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The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954) More at IMDbPro »

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36 out of 39 people found the following comment useful :-
A meritorious tribute to the heroism of the Jet-Bomber pilots..., 5 December 1999

Author: ironside (robertfrangie@hotmail.com) from Mexico

The mission is clear and straight: to destroy completely the vital Korean bridges at Toko-Ri in order to frustrate enemy actions...

The film is a competent work and meritorious tribute to the heroism of the Jet-Bomber pilots (William Holden and Charles McGraw) and the extreme courage of the helicopter rescue service (Mickey Rooney and Earl Holliman).

'Where do we get such men,' affirms Rear Admiral George Tarran from the bridge of the aircraft carrier, and he was right!

The film exposes a close observation of the men's minds, their attitudes, their families, the tragedy of war, and the fascinating danger of the Jet-Bombers take-off and landing...

Charles G. Clarke's aerial photography in color of the Jet planes is simply spectacular...

Fredric March as the Admiral is staunch and human, and William Holden perfect as the American soldier fighting man... Grace Kelly flourished with her beauty the splendor of the picture...

Based on James E. Michener's novel, this ambitious action thriller is a cut above the usual war tragedy with impressive statements to make about war, death and politics...

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28 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :-
Superb film, 22 March 2005

Author: DrHypersonic from United States

This is a truly superb film on any number of grounds. First, and generally unknown, it is based on a real incident, the so called "Battle of Carlson's Canyon" which was waged early in the Korean War in an attempt to interdict North Korean supplies on their way to the front. James Michener had gone out to the carrier ESSEX (CV-9) and had been very impressed with the men of VF-172, a Banshee fighter squadron. The book is astonishingly realistic...if one compares what he wrote as a novel with the contemporary Navy strike reports (which were then highly classified), it is amazing how much he got "right." It is also a good look at carrier aviation in the last days of the "straight-deck" carrier with hydraulic catapults and a paddle-waving landing deck officer...all that disappeared after Korea with the introduction of the angled deck, the steam catapult, and the Fresnel-lens mirror landing system. The book is in my view the finest air war novel ever written, bar none, and the movie is the same for the film genre. Incidentally, when made into a film, Grumman Panthers were used in place of Banshees, and one of the pilots who flew in the making of the film was a very young Lt. j.g. named Alan Shepherd--later one of the Mercury and Apollo astronauts. Not to be missed!!!

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20 out of 24 people found the following comment useful :-
The Few For The Many, 15 September 2000

Author: jhclues from Salem, Oregon

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. I rate this one 9/10.

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22 out of 31 people found the following comment useful :-
An excellent movie on Naval Aviation., 5 May 2005

Author: Beldar-3 from Philadelphia, Pa.

I served with Task Force 77 in November 1952 on a destroyer running anti-submarine and mine detection for those floating "bird farms". I also put in 30 years working with Naval Aviation logistics; this movie is an excellent look at carrier operations in the jet age. I recommend it to all who are interested in aviation, especially naval aviation. The one thing not depicted is the problems experienced by the destroyers in heavy weather as the carriers turned into the wind and out of the wind during flight operations, especially during chow times. This could probably be shown in a separate movie, but I still have vivid memories of my ship diving into the sea and the foam combing over the flying bridge and down both sides of my ship. Trying to log sack time during these times was also an experience unto itself. Incidentally we did lose on fly boy as a result of his ditching. We were told that exposure of more than 5 minutes in those waters could prove fatal, and this guy's case it was so. Not a happy time.

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16 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
Ted Williams must have appreciated this film, 27 April 2006

Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

The famous Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer, Ted Williams, must have had a grimly ironic appreciation of The Bridges at Toko-Ri when this film came out. After serving in the Marines in World War II, Williams was called back to the Marines for the Korean War and for the better part of two years flew the jets that you see Bill Holden flying here in the Navy.

Just as the Korean War interrupted one of the best baseball careers of the last century in real life, in this film William Holden is recalled from a thriving law practice in Denver, Colorado, not to mention from his lovely wife Grace Kelly and their two children. He flies carrier based jets bombing targets in the Korean War wondering like Ted Williams what he did in life to get called for two wars.

A few years earlier Warner Brothers did a fine film called Task Force which depicted the history of naval aviation through the eyes of its protagonist, Gary Cooper. The history went as far as the end of World War II and we were still flying propeller planes.

Maybe today's viewer can identify with a film like Top Gun where the skills are now a learned routine. But the Korean War was the first fought with jet aircraft and pilots had to really learn and develop new skills to take off and land on an aircraft at supersonic speed. Everyone, even the Russians, were all new at this in 1950 when the Korean War started.

Some critics have said Grace Kelly was wasted in this part, basically doing a role June Allyson perfected. Actually if you pay close attention, she's not terribly different from her role as housewife and mother in The Country Girl where she got her Oscar. She's just married to someone different is all. She has a very effective scene with her husband's commander Admiral Fredric March when she flies to Japan to be with Holden, taking along their two children.

My favorite in this film however is Mickey Rooney. He plays a helicopter rescue pilot and we first meet him and his co-pilot Earl Holliman rescuing Holden from the deep blue sea. Rooney is an irreverent sort, on duty with a green scarf and green top hat, looking like one of the little craitures from Ireland. Quick to brawl, but a real friend when you need one, I love his philosophy that you can say anything to officers as long as you put a sir on the end of it. There weren't going to be too many promotions in his future.

The Bridges at Toko-Ri is filled with a lot of Cold War nostrums and dated in that respect for today's audience. But it is a great tribute to those jet pilots, the crews that supported them, and the families that loved them, trying out those new skills in a brand new kind of war.

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15 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
A Bit Tedious Until Final Half Hour, 11 December 2006

Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

The last half hour of this war movie was very good as William Holden and others bomb bridges, the ones in the film is named. Holden is then forced to ditch his plane after being hit and then he and rescuers Mickey Rooney (yes, you read right) and Earl Holiman shoot it out with the Koreans.

Those scenes - and the shocking ending which I won't mention - are the highlights of this film.

Unfortunately, most of the movie - especially the first half of it, is somewhat boring. Very little happens. However, it certainly picked up at the end and had that memorable ending. This is one of the few movies that involved the Korean War. You just don't see many movies about that conflict.

Note: Grace Kelly gets good billing but does not have much of a role.

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12 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
Highly Recommended A tale needing to be told, 11 December 2004

Author: rjkennedy7 from Vancouver Island, Canada

I can't say enough good about this movie.It was made for its time. The public needed to be shown what it meant to be part of the military. What could be squandered without realizing how quickly one could lose that which was so prized. There is always a price to be paid. Its not until the true value of ones life is realized will one come to fully value the life they have to live. This movie presents this realism to us. Its not always the perfect presentation. But, then again what is in the real world. I would suggest however, that one reads Micheners' Book, The Bridges at Toko-Rio, before seeing the movie. More insight might be gained beforehand. The novel only adds to the movie. This movie was made when America was at its zenith in its place in the world. America stood alone as the first superpower. As yet unchallenged, but soon to be by the very nation whose personnel manned the planes, guns and radar stations seeking any incoming planes onto Korean airspace. Still, even though the hero dies in the doing, he still dies while doing something considered noble, worth dying for. Even the hero's wife, who agonizes over the whys and wherefores of her husband being part of something most of America has no idea is even happening. And, the hero is not even an enlisted man. He volunteered. He shouldn't even be there! Before seeing the movie, read the book. The movie was great.

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12 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
Great anti war film, 2 June 2004
Author: boston2step from England

I saw this film when first released as a 15 year old teenager and was impressed by James A Michenor's ability to get across the futility of the Korean conflict. William Holden as the embittered "why me again" pilot used his considerable acting skills to get the message across. I thought Frederic March & Mickey Rooney were very effective in their roles as well. The courage of of the military who risk their lives to maintain our freedom of speech and action is well amplified in this film. The flying scenes were also brilliantly portrayed with great skill by the camera men. Unfortunately they do not make films like this anymore

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8 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
War is Brutal--Heroes they all are., 29 December 1998
Author: pariquix from Ontario, Canada

This is an exceptional picture, which clearly depicts the personal difficulties, particularly which Fighter Pilots must endure in times of combat. Mr Holden and Grace Kelly give fine portrayals of the young married couple, who must overcome the obstacles of a dangerous mission--A certain bombing Raid ( mentioned in the title) As the left behind wife, Kelly does a wonderful job, showing empathy for her husband, concern for herself, etc, and Holden is equally compelling as a troubled aviator in a difficult situation--All in all a fine Movie--good performances all around. T(W) G.

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9 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
A rare Korean War film classic, 5 November 2002
Author: soranno from Las Vegas, Nevada

A couple of years before he made film history with "The Bridge On The River Kwai" William Holden starred in this rather little known Korean War drama, one of the first to be released shortly after the war. Not too many films about the Korean War get made and this is one of the best of a very few. Holden portrays a lawyer who is ordered by the Navy to do his part for the war in bombing missions. A better known cast including Grace Kelly, Fredric March, Mickey Rooney and Earl Holliman costars with Holden (besides Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins and Sessue Hayakawa, Holden's supporting cast in "The Bridge On The River Kwai" were mostly unknowns) so it's good for big star watchers and it's an overall great film but it won't reach the heights of Holden's later "Bridge" film.

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