Theirs Is the Glory (1946)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

"Theirs is the Glory" is a unique film, indeed. It doesn't have a single professional actor, but its cast is made up solely of men of the British 1st Airborne Division who fought in the Battle of Arnhem. It is the only film ever made of a major war battle on the site and within a short time after it took place. The Battle of Arnhem was part of Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne assault in history. Market Garden involved more than 35,000 troops of the British 1st Airborne Division, the Polish Airborne Brigade attached to the Brits, and the American 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions. Market Garden took place from Sept. 17 to 25, 1944. One year after the battle – just four months after the end of the war in Europe, survivors of the 1st Airborne Division collected at Arnhem to stage a reenactment of the bloody battle. Every single man who appears in the film had been part of the operation. Many of the Bits donned German uniforms for the film. Along with reenactment scenes, the movie incorporates actual combat footage shot during the battle by the British Army. This film was a joint effort by the British Army film and photographic unit and the J. Arthur Rank Organization. Noted Irish filmmaker Brian Desmond Hurst directed the film. He was a World War I veteran and protégé of Hollywood director John Ford. The film premiered a year later – two years after the battle, on Sept. 17, 1946. It was a tremendous box office success, in spite of its rough production qualities.This film shows battle scenes as they actually occurred to the best recollection of the men who took part in the battle. Those who were killed and many wounded of course, were not in the reenactment scenes. As an original work, that captured a real event with the actual participants, this film is a valuable historical record. I highly recommend it for movie fans, and those interested in war films and history. And, for further understanding of the battle, one should watch this film along with the 1977 movie, "A Bridge Too Far." I appreciate the fact that no film could ever capture the reality or horror of bloody combat one may experience. Yet, I was surprised at the negative comments by some reviewers regarding the later film. I thought it paid great homage to the 1st Airborne Division and its men in the heavy fighting scenes and valiant stand they made. Of course, the 1977 film covered the whole operation as conceived by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. So, it necessarily showed much more of the background, and the many problems with the planning and carrying out the operation. This film's focus is on the close combat of the British paratroopers. Most of the problems with the operation probably were not known to the troopers then. The 1977 film is able to give us the larger picture of the entire operation and the answers as to why there were problems and why the ultimate goal failed. Or, as Monty is said to have said in the 1977 film, why it was just "90 percent successful." Perhaps some of the veterans were disgusted with the 1977 film for what it showed about the poor planning and preparation that left the British airborne forces dangling without relief.In this film, we never see a questioning of plans, and never hear a concern about lack of communications or failure of the units to meet. Nor anything about the failure of the 2nd British Army to join up at all. It was supposed to be there within two days. Rather, we see the persevering and persistent British officers and men going forward as best they can. It's a good picture of a wonderfully dedicated bunch of men for that time. So, after or before watching this film, one should watch "A Bridge too Far" for the background and understanding of why things went awry. And movie buffs should know that that 1977 film gives much more time to the British forces, especially the 1st Airborne Brigade, and the operation planning and leadership, than it gives to the American 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions combined. "A Bridge Too Far" was based on a book by Irish author Cornelius Ryan. It was directed by Richard Attenborough, the multi-award winning and eminent English actor, director and producer. And it had a host of prominent movie stars – mostly leading British actors of the 20th century. "Theirs is the Glory" should be a part of any serious war film collection. And, alongside it should be "A Bridge Too Far."War history buffs may be interested to know a couple of details about Oosterbeek, Holland, which was where part of the Battle of Arnhem took place. British airborne commander, Major General Roy Urquhart made his headquarters in the Hotel Hartenstein. Today it houses the Airborne Museum, dedicated to the Battle of Arnhem. Every year on the first Saturday in September, Oosterbeek holds the annual Airborne March (Airborne Wandeltocht). It is a commemorative walk that passes by the hotel and the Airborne Cemetery were 1,750 British and Polish paratroopers are buried. It goes by the landing and drop zones, the battle woods, and the Old Church where the troops gathered during their retreat. People can do varying lengths of this walk, from five kilometers to 40. Nearly 35,000 people took part in the 2014 Airborne March.

I am writing this as I saw that the film only had a 6.9 rating on IMDb and would like to input something personal. My father was one of the first at the bridge and one of the last to be captured.Many years ago we went to see A Bridge Too Far. (The night it opened, free tickets! As a young man I was impressed. After the film we driving home and my father said that had felt like walking out halfway through. "Their's is the Glory was an account of what happened at Arnhem; this is not a patch on that, and the way they portrayed Boy Browning ans was truly disgusting)From a cinematic perspective ABTF is a fantastic film, but Their's is the Glory is not only a great film but historically accurate.I hope you enjoy it and remember the sacrifice that so many made to give you the freedom to watch it.

This rather rough movie mixes documentary footage with reenactments by the same men who fought to keep control of the bridge at Arnhem. The focus is exclusively on the First Airborne who landed by glider and parachute and ultimately managed an escape from the hellish battle by crossing the Rhine. They'd lost 80% of their original 10,000 men. We see nothing of the Allied armor, the Poles, the Americans, or the Germans.A harrowing story, vitiated by the fact that none of the men who recreate their experiences are actors and by the fact that production values were evidently low, although the tanks we see are apparently genuine German Panthers.I admire the film, it's technical quality aside, because it deals openly with an unqualified Allied defeat. It was released only a year or so after the battle itself and the true horrors of war, including the failures, were only given serious treatment a few years later, when enough time had passed for passions to cool. It's the story of an heroic stand but, unlike Dunkirk or Wake Island, it was not a necessary one. It was originally designed as part of a successful and innovative attack. In a way, it's a film that was ahead of its time.The actual attack was known to be risky from the beginning. It was Montgomery's main dare. The airborne would capture various bridges across Holland and the armored column would race along the single available road and gain a foot hold in the Ruhr, German's industrial area, which would bring the war to a quicker end.The attack suffered from poor planning and bad luck, none of it detailed here, possibly because in 1946 not all the pieces had been put together. I'll give just one example of bad planning and one of bad luck. Intelligence underestimated the strength of the German forces that were in the immediate area. A German soldier investigating a wrecked glider found a briefcase containing the entire plan of attack.Many years later, Richard Attenborough tried again with "A Bridge Too Far", much more splashy and expensive but equally confusing.The weaknesses of films like these can't be thought of as comments on the men who fought at Arnhem or along that narrow corridor across the Netherlands. They fought as valiantly as any men have fought anywhere. Still, the end result was a tragedy for everyone involved, including the Germans. The failure simply meant that the war would be extended that much longer, and many more lives and treasure would be spent before it ended.

One of my all time favourite war movies. The film re-enacts the famous paratroop landing at Arnhem by the British and Canadians the agonising and bitter fight while surrounded by the Germans.What makes this film of interest is that the actors in this film are the actual Allied troops who fought the battle. As an added bonus the re-enactment was filmed on location in Arnhem and features the local inhabitants playing themselves.The films opening sequence was shot in a Nissan hut and as the camera pans down a row of beds with soldiers lying on them while the narrator introduces them by name, occupation and town of residence.Most of the movie proper is a series of re-enactments combined with actual footage shot during the battle. The standard of acting is pretty good but a couple of the speaches made to the men are well wooden to say the least. But by the same token I've seen a lot worse.One thing that amazes me is how closely many scenes in the famous movie A Bridge Too Far resemble those in Theirs is the Glory. A co-incidence perhaps?During the closing scenes of the movie it is mentioned that of the 10,000 troops who landed, scarcely 2000 survived. Bearing this in mind the closing scene is not only harrowing but also one of the most moving I've ever seen as the view pans down the same barracks but showing empty beds and a few disheveled tired men with the haunting words 'just ordinary men'