Film Analysis: A Comparison of Characters in War Films (ENG 101)

This essay provides a film analysis comparing two prominent characters from war films: Sergeant Styker from "Sands of Iwo Jima" and Field Marshal Montgomery from "A Bridge Too Far." The analysis begins by outlining the films' plots and introduces the characters' roles, highlighting Styker's leadership in the U.S. Marines during World War II and Montgomery's command during the Allied invasion of the Netherlands. The essay then explores similarities, such as their positions as war leaders and their initial unpopularity due to rigorous approaches. It further contrasts the characters, emphasizing Montgomery's basis on a real-life figure and Styker's character arc, showing a softer side and approachability. The essay concludes by summarizing the contrasting leadership styles, with Styker demonstrating an approachable leadership style that ultimately contributed to the war's success, while Montgomery's rigidity caused the loss of the war.

Running head : FILM ANALYSIS
FILM ANALYSIS
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Authors Note

1FILM ANALYSIS
Sands of Iwo Jima is a war film which follows the two group of United States Mariners
from training session to the Battle of Iwo Jima during the course of World war II. One of the
eminent characters in the movie is that of John Wayne, who played Sergeant Styker. The man
from the central role in the movie and take the movie forward. A bridge too far is also a war film
like that if the Sands of Iwo Jima. The film details the Allied invasion of the Netherland during
World War II. The movie was based on the plan was about the British Field Marshal Bernard
Montgomery. The paper will focus on these two characters.
The first similarity between both of the character was that they both are the war general.
While Styker was a mariner and Bernard Montomgermy has commanded the operation on the
ground, and he was the general of the commander force. The other similarity that is drawn from
the movie is that Marine sergeant John Stryker is greatly disliked by the people of the training.
The men of his squad, especially the combat replacement for his rigorous training process. In the
context of Bernard Montgomery, too, the movie is based on the commanded operation of the
ground (Dobes & Leung, 2015). In the case of Styker, it was observed that it was a risk for
Styker to be so much rigorous and plan in the mission. In the case of the Bernard Montgomery,
he was the commanding force and made a big plan. The plan was tremendously risky on the part
of the Montgomery that he commanded operation on the ground. Even his fellow officer like of
Styker thought of him as “nuts” for undertaking such risky operation, if the plan would have
been successful, it would have changed the course of the history, and it would result in the
establishment of the springboard in the invasion of Germany (Culver, 2015).
In a certain part of the film, it was also observed that Field Marshal Montgomery was
feared in by his officers. There were reconnaissance photos which show German thanking the
Arnhem and General Browning is said to have dismissed the ignorance report from the Dutch

2FILM ANALYSIS
undergrounds too. The fear has made them commit a mistake, and they do not go to
Montogomery to report about this as many airborne operations previously have also failed. The
British officer also notes that the long-distance radio may from the drop of the Zone have not
worked. However, they choose this not to convey to Field Marshall Montgomery. This was done
by the juniors in the fear that there is no scope of expressing of opinion in front of Montgomery
and they might silence them. One of the main difference between Styker and Montgomery is
Montogomery is based on not a real-life character and who has achieved so much success
therefore in the movie the characters can be seen as more of less very real life as the movie is
appreciated for maintaining the authenticity (Westwell, 2016). In the case of John Styker, it is
absorbed the man was much beyond his rough exterior. As the movie progresses it is seen that
the man leads his squad in the invasion of Tarawa and he began to be understood by his men, and
the men started appreciating his methods (JIMA, 2014). John Stryker exterior method can be
traced from the fact that he was left by his wife along with his son, and he tends to take out on
the men who were under his control. Stryker in the movie dominated the scene, and the bloody
battle of the Isma was based on the lessons of Stryker, and in the end, it could be seen that the
men won because of him. There is a soft side in him which was absent in the case of the other
character, which is General Montgomery. The soft side of Styker is visible in the case of Styker
when though his forgiveness towards Thomas. Stryker at the end also confront his demon, and it
was shown in the movie through his help towards the widowed military wife and her child.
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that Montgomery and Stryker there are
some similarities like the war theme. The roughness and the rigidness are common in both the
characters. However, the basic difference is the approach toward leadership. The leadership
quality of Stryker is different from that of Montgomery. Stryker, although was rigid, was

3FILM ANALYSIS
approachable and his philosophy made them win the war due to apprehension and made them
lose the war.

4FILM ANALYSIS
References
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Milwaukee’s Hoan Bridge. In Transport, Mobility, and the production of Urban
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Dobes, L., & Leung, J. (2015). Wider economic impacts in transport infrastructure cost-benefit
analysis-A bridge too far?. Agenda: A Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform, 22(1), 75.
JIMA, L. F. I. (2014). CREATED HEROES, HUMANIZED SOLDIERS, AND SUPERIOR
WESTERN VALUES: FANTASY THEME ANALYSIS OF FLAGS OF OUR
FATHERS AND. War and the Media: Essays on News Reporting, Propaganda and
Popular Culture, 41.
Westwell, G. (2016). ‘Flag-raising on Iwo Jima’(1945) and the Hollywood war
film. Screen, 57(3), 343-352.