enjoy it!

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Summary: Absolutely realistic
Review: This movie is by far the most realistic movie about air warfare EVER made. As the son of a navy photographer aboard the USS Princeton (CVA-37) during the Korean War, every scene is true to life. From the recovery of aircraft at the beginning of the movie to the RESCAP (REScue Combat Air Patrol) operations towards the end, all elements are just as they really were. There is no unnecessary dialog between the pilots during their recon mission or their actual assault on the bridges. Even the approach to the primary target (perpendicular to the bridges) is accurate. MODEX (the aircraft numbers on front of the jets)indentification was use by all pilots (1-1-0, from 2-0-9'er, where are you?) and is still in use by the Navy to this day. The CAG flew aircraft 00 which IS the aircraft assigned to him. Fear and frustration show on the pilots faces as they wage a war they know will lead to nowhere, but do the job "because we're here". Again, the most realistic war movie ever made. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely realistic
Review: This movie was released in 1954, and it is based on the James Michener novel. It is the story of a Navy reservist pilot who was called up to action during the Korean War. The movie explores his feelings of leaving behind his law practice, wife, and two daughters to fight in the war.

This is not the typical war movie with lots of action footage. In terms of war action, there is the run by the bridges to take pictures, and then there is the run to destroy the bridges and the attack by the communist forces. Other than, the action includes picking up a downed pilot and landing on an aircraft carrier.

This does not mean this is bad movie. This was a movie that draws attention to the dedicated pilots who give up the comfort of home to fight for their country. Listening to the admiral talk of this, you will think this may be a recruiting film.

I would recommend seeing this film.

Rating:
Summary: Almost a recruiting film
Review: This movie was released in 1954, and it is based on the James Michener novel. It is the story of a Navy reservist pilot who was called up to action during the Korean War. The movie explores his feelings of leaving behind his law practice, wife, and two daughters to fight in the war.

This is not the typical war movie with lots of action footage. In terms of war action, there is the run by the bridges to take pictures, and then there is the run to destroy the bridges and the attack by the communist forces. Other than, the action includes picking up a downed pilot and landing on an aircraft carrier.

This does not mean this is bad movie. This was a movie that draws attention to the dedicated pilots who give up the comfort of home to fight for their country. Listening to the admiral talk of this, you will think this may be a recruiting film.

I would recommend seeing this film.

Rating:
Summary: An Anti-War classic, as brave as its characters.
Review: While opposition to the Korean War was rampant in 1954, it was nowhere near as vocal or violent as protests in the Vietnam era. 1954 was still the age of Joe McCarthy; criticism of government policy was considered subversive (and still is). Imagine this film being released today, but with Iraq instead of Korea as its background. This movie is all the more amazing, then, on several counts. The script is a good adaptation of the original novel by James Michener, who based it on actual events (just as many of the heros in "Tales of the South Pacific" were also based on real people). But this movie was made by artists, not by militants armed only with a one-sided axe to grind. It's a technically poetic homage to courage and sacrifice, and to the futility that war makes of heroism. The respect Michener gave to fighting men and women is obvious in the book and the movie -- and so is the underlying theme, unspoken and understated, of war as waste. That said, it's also remarkable that the combat scenes were filmed in '54 -- no computers, no fancy optics of today. Amazingly, director Mark Robson used models (yes!) for many sequences, and perfected special effects he'd later use in "Von Ryan's Express". Even as you watch the combat scenes, you're utterly convinced that it's 100% authentic newsreel footage. On technical and performance merits alone, "Bridges" rates 5 stars. Philosophically it gets a little muddled, but the overall effect by the time the movie ends is unforgettable. Technically, I don't think any combat film equalled it until Spielberg (combat aircraft fans will be mezmerized by action shots of planes that have all but disappeared today), while intellectually it's a match for the earlier "Story of G.I. Joe". Both films manage to glorify courage and dedication without over-glorifying war -- a feat in itself. The DVD transfer isn't perfect (apparently the original negs were unavailable), but the Technicolor is dazzling, the original mono sound is clean and, when needed, powerful. The chemistry between Holden and Kelly is all too obvious (they developed an affair during the filming). Performances from Paramount's regulars are right-on. Sadly, there are no DVD extras except a trailer - a major omission for a film of this stature. Astonishing in its day, it still packs a wallop. This film was released while the Korean War still raged -- the war, in fact, never ended. There is no winner, no surrender, only a 1954 truce, still in effect today at the 38th Parallel.