Band of Brothers episode 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 specific notorious 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 Bulge fell short.

Bastogne Finally Redeemed Battle Of The Bulge, Three Decades On

The Movie Was A Surprising Disappointment

Prior to release, Battle of the Bulge seemed 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 include the likes of Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw, and Charles Bronson, and was released just three years after The Longest Day septupled its sizable budget to take $50 million at the box office. However, despite this context, the movie flopped.

Unlike The Longest Day, critical reaction to Battle of the Bulge was decidedly mixed. According to Rotten Tomatoes, just 63% of reviews were positive – an ambivalence reflected in the box office. Battle of the Bulge was 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 Bulge for 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 Brothers went 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 why Battle of the Bulge failed 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 Bulge was 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 behind Battle 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 for The 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 for Band of Brothers to revisit the story.

How Band Of Brothers Succeeds Where Hollywood Failed

It Conveyed The True Horror Of The Conflict

From the outset, Band of Brothers had a radically different approach from Battle of the Bulge. For starters, the miniseries showed the 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 in Battle of the Bulge is 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 Brothers also 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-encoming 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 the Band of Brothers cast of characters by episode 6. Unlike Battle 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.