The Bridges at Toko-Ri
by Mark Robson
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Fredric March, Grace Kelly, Mickey Rooney, Robert Strauss, William HoldenDirector: Mark Robson
Brand: Paramount
Cinematographer: Loyal Griggs
Editor: Alma Macrorie
Producer: George Seaton
Producer: William Perlberg
Writer: James Michener
Writer: Valentine Davies
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-05-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of The Bridges at Toko-Ri
Movie Review: As close to a naval operations documentary as a movie can get!
Summary: 5 Stars
This 1954 movie narrates the story of a few F-9F Panther fighter-bomber pilots of the USS CV-34 Oriskany who must fly a perilous mission against a network of train bridges in North Korean territory during the eponymous conflict. One of the main characters is a mature pilot who "was volunteered" for serving as pilot whereas he is married, has kids and a successful job as a lawyer back in the US. What he gains in maturity is lost to self-control, which leads him to his final demise. The story is thus simple. Although a few scenes do underline the fact that the main character has a full, rich private life, the movie's primarily about the hard life of sea-borne military aircraft pilots during the tough, unforgiving Korean conflict. In itself, the story would not award a 5-star rating to this movie.
However, in terms of documentary on rare aircraft operations, it is like a gold mine for any aviation enthusiast! The main workhorse is the Panther, which is used to conduct unescorted strike missions in support of ground troops deep in Korean territory. Beyond this aircraft, the beginning of the film is marred with footage of some exotic, rare aircraft types such as the Demon and Banshee. Another star of the movie is the Sikorsky H-5 Dragonfly. But most importantly, life onboard the USS Oriskany is faithfully -although certainly a little smoothened...- described with numerous breathtaking scenes of aircraft landing on the aircraft carrier's wooden bridge. Many details are flabbergasting, such as the physical proximity of landing aircraft to parked ones, or the crude danger of flying in the Panther without ejection seat (the type was too early for having been equipped with it), the limited number of available tools and data for preparing and conducting a mission, the little protection US Navy pilots had when attacking a heavily defended ground target etc.
For any military aviation enthusiast, for those seeking information on a rarely tackled war subject, this is a "must-see" movie that will come as a nice addition to any serious aviation movie collection
Summary of The Bridges at Toko-Ri
Recalled to duty a lawyer leaves his wife and goes to korea to bomb bridges for an admiral. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/23/2006 Starring: William Holden Fredric March Run time: 102 minutes Rating: Nr Director: Mark RobsonA powerful study of courage in the face of irrational odds, The Bridges at Toko-Ri (based on James Michener's novel) is no less patriotic than many other war films, but it dispenses with gung-ho bluster to focus instead on the very real and tragic consequences of war. This is also one of the first films to openly criticize the morality of the Korean War while praising the honor and integrity of the men who fought it. Lt. Harry Brubaker (William Holden) is one of those men, with one difference: A lawyer with a loving wife (Grace Kelly) and two young daughters, he's been recalled to duty from the Navy Reserve, and reluctantly accepts his mission to fly with a bomber-jet squadron over one of the Communists' most heavily protected targets--the strategically vital bridges in the Korean canyon of Toko-Ri.
Brubaker has his own noble protection, from his fellow pilots (including Charles McGraw in a fine supporting role), his admiring admiral (Frederic March), and from the helicopter scouts (Mickey Rooney and Earl Holliman) who've saved his life on previous missions. But his ambivalence--and his fear that the Toko-Ri mission will be his last--is what gives the film its potent emotional impact. Holden is perfect in his role, and director Mark Robson steadfastly avoids any false sentiment or macho theatrics that would diminish the film's devastating climax. The Bridges at Toko-Ri is also a superlative showcase for Naval operations; the aerial sequences earned an Oscar for special effects, and complete Navy cooperation assures total authenticity in the "flat-top" aircraft carrier scenes. For these and other reasons, this will remain a timeless classic for anyone seeking to comprehend the emotional maelstrom of warfare. --Jeff Shannon
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