Saturday 31 December 2011

MSM - vol IV - Remagen Bridge

What's so special about this film, " The Bridge at Remagen ". A sympathetic filming of war, is presented - for both sides. Robert Vaughn as the noble German colonel who must blow the Bridge at Remagen to a) prevent an easy crossing of the Rhine by the rapidly advancing Allied Armour Corps b) to trap 200,000 German troops fighting the Allies east of the bridge. Given too few troops and inferior dynamite ( I don't know but its not the best stuff for the job )Vaughn struggles to maintain his righteous view of Germany and the war effort ( but its hard ).

Racing up front for the U.S. is George Segal ( captain ) prodded by Bradford Dillman ( colonel ) who is trying to impress E.G. Marshall ( the general ). Segal is instructed to cut off the German troops by blowing the bridge, gets there AND then wow ! lets hold the bridge cuz we can use it the reach German soil fast. Peter Falk gets to be a scrounging, black market Sgt who is cynical and pretty much cold blooded ( fairly atypical for Mr Columbo hisself ).
Oh, the good guys win !

No comments:

Post a Comment