A BRIDGE TOO FAR

UK, 1977, 175 minutes, Colour.
Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Edward Fox, Elliott Gould, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, Hardy Kruger, Ryan O’ Neal, Laurence Olivier, Robert Redford, Maximilian Schell, Liv Ullmann, Denholm Elliott, Jeremy Kemp, Wolfgang Preiss, Nicholas Campbell, Ben Cross.
Directed by Richard Attenborough.

A Bridge Too Far is based on the book by journalist Cornelius Ryan (author of The Longest Day). It was adapted for the screen by William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Marathon Man). It was directed by Richard Attenborough. Richard Attenborough had been an actor in British films since the 1940s and a significant presence. He began directing in 1969 with Oh, What a Lovely War, following it with Young Winston in 1972. At the same time as A Bridge Too Far he made the smaller-budget Magic with Anthony Hopkins. Five years later he was to release Gandhi and won an Oscar as best director as well as the film being best film.

The film is lavish in its re-creation of the battles in Holland – the attempt of Operation Market Garden to secure the bridges of Holland to prevent the Germans moving back into the west. However, the action was doomed – the Arnhem bridge was a bridge too far and the divisions of Germans put up stern resistance.

The film has an over-starstudded cast – enabling audiences to identify the characters, their roles, their influence on the battles. The film also shows the collaboration between British, Americans and Poles. It also shows some of the ordinary life of Dutch citizens experiencing the battles after the occupation.

The film was not so well received at the time – but, in retrospect, it is a very interesting portrait of a significant part of World War Two in Continental Europe.

1.The impact of the film? As a piece of history? Historical re-creation of events? A war spectacle? The interpretation of war and the failed Operation Market Garden?

2.The importance of the locations, the film giving a great deal of information, maps, voice-over commentary? An authentic feel? The use of widescreen colour? The rousing score?

3.The experience of World War Two from 1939 to 1944? The experience of D-Day?, the pushback of the Germans? The occupation of Holland, the strategies, the bridges across the rivers? The battles to push back the Germans?

4.War heroics, the various personalities, the stars portraying them? As persons, as military authorities and strategists? Their views on the operation – for it, pessimistic about it? The issues of collaboration with Americans and British? The national feel? The surveillance of Holland, the photography, the planes, the air tableaux? The symphonic presentation of flight and battles?

5.The range of stars, their identities, contribution to the plot? The effect?

6.The presentation of the Germans, their experience of the war, the beginnings of defeat, the presentation of the German officers, the skills of the soldiers? The strategies? The personalities of the German leaders?

7.The British and their control, the overall leadership, the British military officials, the presentation of the plans, the issue of morale, responsibilities, the ultimate failure of the plan, the bridge too far?

8.The background of the Scots and their presence in the war? The Poles and the background of moving from Poland? Their participation in the operation?

9.The contrast with the Americans, the variety of types, even caricature of military types, cigar-chomping etc? Their responsibilities? Seeing them in action?

10.Dirk Bogarde as Lieutenant-General? Browning: in himself, relationships with his staff, the nature of the discussions, discussions with Sosabowski? With Urquhart? With Horrocks, with Frost? The plan, the response?

11.Frost: Anthony Hopkins, his role, skills, the situation, the end?

12.Horrocks and his bluff style? Headquarters, morale, the plan, involvement?

13.Gene Hackman as Sosabowski, the role of the Poles, seeing them in action?

14.Urquhart, his character, his work?

15.Vandeleur? His action, character, role?

16.James Caan as the staff sergeant, representing the ordinary men, his work with his fellow soldiers? Robert Redford as Gavan, the river, the action sequences?

17.The Dutch people, represented by Doctor Spaander? By Kate? The ordinary Dutch people, the Resistance, the occupation by the Nazis, the attempt to get the Arnhem bridge? The Dutch and the participation, observation?

18.The range of stars, their portraying meteorological officers? Brigadier Gavan? Major-General? Ludwig?

19.The Germans, their skills, the confrontation with the forces in Holland? The outcome of the war?

20.The impact of this kind of spectacle? Dramatising war? A memory of World War Two and a tribute to those involved?