davidgarnes Review of The Bridges at Toko-Ri

The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954)

Gripping aerial, sea, and terrain war footage; somewhat flat otherwise

[7/10 · 10 January 2015]

This is a beautifully photographed and edited (in the action scenes) Korean war drama that comes to life in the last half hour or so of the film. It does tackle the complex issues of war in terms of the meaning of it all and the questions of the seeming unfairness concerning those who find themselves, through circumstance and duty, in the middle of hellish situations not of their own making. William Holden is his usual engaging, capable self as the central character, a veteran who finds himself called up again into this post-WWII conflict; Frederic March is authoritative as the duty-bound but somewhat conflicted commander; and Mickey Rooney manages to tone it down--a bit--as a temperamental, funny helicopter pilot. Grace Kelly, in a smallish role, articulates her lines but, to this viewer, never makes me think she is anyone but Grace Kelly dressed in stylish Edith Head 50s clothes. Kelly fans may differ. See this for Holden and March and, especially, for the truly stunning scenes of aircraft carriers and jets in action. Those are memorable.