The Bridge at Remagen (1969)

There's something pure about war movies made before all special effects were CGI. Not very environmental, though. So many gasoline bombs...

The premise is quite simple: Ze Germans are to destroy a bridge to prevent the allied forces from crossing the Rhine and setting foot on German soil. 

The build-up is slow and doesn't always seem to have much of a point to it. The problem is that while some films have done a great job portraying the tediousness and waiting games of war, this doesn't really do that either. Things just seem to happen here and there to fill the time, not really relevant to the plot as it is, nor to any visible development of the characters. 

Ze German officers are portrayed as weary and realistic, which was a nice change of pace at this point. Robert Vaughn and Peter van Eyck provide us with very nice American nazis. The former's desperation and disbelief as to the chaos created by Hitler's refusal to accept defeat, and his generals' subsequent failure to report a truthful and correct number of troops, growing throughout. In itself, this film gives a very interesting insight into that particular area.

None are as weary and cynical as George Segal, however. A gruff, but effective man, regularly promoted by the untimely deaths of others. Segal even looks tired in his motions, and his patience is growing thinner as we move towards the climax. His lack of trust towards the excellent and irreverent Ben Gazzara the best chemistry on screen. 

"The Bridge at Remagen" does have it subtle point eventually, as we can feel the fatigue and hopelessness on both sides as we (literally) crawl towards the end. 

So it's not a classic, and not among the best war movies of its time either. It lacks a bit both in suspense, story (apart from the plot itself) and characters. But it's a decent flick, and has marvellous performance by aforementioned Segal and Vaughn. So not bad either

6/10