Band of Brothersepisode 6, “Bastogne”, is credited as one of the most powerful and evocative installments in the celebrated miniseries. Centering on medic Eugene Roe as he and Easy Company navigate the ferocious conflict around the titular Belgian town in 1944, the episode is simultaneously a vivid recreation of the physical hardships facing Allied soldiers in the Second World War and a heartbreaking reminder of the emotional cost of conflict. While the episode undoubtedly works in isolation, one of “Bastogne”’s more unexpected legacies is the way in which it corrected a previous cinematic disappointment.
Although “Bastogne” is understandably focused on the specificexperiences of Easy Company, a relatively small number of the Allied forces engaged in the wider campaign, the episode remains one of the most successful recreations of anotorious Second World War engagement – the Battle of the Bulge. This battle was the last major offensive conducted by German forces on the Western front, with over 1 million men participating between the sides. It was also the subject of a major 1965 motion picture,Battle of the Bulge. However, where “Bastogne” successfully conveyed many crucial aspects of the battle,Battle of the Bulgefell short.
Bastogne Finally Redeemed Battle Of The Bulge, Three Decades On
The Movie Was A Surprising Disappointment
Prior to release,Battle of the Bulgeseemed certain to be a Hollywood success. In the manner of previous genre hits the movie featured an epic runtime of 170 minutes and an all-star cast of industry royalty. Cast members include the likes of Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw, and Charles Bronson, and was released just three years afterThe Longest Dayseptupled its sizable budget to take $50 million at the box office. However, despite this context, the movie flopped.
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UnlikeThe Longest Day, critical reaction toBattle of the Bulgewas decidedly mixed. According toRotten Tomatoes, just 63% of reviews were positive – an ambivalence reflected in the box office.Battle of the Bulgewas a box office disaster, making just $4.5 million against a $6.5 million budget– a significant loss in the 1960s. Because of its high-profile cast, production, and release,Battle of the Bulgefor a long time remained the definitive depiction of the battle in pop-culture. However, by showing the engagement in a very different light with “Bastogne”,Band of Brotherswent a long way towards redeeming the film’s failure.
Why Battle Of The Bulge Was So Disappointing
Several Aspects Fell Short
There were multiple reasons whyBattle of the Bulgefailed to create the same legacy as other iconic 1960s war movies. Perhaps crucially, the story simply wasn’t compelling enough to entice moviegoers en masse.The real Battle of the Bulgewas a notoriously murky affair, with high casualties on both sides. While it is possible to make successful movies about difficult subject matter,the events of the battle prevent the sort of triumphalism often associated with major Hollywood productions.
Not only did the film buck convention and avoid depicting any of the real soldiers and commanders who took part, but it also changed important aspects of the battle itself.
However, perhaps the biggest reason behindBattle of the Bulge’s failings was the movie’s lack of historical accuracy. Not only did the film buck convention and avoid depicting any of the real soldiers and commanders who took part, but it also changed important aspects of the battle itself. For instance,the movie ignored the dense fog that hung over the conflict zone– a key factor in allowing German tanks to attack.
In his contemporary review forThe New York Times, Bosley Crowther wrote, “What is offensive about this picture—and offensive is the word—is the evident distortion of the material and of history to suit the wide Cinerama screen.” Crowther went on to add that “[the film] will be a likely irritation to those who have some sober, rueful sense of World War II, and also a respectful regard for the memory of the men who fought and died in the real ‘Bulge.'” This attitude among critics and audiences explains why the movie did not succeed and why it was essential forBand of Brothersto revisit the story.
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It Conveyed The True Horror Of The Conflict
From the outset,Band of Brothershad a radically different approach fromBattle of the Bulge. For starters, the miniseries showedthe real soldiers of Easy Company(as well as featuring interviews with actual participants in the battle), immediately making the drama more immediate and believable. It also insisted on historical accuracy.The fog that was so obviously absent inBattle of the Bulgeis a key plot point in the episode– as is the pervasive icy cold that made conditions so hostile. As a result, the real circumstances of the engagement are evoked much more effectively in the HBO miniseries.
Viewing the Battle of the Bulge from Eugene Roe’s perspective personalizes the story.
Beyond the changes to historic realism, however,Band of Brothersalso works more effectively on an emotional level. Viewing the Battle of the Bulge from Eugene Roe’s perspective personalizes the story. His unique position as a medic not only provides a fascinating perspective on the horror, but helps highlight the all-encompassing effects of battle – from the frontlines to the makeshift hospitals.
Eugene Roe’s obvious pathos combines beautifully with the emotional attachment viewers have developed to theBand of Brotherscast of charactersby episode 6. UnlikeBattle of the Bulge, which has to cram character development and historicity into a feature film’s runtime, “Bastogne” can piggyback off the characterization established in previous episodes, concentrating instead on making the battle itself feel as vivid and horrific as possible. The result is a story that feels authentic and affecting in a way that the movie could never manage.
