The Bridge at Remagen
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Movie Reviews of The Bridge at Remagen
Movie Review: The Bridge at Remagen
Summary: 5 Stars
we looked all over the place for this movie and found it on your site, excellent movie. enjoyed it very much.Movie Review: Factual Account with Fictional Characters
Summary: 4 Stars
David L. Wolper's 1969 THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN closely follows Ken Hechler's best selling account of the American capture of the Ludendorff rail bridge over the Rhine River. The facts and events occurring in the movie are largely factual with actors George Segal, Robert Vaughn and Ben Gazzara adding some fictional depth to the original participants. In fact, the actual names of the real-life combat participants were changed for this film.
March 1945. The German Reich is collapsing. With its forces spread too thinly to hold back the Western Allies the Germans count on the wide Rhine River to bar the allied advance. All the Rhine bridges, but one, have been destroyed. German Major Paul Krueger accepts command of the Remagen Bridge forces. His immediate superior, General von Brock, has a hidden agenda in assigning the bridge defense to Krueger. On the surface he entrusts Krueger with the mission of defending the bridge long enough for a stranded German army group to escape across the bridge. However, he also seems to entertain the idea that allowing the intact bridge to fall into American hands as a "brilliant plan," though his motives are left ambiguous in the film.
Opposing Krueger is American Lieutenant Phil Hartman. Hartman is the platoon leader of an armored reconnaissance platoon -- and later company commander when his captain is killed by German fire. Hartman's glory-seeking battalion commander volunteers his exhausted unit for the drive to Remagen. Meanwhile a disappointed Krueger arrives at Remagen discovering that the actual defense forces are a pitiful fraction of what was promised. The situation is further aggravated by the tardy arrival of substandard demolition charges that arrive just as the Americans force their way through the town. The Germans are able to detonate the charges, but the damage is insufficient to destroy the bridge. Hartman and a squad of men seize the east bank of the bridge and maintain a tenuous hold until reinforcements arrive. At that point Major Krueger sets off on a hopeless mission to gather counter-attack forces. Unfortunately for Krueger he is arrested, tried, and executed for allowing the bridge to fall intact to the Americans.
The latter part of the 1960's and very early 1970's were the golden years for war movies. In those years films like PATTON, TORA,TORA,TORA, M*A*S*H, CATCH 22, THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN and KELLY'S HEROES (To name a few) made names for themselves at box offices. Producer David Wolper, known for the historical accuracy constraints of his productions, undertook THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN. The Rhine crossing operations were the next logical big screen production. THE LONGEST DAY took care of D-Day. Ken Annakin's 1965 production of THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE had taken on the Ardennes Offensive. The breaching of the Reich's last natural obstacle to the western allies was a logical choice.
Teams searched throughout Europe for a site that closely resembled the Remagen terrain. In the end they located a bridge over the Vltava River at Davle, south of Prague, in what was then Czechoslovakia. Two sets of prop towers were added to each end of the bridge giving it the appearance of a narrow version of the Ludendorff Bridge. The production team even blasted a shallow tunnel out of the hill on the east bank of the Vltava to replicate the entrance to the Erpeler Ley rail tunnel. Additionally, the REMAGEN production team was fortunate in that they were able to film in an evacuated section of the Czech village of Most. Most, which is northwest of Prague in the old Sudeten region, was slated for partial destruction in order to accommodate strip mining of soft coal. Portions of the town were intentionally demolished during the filming thus serving the film's purpose.
Czech arsenals were full of German weapons and uniforms -- most carefully preserved in the event of a "next" war. Indeed the Czechs still had at their disposal their own version of the German Sdkfz 251 half-track in the form of the almost identical Czech OT-810. Everything seemed to be going the right way for Wolper Productions.
Serious filming began in 1968, but was not completed before the Warsaw Pact's 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia. The cast and crew were forced to convoy out of Czechoslovakia leaving the majority of their props, weapons, uniforms and extras behind. Fortunately the production team was able to complete filming in Italy with the result that there is hardly any noticeable continuity break in the film.
In general the film is historically correct regarding the main events surrounding the taking of the Ludendorff Bridge. Fictional characters and dialogue aside there are three minor historical errors. Early in the film Major Krueger reviews a map mentions to General von Brock that the Russians are at the Elbe River. In reality the Red Army was at the Oder River. General von Brock emphasizes the need to keep the bridge open to facilitate the withdrawal of the German 15th Army. True as Remagen was in the southern end of the 15th Army's sector, but the German 7th Army was the main force that was about to be cut off in the Eifel and stranded on the west bank if the bridge was lost. Finally the Gestapo and SS security forces are dressed in their pre-war black uniforms. In wartime uniformed Gestapo and SS wore field gray. WHERE EAGLES DARE boasts a similar faux pas.
Look for some other familiar faces in THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN such as war film veterans Peter van Ecke (THE LONGEST DAY, ATTACK), Hans Christian Blech (THE LONGEST DAY, THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE), and E.G. Marshall (CHRISTMAS VACATION). The soundtrack was composed by Elmer Bernstein (THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, THE GREAT ESCAPE)and is superbly suited for the movie. As war films go, this is one of the better movies about the last months of World War II in Europe.
Movie Review: Great Movie Gets an acceptable DVD Release
Summary: 4 Stars
CONCERNING THE DVD:
In 2000 this title was released on DVD by MGM. While it was a big step up from the earlier VHS releases (some of which were manufactured in the early 1990s and still circulating on store shelves when I bought this DVD), it is still sub-par in quality to today's (2006) DVDs. The film is in the correct aspect ratio of 2.35:1 but is not enhanced for 16x9 TVs. The colors are accurate but aren't very vibrant. The 2.0 Mono mix is serviceable but lacks range and dimensionality. The disc contains mono soundtracks in French and Spanish, both of which have a hiss and were obviously dubbed. It sounds like the actors are speaking into microphones. The theatrical trailer looks okay and the package contains a nice booklet with trivia about the making of the movie. I would hope this gets re-released at some point with even more attention paid to the transfer and maybe a re-mixed soundtrack. Until then, this disc is fine. Compared to the public domain titles floating around, this is beautiful.
CONCERNING THE FILM (from my website, www.angelfire.com/film/eurowar)
American director John Guillermin, known for several epic "clunkers", pulls together this rather tense look at one of the most important battles of World War II: American forces clash with the Germans at Remagen, where the last intact bridge over the Rhine stands between the two opposing forces.
The script divides attention evenly and fairly between the two forces. George Segal ("The Longest Day") is Lt. Hartman, a burned out and pretty tired junior officer who doesn't want to accept the responsibilities of command when his company commander is killed. The war is almost over, and Hartman is concerned with getting his men home. On the other side of the river, German Major Kreuger (Robert Vaughn) is equally concerned with saving lives - German lives. He becomes obsessed with keeping the bridge intact in order to allow retreating German soldiers to attack, despite orders from the High Command to blow up the bridge to prevent its' capture by the Allies.
The supporting cast is filled with fine performances. The standouts are Hans Christian Blech ("Battle of the Bulge") as Captain Schmidt, a weary Wehrmacht Officer who feels his duty is to protect the civilians whom Kreuger puts in harm's way by continuing a hopeless fight. Blech's acting ability ranges from quiet humility to occasional fits of rage, bringing a dimensionality to a role not commonly found in war epics. Joachim Hansen ("Breakthrough") disagrees with Schmidt; he is devoted to the High Command and wants a battle with the Americans more than anything. Both actors bring passion to their roles and make these very believable wartime officers, not simply normal caricatures and stereotypes.
Guillermin takes these characters and puts them in intense combat situations, making their humanity all the more believable. The best battle scene in the film has a platoon of American soldiers advancing onto the bridge under a smokescreen, but while they are in the open, the smoke begins to clear giving the Germans a clear field of fire. As some men are shot in the open, others move underneath the bridge to try and rip off as many explosives as they can before the Germans can ignite a secondary fuse to blow up the bridge.
In the aftermath of battle scenes like this, the human drama unfolds. Sgt. Angelo (Ben Gazzara, "Fireball Forward") is a tough GI who loots the bodies of the dead and sees the war around him as a chance to get rich and take the wealth home when it's all over. But when he must shoot a Hitler Youth member who is sniping at his men, then weeps when he realizes he has shot a mere pre-teenage boy. During a lull in the siege on the bridge, Hartman faces off with Maj. Barnes (Bradford Dillman), who wants him to take his men onto the bridge and capture it despite enemy fire and the threat of the bridge's imminent destruction. Hartman argues that he cannot risk the lives of his men; Barnes states that it will help to end the war faster is the bridge is captured, thus saving more lives in the end. It's a tough choice to make, and both decisions have their drawbacks.
The performances are complimented by three crucial technical elements: scoring, scenery and cinematography. Elmer Bernstein provides a sweeping score which resounds with the troops when they are victorious, yet mourns and seems to cry during some heart-wrenching scenes, such as an important scene between Angelo, Hartman and Schmidt at the film's conclusion. The Czech locations look magnificent - the film looks and feels real because it was lensed in Europe, in a location which passes for Germany perfectly. The cobblestones streets, rustic villages, rolling hills and clear rivers look amazing. Finally, Stanley Cortez's cinematography is fantastic; the composition of every shot looks well-planned and detailed. There is action going on in the background and foreground most of the time. The focus is not just on the main characters, but as in real life, there is stuff going on around them. Scenes of the battle on the bridge are standouts, as the action is captured from every possible angle, it's very clear what's going on and who is where at all times.
"The Bridge at Remagen" is a fine World War II film which succeeds in showing history, American patriotism and the horrors of war at the same time. It will leave you feeling glad that the Allies won the war and agonized over the great cost of such small gains. But when you realize how much a "small" gain really matters in the big picture, it won't seem as small anymore.
Movie Review: Action scenes combined with anti-war slant....
Summary: 4 Stars
I went into the epic WWII adventure "The Bridge at Remagen" with no preconceived notions. What a great surprise it was! Filmed in 1969 and based on a true story, the film is an example of a genre caught between two eras. It does not suffer for it.
For those raised on "The Devil's Brigade," "The Dirty Dozen" and "Kelly's Heroes," you're in for a surprise. "The Bridge at Remagen" combines genres, giving us superb action sequences combined with an anti-war slant. The film also attempts to show WWII from the viewpoint of the Germans. This had really not been done before, and perhaps was a precursor to Sam Peckinpah's fierce anti-war epic detailing the German/Russian front "Cross of Iron." In "The Bridge at Remagen," each side is human, attempting to follow ludicrous orders for the sake of political victory.
Simply put, the bridge at Remagen is the final structure connecting Europe with Germany. During the waning days of the war, German soldiers are frantically crossing the bridge to get home. Hitler wants it destroyed to keep Allied forces out, but a few military leaders postpone the order to save soldiers' lives. Meanwhile, American forces are closing in and they attempt to destroy the bridge to trap German forces. Once there however, American generals decide to capture the bridge so Allied forces can swarm in to Germany. Thus, there's a moral quandary on both sides as to whether or not the bridge should be destroyed.
This is great stuff, and we are introduced to the first American troop arriving on the scene, led by a grizzled George Segal. I know, Segal is known for comedies and playing the ukulele on the Johnny Carson show, but he gives one of the finest performances of his career. He's burned out, cynical and pissed off. He forms a bond within his troop with Ben Gazzara, a spirited street tough who steals rings and watches from dead soldiers. But Gazzara's dependable, and together they are forced to take the bridge before it's destroyed. Robert Vaughn is also terrific as the German officer attempting to save the bridge for retreating comrades.
There is a genuine attempt in this film, similar to such later works as "Band of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan," to detail the futility of war and the life of the dog soldier. Never for a moment is "The Bridge at Remagen" heavy-handed, and you even have a surprise resurrection of an important character. In addition to the interesting story, the film has a notable supporting cast including E.G. Marshall, Bradford Dillman and Bo Hopkins. The location photography in Europe and the musical score by the great Elmer Bernstein are also superb.
"The Bridge at Remagen" is not only a fine action film, but an early attempt at portraying the harsh realities of WW II. It's an undiscovered gem.
Movie Review: Invading the Reich!
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this movie on DVD and I am glad I did. The Keep case is full of all sorts of cool info. This film was shot on location in Czechoslovakia in 1968, while being filmed the USSR invaded the country, MIGs buzzed the set and the Russians claimed that American spys were among the cast and crew. If you have ever seen photos or film of the bridge at Remagen you will be stunned to see how close the filming location looks to the real site. The setting is March 1945, the American Army is desperately trying to capture a Rhine crossing, that was true. The film slightly modifies history by showing the Americans as wanting to blow up the Ludendorf railway bridge at Remagen to trap a retreating German army, that is not how things happened in reality but this little bit of "Hollywood history" does not detract from the movie. The German attempt to demolish the bridge fails, that also is true. I wish the film had covered some of the unique measures taken by the Germans to destroy the bridge such as the use of frogmen/commandos carrying high explosives disguised to look like flows of logs, the attacks by Luftwaffe Arado Blitz bombers, and the firing of several V2 missiles, all of which failed. While the fate of the German commander is accurate, it is a little embelished. The uniforms, weapons and acting are all top notch, it would have been nice if they had Sherman tanks but that is a small detail. The fighting/action scences (and there are alot of them) are outstanding, small arms firefights in the countryside, in the villages and finally on the bridge, there is even a hitler youth kamakazi! The roving SS execution squads and the Volkstrum portrayals are (from everything I have read) accurate. Segal does a good job playing an exhuasted squad leader who keeps seeing his men blown away in an attempt to reach a bridge which both sides want to (thats the Holloywood version anyway) destroy. There is one short makeout scene in which breasts are flashed (nice ones too!) but this is truly a war movie, there is as you'd expect alot of violence. Ben Gazara is cast well as a bitter NCO in the squad. I think the finest acting is Robert Vaughn as German Major Krueger. The pyrotechnics will (no pun intended) blow you away, they blew some s**t up making this film! The movie does not show this but several days after it's capture the bridge finally collapsed taking over 2 dozen American with it. I would have given this film 5 stars except for the music, there is alot of that typical 1960's Hogans Hero's sounding music which really detracts from the power and realism in this film. This is a great flick, if you like action, fighting and explosions this is the ticket.