Theirs Is the Glory

This film was made within a year or so after the real event with many "actors" being the actual survivors. It shows a very narrow slice of Operation Market Garden, but, think of it in the context of one of the participants - they had a very limited view of the big picture - they were just trying to survive and achieve objectives. Yes, a few errors, but what film doesn't? Some reviewers say the acting in stilted, but it was not acting, they look like real men doing real feats of staying alive and bravery, not some polished actor-twit. One of the most important reasons for keeping this film preserved as well as any supplemental film cuts, both real combat archival and re-enactments, is that the uniforms, personal gear, weapons are period correct. Nothing worse than seeing a 1950's rifle in a WWII film. The dialog is period correct, again, not some script writer's idea of what was said. Breathtaking film of close packed airborne formations, how tight they really were. The use of real film to show the parachutist sticks in close form, not the staged and safety mandated situations. It allows those of us who are history buffs or perhaps collectors of memorabilia a source where we can stop the film and closely inspect items of interest. And the re-enactments using real men versus stunt-men, were eerily dangerous and realistic, something that could not be pulled off in today's regulated world. The accuracy of the radio procedure, including the radio telegraph key proper usage and background code being actual message segments, is heartily appreciated. Some may say it is stilted, dry and not a real action "shoot-em up" but that is precisely this film's value. The big screen "A Bridge Too Far", with all of its faults, gives a better story line of the extent of the operation and lets viewers understand why the poor blokes in "Theirs Is the Glory" were seemingly left to be hung out and dry (die). I personally think for a modern student of military film, "A Bridge Too Far" should be viewed first, followed by "Theirs Is the Glory" and a few other earlier films to get the real nitty gritty close in action. The use of the field reporters and skewed information represent at-the-moment situations. No one has a hidden foregone conclusion. It just happens. Kudos to the Dutch civilians who were able to participate so soon after the horror, it brings a real sense of understanding to the trauma of their private war-hell. Love the classic and understated British "stiff upper lip" tenacity. The lines that may have seemed cheesy and poorly delivered - well, they are closer to reality than what most Hollywood directors would ever allow. (Incidentally, I am a Yank, not British - so I can slam Hollywood quackery all I want without a perceived national bias) After all, these were the men, the real men - "those filthy, grimy, wonderful gentlemen who dropped from the clouds to fight where they stand... ... ... Just ordinary men."

"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 saw this movie when I was a child back in the 1940's in England. Possibly when it was released, which I expect would have been about 1947, it would mean I was a Primary School child.

I have never forgotten the impact the film had. Sure there were wordy scenes, but I did not realise that it was recreated, so I thought "Well that's how adults talk!". It did not detract for a child from the impact of the movie.

We had seen lots of worse propaganda films during WWII which were so bad we could not believe them. So to see a film with the authenticity of that film was simply mind blowing.

The soldiers paid a terrible price but it was so true to life - one could have watched it over and over again. There should be more salutes to bravery like this film!

Please do not compare this film with the fictionalised Hollywood account in 'A Bridge Too Far'. My father was one of the survivors of Arnhem and my second cousin was killed there. My father told me how accurate this account was. A Bridge Too Far just made him angry.

This was one of the most harrowing battles of World War Two. The First Airborne were split and the two parts could not reach each other yet were near enough to hear their comrades being shot. It had a devastating effect on my father for the rest of his life. The Division was decimated trying to do the impossible.

(For me, born after the war it is horrifying to see what my family went through and frightening to realise by what a slim chance my father survived and I existed.) This is a real testament to those soldiers and I hope will ensure that they are never forgotten.

One of my fellow-contributors giggled at the stereotypical British calmness displayed in this film. I was born in the UK before World War 2 and I can attest that, rightly or wrongly, most British people of that time were brought up to show restraint under pressure. It was a characteristic that served this country pretty well for a long time (though largely abandoned in recent years). So I found the level-headed attitude of the Arnhem participants entirely convincing (even if the acting was not up to professional standard). I knew plenty of people of that generation for whom making a drama out of their difficulties would have been anathema. Theirs Is The Glory is far truer to life as it was than any number of Hollywood war epics.