← Back to Reviews
in
The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954)
Director: Mark Robson
Writers: Valentine Davies (screenplay), James A. Michener (novel)
Cast: William Holden, Grace Kelly, Fredric March, Mickey Rooney
Genre: Drama, War
Set during the Korean War, William Holden is a U.S. Navy fighter pilot based on an aircraft carrier. He's unsure about the worthiness of the Korean War or why he's even there, but he keeps flying missions anyway, as it's his job.
His assignment is to bomb the enemy bridges in a narrow, heavily defended pass at Toko-Ri. His wife (Grace Kelly) is staying in Tokyo and during a visit there he tells her of his fear of the upcoming bombing mission, a mission he might not survive.
The Bridges At Toko-Ri is the best of the Korean War fighter pilot movies. And they made a lot of them during the 1950s. What makes this film so amazing is the actually scenes filmed on board the U.S. Naval aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. So much of the footage is real! I had to stop the DVD just to remind myself I was seeing real Naval ships, real F9F Panther jets, rescue missions in a real rescue helicopter, all done out at sea, not on a set. It's mind blowing that a huge amount of this movie is real, no CG here!
If that wasn't enough the on location filming in Tokyo and other parts of Japan is alone worth watching the film for.
But wait there's more....How about a very compelling and moving story about a man who's unsure about the necessity of the Korean War and fears being killed in combat. I was very surprised that the film took such a dim view of the Korean war and it was made right after that war.
William Holden is excellent here. He packs believably and a sense forlorn hopelessness about his role and why he's even in Korea fighting.
Fredrick March is the commander of the aircraft carrier and he too is excellent as he seemed more human than any other CO I've seen in war movies. Grace Kelly has a smaller role but is right at home among the other actors. All and all this wide screen Cinemascope movie based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by James Michener, is worth watching.
The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954)
Writers: Valentine Davies (screenplay), James A. Michener (novel)
Cast: William Holden, Grace Kelly, Fredric March, Mickey Rooney
Genre: Drama, War
Set during the Korean War, William Holden is a U.S. Navy fighter pilot based on an aircraft carrier. He's unsure about the worthiness of the Korean War or why he's even there, but he keeps flying missions anyway, as it's his job.
His assignment is to bomb the enemy bridges in a narrow, heavily defended pass at Toko-Ri. His wife (Grace Kelly) is staying in Tokyo and during a visit there he tells her of his fear of the upcoming bombing mission, a mission he might not survive.
The Bridges At Toko-Ri is the best of the Korean War fighter pilot movies. And they made a lot of them during the 1950s. What makes this film so amazing is the actually scenes filmed on board the U.S. Naval aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. So much of the footage is real! I had to stop the DVD just to remind myself I was seeing real Naval ships, real F9F Panther jets, rescue missions in a real rescue helicopter, all done out at sea, not on a set. It's mind blowing that a huge amount of this movie is real, no CG here!
If that wasn't enough the on location filming in Tokyo and other parts of Japan is alone worth watching the film for.
But wait there's more....How about a very compelling and moving story about a man who's unsure about the necessity of the Korean War and fears being killed in combat. I was very surprised that the film took such a dim view of the Korean war and it was made right after that war.
William Holden is excellent here. He packs believably and a sense forlorn hopelessness about his role and why he's even in Korea fighting.
Fredrick March is the commander of the aircraft carrier and he too is excellent as he seemed more human than any other CO I've seen in war movies. Grace Kelly has a smaller role but is right at home among the other actors. All and all this wide screen Cinemascope movie based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by James Michener, is worth watching.