The Breaking Point 

Easy Company remains in the Ardennes Forest preparing for an inevitable attack on German forces in the town of Foy. However, morale is low due to cold weather, constant shelling, poor leadership, and numerous casualties.

Director:

David Frankel

Writers:

Stephen Ambrose (based on the book by) (as Stephen E. Ambrose), Graham Yost

Stars:

Nicholas Aaron, Kirk Acevedo, Doug Allen

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Nicholas Aaron	...	Robert E. (Popeye) Wynn
Kirk Acevedo	...	Joseph D. Toye
Doug Allen	...	Alton M. More
Jamie Bamber	...	Jack E. Foley
George Calil	...	James H. (Mo) Alley Jr.
David Crow	...	Corporal
Michael Cudlitz	...	Denver (Bull) Randleman
Dale Dye	...	Col. Robert F. Sink
Michael Fassbender	...	Burton P. (Pat) Christenson
Dexter Fletcher	...	John W. Martin
Jordan Frieda	...	Replacement
Rick Gomez	...	George Luz
Scott Grimes	...	Donald G. Malarkey
Frank John Hughes	...	William J. Guarnere
Craig Heaney	...	Roy W. Cobb

Storyline

Easy Company is still in the Ardennes forest but the Germans are in retreat. The men are cold and living in foxholes knowing that they will likely be ordered to try and take the town. The Germans have been pushed back to the town of Foy but they are well positioned and have heavy artillery. Their artillery barrages take a heavy toll and several of the veterans of Easy Company are severely wounded including Bill Guarnere and Joe Toye. Those injuries have a particularly heavy impact on their good friend, Lt. Buck Compton. When the attack does come, Easy Company is led by the ineffectual Lt. Dike who makes several tactical errors leading to unnecessary casualties. Capt. Winters, who is observing the battle would like nothing better than to rush into battle to lead his old Company but cannot. In the end, he orders Lt. Speirs to take command of the attack.

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Plot Keywords:

foxhole | voice over narration | choir | marksman | sniper | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 2001 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Former British Aerospace factory, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), DreamWorks, Playtone

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Only this episode's director, David Frankel, and Mikael Salomon would helm more than one episode in the series.

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Goofs

After Joe Toye finishes talking with Winters about how he wants to head back on the line, there is a close up of his face with his Thompson in the upright position on his shoulders, but in the next shot when he goes to talk to Bill Guarnere, the Thompson is being carried upside down

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Quotes

Warren Muck: I swam the across the Niagara once.
Alex Penkala: [Sarcastically] Yeah.
Warren Muck: I swear. On a bet.
George Luz: What, in a barrel?
Warren Muck: No... God! I didn't go over the falls, George. I swam across the river.
George Luz: I don't know.
Warren Muck: Ten miles up from the Falls. I tell ya that current is damn strong...
Alex Penkala: Oh yeah.
Warren Muck: Must have carried me at least two miles down stream before I made it across. But, I got across. Now personally, I didn't think it was all that stupid. But my mom and my sister Ruth... they gave me all kinds of hell.
George Luz: Yeah I bet, Muck.
[...]

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Soundtracks

Main Theme
(uncredited)
Composed by Michael Kamen
Performed by The London Metropolitan Orchestra

User Reviews

top of things..

Band Of Brothers

Band Of Brothers is a character driven mini-series that is at best, precisely and probably an almost documentary but with a taste of theatrical that might easily leaves the viewers' pallet shook.

First and foremost the credit does and should go to the research team that offers an unforgettable experience to the viewers of the field work on an ongoing battle.

Despite of having such a wider range and scale the makers wisely makes a choice on narrowing down the priorities to the theme of "nature" where each part of it (there are 10 chapters), plays and projects a vital side.

The adaptation of Ambrose's novel is smart, exquisite and brimming with writhing emotions where the rest of the work is left up to execution which is undeniably excellent; the quality surpasses one's usual feature.

The series is also emotionally fueled where the manipulated audience finds itself on the melted side of the aisle with a cathartic energy that pumps up the heartbeat.

If the camera work is beautiful with some appealing live locations then it also has some brutal and inedible sequences where the art designers have done a tremendous work.

It is rich on technical aspects like metaphorical cinematography, stunning and cringe-worthy visuals, sharp sound effects, behemoth production designs, accurate costume designs and again the choreography of each battle sequences; all blends in and rains on the audience leaving them breathless.

The cast too have invested all their chips in which pays well, especially Lewis and Levingston. The chemistry among the characters, makers' non-biased world and the awareness of each and every details are the high points of this mini-series.

Band Of Brothers is a brief anthology of the horrendous symphony that nature is along with the repercussions that it ought not but inevitably breeds.

The Breaking Point

Frankel's camera work is appreciative and he chews off the characters perfectly for it to keep the crisp alive along with its husky material and even though the sequence was stretched a bit, its poignant and gut-wrenching final act shakes the viewers entirely.