The Bridges at Toko-Ri is proof that the Academy gives undeserved Oscars in every category, not just the well-known travesties. At the 1956 ceremony, Best Cinematography went to To Catch a Thief, a movie that spent most of its effort deciding what parts of Grace Kelly to show. The Bridges at Toko-Ri wasn't even nominated for Cinematography, Sound, or Director, all of which were very deserving. Director Mark Robson was nominated by the Directors Guild of America, but was beaten by Delbert Mann and Paul Helmick for Marty.
Now that you've collected your jaw from the floor, we can discuss the movie. In the Korean War, William Holden and his naval unit are ordered by Fredric March to bomb a set of particularly important bridges, but since it's an extremely dangerous mission, no one's certain they'll make it out alive. Since it's based on a James Michener novel, it's obvious every character has a detailed backstory that didn't couldn't completely be included in the screenplay. But at least, Fredric March gets a couple of scenes to explain how the war destroyed his family, and those who are interested in more can read the book.
This is very much a man's movie; there is absolutely no purpose for any of the women in the film. Grace Kelly plays Bill's wife, but there's no reason for her to even be in the movie. She has a couple of scenes listening to Freddie's stories, commenting in a strange accent that sounds like she hasn't made up her mind where her character is supposed to be from, and then a scene where she swims naked with her family. That's it. If you're looking for a Grace Kelly movie, you can check out To Catch a Thief or High Society. Mickey Rooney, in an attempt to repeat Frank Sinatra's success in From Here to Eternity, plays a punchy, well-liked sidekick. He didn't get an Oscar, or even a nod, but he did get plenty of heart-tugging scenes.
Loyal Griggs's cinematography filmed the flying scenes with unprecedented smoothness. Usually in the 1950s or earlier, aerial shots were shaky and uneven. These scenes looked like they were filmed in the 1990s; I don't know how the special effects and real stunts were combined to make such suspenseful and real-looking scenes. Griggs and Robson are a dynamite team; the flight and fight scenes are fantastic. If you like classic war movies, you're not going to want to miss this one.
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