MMG - Rate This Movie... The Bridges At Toko-Ri

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:23 am

Today's movie is The Bridges At Toko-Ri. Please vote in the poll and reply to this threads with your thoughts about the movie. What you loved... or hated about it. Thanks.

Tailspin Turtle · **Joined:** Sun Jul 08, 2007 10:11 am **Posts:** 102

Unquestionably one of the most accurate airplane movies ever made. The only significant false note was that the Panthers would have been used for flak suppression and Douglas AD Skyraiders would have done the heavy lifting required to drop the bridges. See my blog entry, http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2008/11/most-accurate-aviation-movie-ever.html, describing the fidelity accorded to CAG's barrier crash. Most of the photography appears to have been specifically done for the movie and the limited use of models was state-of-the-art at the time.

John Kerr · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:28 pm

One of, if not the Best Korean war movies made.

DC3R4DC47 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:34 am **Posts:** 115

simply outstanding !!!

The Inspector · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:07 pm

All the flying stuff was great, the peripheral shoreside family stuff was cranked out of a bland blender, the book was better all around.

CDF · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:51 pm

Five stars from me, one of the best IMO

Speedy · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:50 pm

Simply THE BEST movie ending that Hollywood has ever produced. For once it shows (just like in real war) that the good guys don't always ride off into the sunset the gallant victors.

Much greater impact than if Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett had rescued William Holden and they all flew home.

Xrayist · **Joined:** Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:51 am **Posts:** 313

I agree, a very accurate movie, and the downed pilot and rescuer actually ran out of ammunition and didn't have one of the famous Hollywood 72 shot six shooters.

P.S. Earl Holliman (sp?) and not Buddy Hackett that was with Mickey Rooney.

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:08 pm

Awesome film and fantastic flying sequences. The model work won an Academy Award to boot!

BTW, maybe Speedy wanted Mickey and Buddy to Rescue Holden with a Twin Beech...while flying through Communist billboards on the way to safety!!! :lol:

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:16 pm

What other Korean War movies? Mickey Rooney in a top hat, Sikorsky R-5's, Grumman products that fly like tanks? Great movie that a lot of other producers/directors should have learned from.

Woodsy Airfield · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:37 am

Excellent movie on an era where one doesn't see too many flicks as far as aviation goes. One of the neatest scenes is where the Carrier is steered into port by the AD's aboard...

Ken · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:06 am

Minimal models and maximum real footage. How I wish the next aviation movie would be made that way. An absolute classic.

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Fantastic movie!

the piece where Mickey Rooney is wearing the top hat and going between the two ships is still one of my favorites.

Great flight scenes and accurate aircraft in flight scenes.. rare these days!

WallyB · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:15 am

The Inspector wrote:

...the peripheral shoreside family stuff was cranked out of a bland blender...

And the reason I only give it 4

John Dupre · **Posted:** Sat Nov 12, 2011 6:29 am

A favorite, what great photography. I loved the Beerbarrel character too and can never recall the actor's name. I also like the resentment that Holden's retread character has. There was a lot of that in Korea. I was not unheard for a retread WW2 vet to simply ignore orders or procedures he didn't like, because he knew what worked and as if to dare the regulars to send him home. It probably led directly to the lack of full involvement of the reserves and National Guard in Vietnam which in turn caused its own problems.

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MMG - Rate This Movie... The Bridges At Toko-Ri

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