Theirs Is the Glory may actually be unique. Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, it is essentially a reenactment of the British 1st Airborne Division’s involvement in the Battle of Arnhem, filmed only one year after the battle was fought. The introduction claims the movie “has been produced entirely without the use of studio sets or actors. . . . Every incident was either experienced or witnessed by the people who appear in the film.”
It is a fascinating document that is neither a documentary nor a fiction. There is excellent and well-integrated archival footage, and the soldier/actors lend a tremendous gravitas to the film, though they also often deliver tremendously flat line readings. It is truly interesting but may only be for enthusiasts.
The movie begins very much like a documentary, albeit one with the clear intention of praising the British soldiers. We see a painting of Arnhem with a local speaking of “our peaceful town,” while then showing post-battle wreckage and English soldiers’ graves, finally settling on the destroyed bridge. Then a British voice outlines the Allied plan with clear maps and some archival footage of loading up, interspersed with new footage.
The archival footage is sliced in relatively seamlessly throughout the film, so much so that I found myself abandoning my game of “Spot the Archival Footage” and just watching the movie very early on. As troops are preparing to take off, there is one shot of some pretty smug-looking American pilots standing by one plane; they came all that way to be in one shot? Maybe there were some parties or something too.
The airdrop is certainly all archival, and we see new footage of already-landed gliders unloading jeeps and small artillery–things we probably don’t see enough of in A Bridge Too Far.
Glider troops with a whole passel of equipment.
Both movies have excellent scenes of the airdrop, and as impressive as A Bridge Too Far‘s looks, in this film the parachutes truly fill the skies, giving a better sense of how massive an undertaking this operation was.
More than a few paratroopers
It initially seems like straight documentary. but quickly and frequently slips into unabashed praise for the heroism and valor of the valorous heroes. More specifically it praises “their heroic stand at Arnhem,” and explains “one year later survivors returned to the actual battlefield and the ruins of Arnhem truthfully to re-enact and record for all time the most gallant action in which they had gained the admiration even of the enemy . . . This film is a tribute to every man who fought at Arnhem and an everlasting memorial to those who gave their lives.” And it constantly strives to be a tribute–at least the narration does.
Often there is a palpable disconnect between the narration and what the actors are doing and what we see. The voiceover is all “unwavering” this and “resolute” that, while the wounded don’t seem resolute. Watching veterans playing injured and exhausted soldiers listening to a woman read from the Bible towards the end of the film is moving, but they seem tired and disheartened–like they would find the narrator’s rhetoric distasteful.
This disconnect is particularly evident towards the end of the film, where we see the wounded and dying men and watch the withdrawing soldiers crossing a river under enemy fire–it’s the only action portion of the film that is really exciting. Much of the other action is like seeing a re-enactment because it is. It is certainly interesting and also well done, but there isn’t a sense of danger. Men advance towards the unseen enemy in an authentic manner, but it is not thrilling–it’s interesting.
Throughout the film there is an eerie lack of Germans. Thirty-five minutes in, some Panthers show up without any support troops. A few other times there are German tanks, one that obediently sits there and lets someone hit it with a Piat from less than thirty yards. There are few living German soldiers seen who are not from archival footage. A sniper is shot from a rooftop and falls. At one point there is one man in a German uniform to show the Germans have taken the hospital. One time a group of soldiers is seen through a window—and I think that’s it.
Sometimes there are German voices off screen, speaking so simply even I know all the words, eighteen years out from the last time I studied the language. At one point we appear to be looking from a German soldier’s point of view looking at dead British soldiers.
It is understandable that SS troops who fought in the battle a year earlier might not be too enthusiastic about taking part in a re-enactment even if they were available and anyone thought to invite them–that would be a pretty awkward phone call–but it creates an odd and noticeable lack.
A chap having a go with a PIAT.
Most of the dialogue is quotidian or expository. “Hello Dickie, What’s up with 2nd Battalion?” My favorite exchange is: “Can I have a shot at it with the Piat, sir?” followed by a “Okay—Off you go.” The soldiers are not actors–clearly. Here a colonel gives some of the strongest dialogue in the film. But even with the wooden dialogue, the men have an undeniable authenticity as they clean their weapons and prepare for a short rest before returning to battle.
It is an interesting one-sided reenactment of the battle, but the empty dialogue and odd absence of Germans make it a thing to watch only if you have an enthusiasm for the subject, so I did watch it, and I’m happy I did.
Recommendation
A Bridge Too Far is one of the best written and produced war films ever–you should watch it at least once a year. The DVD has more special features than the Blu-ray.
During your yearly watching of A Bridge Too Far, you should carve out some time to watch Theirs Is the Glory if you can. It is available for free on YouTube and probably other sites. It’s price on Amazon Prime varies from free to 2.99 to rent.