A World War II vet who has been practicing law back in the States, Brubaker resents that he was called back to duty (while active Reservists weren’t) for a war no one cares about. Admiral Tarrant counters, saying wars are fought by men that wish they weren’t involved and that this one is vital to stop Communist aggression. Meanwhile, Harry’s wife Nancy (Grace Kelly) and their young daughters are waiting to share his two days’ leave in Japan. However, when Mike Forney is arrested for fighting over a Japanese woman, Brubaker rushes to bail him out of the brig. Nancy is understandably concerned, but Harry doesn’t discuss the most dangerous aspects of his work.
Back aboard the carrier, Flight Commander Wayne Lee (Charles McGraw) tells Brubaker about an upcoming raid on the Toko-Ri bridges. With his ‘good luck charms Forney and his assistant Nestor transferred to another carrier, Harry’s dread concerning the mission grows. Given his premonitions of death, Commander Lee reminds him that he can get out of flying the mission. But Harry doesn’t see that as an option.
The Bridges at Toko-Ri must have been a shock to movie goers of the 1950’s. in previous war dramas, the main characters were heroes who escaped battle without a scratch. More importantly perhaps, the hero never doubts the necessity of the war. Toko-Ri dares to question every aspect of the war, offering a realistic portrait of the dangers of war. Though Grace Kelly’s performance is relatively brief, her portrayal of a wife’s concern for her husband is believable. As honorable as he is, Admiral Tarrant’s arguments for the war don’t necessarily hold water, but his sense of duty is worthy.
This new release from Kino Lorber looks and sounds great. This is a worthy addition to any Blu-ray collection. It marks a significant improvement from previous DVD editions.
The extras are as follows:
- NEW! Audio Commentary by Filmmaker/Historian Steve Mitchell and Combat Films: American Realism Author Steven Jay Rubin
- Theatrical Trailer
