This film is about fear and the potential loss of life, liberty and family. The hero just happens to be a Navy Pilot during the Korean War. Michner, the author did not write this book as an anti-war film. Some of his latter books were, but this was not anti-war. If you read the book, which I suggest, you might agree with me.
High Noon is not a Western. It is a story set in the West, but doing the right thing, even at the cost of your life is what made that movie an icon. So too is Bridges. Lt. Brubacher is like many men who are called to duty. They would rather stay at home, keep their careers and stay close to their family. The doubts about giving up your personal life for your country is the core of the drama. That is what makes this movie almost as good as High Noon.
The bad things about this movie is the "action". Lt. Brubaker, played by William Holden is a Navy fighter pilot. Fighter planes are designed to fight enemy aircraft and support ground troops. The first generation jet aircraft such as the ones Holden flew did not carry bombs. Some did carry rockets, but they would not be used to take out concrete bridges. Bombers like the B-29 and B-25 would have been used for such a mission. Only they had the capacity to destroy bridges made of reinforced concrete, and they would usually require numerous hits.
So the whole military action scenes are fictional, as well as poorly done. The actual flying and landing scenes are terrific. The sights and sounds on launch and recovery are great because they are authentic. So are the ditching scenes which if not from actual combat, were probably from real training films about how to ditch.
As for Holden's character, he is real enough. If he had been married to a frump, what was at stake would not have been as great. But to lose someone like Grace Kelly makes his sacrifice even greater.
The cost and sacrifice of men at war has nothing to do with whether the cause is right or just. Those phrases are for the recruiters. Once you are in uniform, they are meaningless. Your allegiance switches from flag and country to you and your buddies. Whether in a fox hole, or in the sky, it doesn't matter what side you are on. The enemy is on the other side of the hill or coming at you from above. The loss of life is part of the horror of war, regardless of whether its justified or not.
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