Search Movie Review Archives

Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Edward Fox,

Originally released in 1977, this World War Two epic turned a corner in film making and paved the way for more honest portrayals of men in battle. With out this film, Das Boot and Saving Private Ryan would have never have been made and we would still have been subjected to John Wayne defeating the Axis forces armed only with a pistol and an American flag. Dubbed “A Movie Too Long,” which has some truth too it, this film united a host of A-list actors I a fashion that ego and wage bill wouldn’t allow in more modern times. Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Edward Fox, Elliot Gould, Gene Hackman. Anthony Hopkins, Hardy Kruger, Laurence Olivier, Ryan O'Neil, Robert Redford, Maximillian Schell, and Liv Ullmann. All of these people could have headlined a film in their own right but were content to be part of a defining film of modern cinema.

“Bridge..” follows the events of Operation Market Garden which took place in September 1944 in an attempt to maximise the inroads being made after the Normandy Landings. The idea was to knock Germany out of the war quickly by seizing several key bridges in Holland in quick succession and then send Allied forces directly into the Ruhr Valley, the heart of Germany's industrial base. If everything went according to plan, the Allies felt confident that the war would end by Christmas 1944. It was an audacious plan that ultimately failed due to a number of reasons--including bad weather and a failure to take into account the quality of German troops--and cost thousands of British and American lives. Unfortunately, military forces were unable to reach the bridge at Arnhem, the bridge too far, that would have led them into Germany. They bogged down instead thanks to a mass of German panzers that prevented British resupply and reinforcements. After nine days the remnants of the British forces pulled out and the operation ended. American troops took heavy casualties as well in their attempts to take a couple of other bridges.

The one thing that is apparent not far into the film is that it has a commitment to a truthful portrayal of the story. Gone is the gung-ho Hollywood attitude of yesteryear replaced by a gritty yet cinematic balance, testament to director Richard Attenboroughs abilities. It would have been so easy to spice things up with unjustified action, but the truth of the matter is in itself more gripping than any Hollywood style fabrications. A series of well rounded performances from all players makes this possible in the smaller scenes and some great battle action does the job in the big scenes. The script is believable and the direction excellent. Think about all of the egos Sir Richard had to massage on the various sets. You've got Dirk Bogarde in the role of Lt. General Frederick Browning, the man in charge of setting up the massive operation. Sean Connery pops up as Maj. General Roy Urquhart, and we all know Connery isn't the easiest chap to work with. Edward Fox delivers a "win one for the Gipper" type speech to the troops as Lt. General Brian Horrocks, Elliot Gould overacts as Major Julian Cook, and Jimmy Caan orders a doctor to look at his wounded buddy in a way that would make Alan Alda weep with sympathy. Anthony Hopkins turns in a solid performance as Lt. Colonel John Frost, Laurence Olivier plays Dutch physician Jan Spaander, Robert Redford paddles up a river while taking heavy fire as Major Julian Cook, Michael Caine is Lt. Colonel Joe Vandeleur, and Ryan O'Neal is American Brigadier General James Gavin. My favorite performance comes from Gene Hackman in the role of Polish General Stanislaw Sosabowski. I groaned when I learned about his role beforehand, but Hackman does a great job playing a Pole. He's one of the few guys involved in the operation actually questioning the wisdom of what's going on. And his men eventually take casualties too when they attempt a night crossing over a river.

Although a large investment in time, this film is a thoroughly enjoyable experience and it rightly paved the way for future war movies. The battles are epic at one extreme and the acting human at the other and everything in between seems to add just the right ingredients to the mix. I guess what helps is that as the film was made only thirty years after the actual battle, many of the lead actors had war experience and Bogarde was actually an intelligence officer at the original battle. There is no substitue for experience.

Although the film still looks its age, even in this modern re-issue, the sound has really come alive. In the battle scenes the action is deafening and played through a good system can really add to the overall affect.

The quality and quantity of extras on this special edition DVD of A Bridge Too Far don't quite live up to the epic nature of the film itself, but it's not a bad package.

The extras are led by a comprehensive American documentary, 'Heroes From The Sky', made mildly excruciating by narrator Burt Reynolds talking about director "Adden-borrow". The doc gives such information as the fact that Operation Market Garden involved more casualties than D-Day; explains how original writer Cornelius Ryan was dedicated to making an authentic record, and always used two or more sources; how Elliot Gould's Col Robert Stout was the only fictional main character; how the filmmakers only had five Sherman tanks and had to make fake ones with fibreglass bodies on VW Beatle chassis, etc. Furthermore, there are reminiscences - including one from an old soldier who took part in the actual river crossing, played by Robert Redford in the film. There's also a diagnosis of why the US critical reception of the film wasn't so good.

'A Distant Battle: Memories of Operation Market Garden' involves a group of old geezers from the various US Airborne units discussing the grim reality of Market Garden. The Airborne only made up one per cent of US forces in Europe during the war, but they made up five per cent of casualties. Pity this US documentary doesn't include interviews with any Brits, Poles or Dutch though.

Although to many the film is a bit to long and rambles along losing focus in some places, I found the film a worthy addition to anyones collection, not only the turning point in modern war portrayal, but a riveting, action packed film. It may lack the amount of extras that we are used to today but don’t be put off by that, the film alone justifies the value for money argument. Saving Private Who?