FACTOID # 158: 84% of people in Finland feel that they are at a low risk of experiencing a burglary - but just look at how many burglaries they have!
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

FACTS & STATISTICS    Simple view

  1. Select countries to view: (hold down Control key and click to select several)

     

     

    Compare:

     

     

  1. Select fact or statistic: (* = graphable)

     

     

     

  2. (OPTIONAL) Compare to statistic: (both need to be graphable)

     

     

     

  3. View result as:

     

       
(OR) SEARCH ALL encyclopedia, stats & forums:   

Encyclopedia > A Bridge Too Far (1977 film)
A Bridge Too Far

original film poster
Directed by Richard Attenborough
Produced by Joseph E. Levine,
Richard Levine
Written by William Goldman
Starring Dirk Bogarde
James Caan
Michael Caine
Sean Connery
Edward Fox
Elliott Gould
Gene Hackman
Anthony Hopkins
Hardy Krüger
Ryan O'Neal
Laurence Olivier
Robert Redford
Maximilian Schell
Liv Ullmann
Distributed by United Artists
Release date(s) 1977
Running time 176 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

A Bridge Too Far is a 1977 film based on the 1974 book of the same name. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (245x608, 78 KB)original movie poster source:www. ... Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, CBE (born August 29, 1923) is a prolific English film and stage actor, and Academy Award, BAFTA and three-time Golden Globe winning director and producer. ... Joseph E. Levine (September 9, 1905 – July 31, 1987) was an American film producer. ... The following is a list of characters from Michael Crichtons fictional series consisting of Jurassic Park, The Lost World, and Jurassic Park III. Spoiler warning: // John Arnold Arnold, played by Samuel L. Jackson, ran the main control center from within the visitors center. ... William Goldman (born August 12, 1931) is an American novelist, playwright and two-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter. ... Dirk Bogarde Sir Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde (28 March 1921 – 8 May 1999), better known by his stage name Dirk Bogarde, was an actor and author. ... James Edmund Caan[1] (born March 26, 1940 in The Bronx, New York) is an Academy Award, Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated American film, stage and television actor. ... Sir Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, KBE (born March 14, 1933), known professionally as Michael Caine, is a double Oscar-winning English film actor. ... Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh) is an Oscar-winning Scottish actor and producer who is best known as the first actor to officially portray James Bond. ... Edward Fox as M in Never Say Never Again Edward Fox, OBE (born 13 April 1937) is an English stage, film and television actor. ... Elliot Gould on the cover page of TIME magazine. ... Eugene Allen Hackman[1] (born January 30, 1930) is an acclaimed Academy Award-winning American actor. ... Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, CBE (IPA: ) (born 31 December 1937) is an Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning Welsh-born film, stage and television actor. ... Born Franz Eberhard August Krüger, April 12, 1928 in Berlin-Wedding, Germany. ... Patrick Ryan ONeal (born April 20, 1941) is an Oscar-nominated American actor. ... Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM (22 May 1907–11 July 1989) was an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and four-time Emmy winning English actor, director, and producer. ... Robert Redford (born Charles Robert Redford, Jr. ... Maximilian Schell (left) in the film Judgment at Nuremberg Maximilian Schell (born December 8, 1930) is a Swiss-Austrian actor. ... Liv Ullmann at Cannes in 2000 Liv Johanne Ullmann (born December 16, 1938) is a Norwegian actress, author and film director. ... The current United Artists logo (a variant was used during the 1980s). ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...


The film tells the story of Operation Market Garden, a failed Allied attempt to break through German lines at Arnhem in the occupied Netherlands during World War II. It was directed by Richard Attenborough and featured an ensemble cast of many film stars. The name for the film comes from a comment made by British Lt Gen Frederick Browning, deputy commander of the First Allied Airborne Army, who told Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery before the operation, "I think we may be going a bridge too far." Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland Germany Commanders Bernard Montgomery Gerd von Rundstedt Strength XXX Corps, 35,000 airborne 20,000 Casualties 17,000 casualties 8,000 casualties Operation Market Garden (September 17-September 25, 1944) was an Allied military operation in World War II. Its tactical objectives were to... Look up ally in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Arnhem is a municipality and a city in the east of the Netherlands, located on the Lower Rhine, and the capital of the Gelderland province. ... Combatants Allied Powers: United Kingdom France Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Axis Powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33... Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, CBE (born August 29, 1923) is a prolific English film and stage actor, and Academy Award, BAFTA and three-time Golden Globe winning director and producer. ... Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, KBE, CB, DSO (December 20, 1896 - March 14, 1965) was a British military officer. ... Badge of the First Allied Airborne Army The First Allied Airborne Army was part of the Allied Expeditionary Force in North West Europe in 1944 and 1945. ... Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. ...

Contents

The film

Directed by Richard Attenborough and featuring an ensemble cast of many film stars, including Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Denholm Elliott, Elliott Gould, Edward Fox, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, Jeremy Kemp, Laurence Olivier, Robert Redford, Liv Ullmann, Maximilian Schell, Hardy Krüger and Ryan O'Neal with Special Guest Alan Tattershall as 'Private Sooty's Cousin', the music for the film was scored by John Addison, who was a soldier with the British XXX Corps during Operation Market Garden. Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, CBE (born August 29, 1923) is a prolific English film and stage actor, and Academy Award, BAFTA and three-time Golden Globe winning director and producer. ... Dirk Bogarde Sir Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde (28 March 1921 – 8 May 1999), better known by his stage name Dirk Bogarde, was an actor and author. ... James Edmund Caan[1] (born March 26, 1940 in The Bronx, New York) is an Academy Award, Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated American film, stage and television actor. ... Sir Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, KBE (born March 14, 1933), known professionally as Michael Caine, is a double Oscar-winning English film actor. ... Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh) is an Oscar-winning Scottish actor and producer who is best known as the first actor to officially portray James Bond. ... Elliott in The Signal-Man Denholm Mitchell Elliott (May 31, 1922 – October 6, 1992) was a distinguished British actor, well known for his appearances on stage, film and television. ... Elliot Gould on the cover page of TIME magazine. ... Edward Fox as M in Never Say Never Again Edward Fox, OBE (born 13 April 1937) is an English stage, film and television actor. ... Eugene Allen Hackman[1] (born January 30, 1930) is an acclaimed Academy Award-winning American actor. ... Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, CBE (IPA: ) (born 31 December 1937) is an Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning Welsh-born film, stage and television actor. ... Jeremy Kemp (born 3 January 1935 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England is an actor. ... Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM (22 May 1907–11 July 1989) was an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and four-time Emmy winning English actor, director, and producer. ... Robert Redford (born Charles Robert Redford, Jr. ... Liv Ullmann at Cannes in 2000 Liv Johanne Ullmann (born December 16, 1938) is a Norwegian actress, author and film director. ... Maximilian Schell (left) in the film Judgment at Nuremberg Maximilian Schell (born December 8, 1930) is a Swiss-Austrian actor. ... Born Franz Eberhard August Krüger, April 12, 1928 in Berlin-Wedding, Germany. ... Patrick Ryan ONeal (born April 20, 1941) is an Oscar-nominated American actor. ... A Bridge Too Far (1977 film soundtrack) includes the 3rd Movement from Brandenburg Concerto No. ... John Addison (1920-1998) was a British composer. ...

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The film begins with a description of the state of affairs five years into the war. D-Day had come and gone and the allies were bogged down by overextended supply lines. Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower had to decide between General Patton (U.S.) and Field Marshal Montgomery (UK), each of whom had competing plans for ending the war quickly. Under political pressure, Eisenhower chose Montgomery's Operation Market Garden. Eisenhower redirects here. ... George Smith Patton Jr. ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland Germany Commanders Bernard Montgomery Gerd von Rundstedt Strength XXX Corps, 35,000 airborne 20,000 Casualties 17,000 casualties 8,000 casualties Operation Market Garden (September 17-September 25, 1944) was an Allied military operation in World War II. Its tactical objectives were to...


In September, 1944, the Allies are advancing but have paused in Belgium. A family observes the German withdrawal and celebrates the arrival of Allied forces. A new German field marshal arrives and discovers he has few resources in men or equipment and morale is very poor. A local Dutch teenager keeps careful notes of German troops evacuating through his town, information he will later pass on to the Belgian resistance. There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...


Operation Market Garden envisions 35,000 men being flown 300 miles behind enemy lines in the Netherlands, laying a "carpet of airborne troops" to seize the bridges with "thunderclap surprise" and holding them until they can be taken over by following allied ground troops. Arnhem is to be the final bridge, the bridge which turns out to be "too far".


Gene Hackman plays the Polish General who says nothing during the Market Garden command briefing, after which he voices his doubt that the plan can work. He is one of two dissident voices that are shuttled aside but correctly forecast defeat. American command worries about parachuting in daylight but note it is a "no moon period" anyway meaning a night drop would be difficult.

 Ryan O'Neal (left) and Michael Caine as allied officers.
Ryan O'Neal (left) and Michael Caine as allied officers.

The Dutch teenager manages to pass through German lines and discover that German Field Marshal Walter Model is at the German command HQ, an important bit of information for the underground because Model is a prominent figure and is always accompanied by crack German troops. Image File history File links Too_far1. ... Image File history File links Too_far1. ... Walther Model (pronounced modal) (January 24, 1891–April 21, 1945) was a German general, and later a Field Marshal, during World War II. He was noted for his defensive skills, and was nicknamed Hitlers fireman. Model served as an infantry officer in World War I. During the Polish...


A young British intelligence officer asks British command to allow another low level recon mission of the landing zone. Later, learning a German Panzer tank division (Model's unit) is near the drop zone, his concerns are also brushed off and he is actually removed from duty by a British doctor who claims he is too stressed to perform his duties.


British commanders planning the drop note they are badly short of landing aircraft and the area near Arnhem is ill-suited for a landing. They will have to land 8 miles from the bridge. Hackman gets his best line when he walks up to check the British officers uniform insignia and says "Just making sure whose side you're on" implying that the plan is so dangerous that it could only have been drafted by the enemy. The Dutch teen is on his bike when he sees the British Spitfire recon aircraft photographing the Panzer division and sees the tanks himself, hidden in the forest line. British officers briefing: everyone is surprised they are going to attempt a landing 8 miles from the bridge but of course they have to make the best of it, Brits are famous for keeping a "stiff upper lip".


British technical support preparing the portable radios for the mission note they are not likely to work for the 8 miles from the drop zone to Arnhem bridge. As with most others questioning the mission, they choose not to rock the boat and do not convey their concerns up the chain of command. But the young British intelligence officer does show the British commander the recon pictures and it is quite clear the Panzer division is staged at Arnhem. The British commander speculates the tanks are not operative and dismisses the photos, also ignoring the reports from the Dutch underground which were courtesy of the teenage boy.


At the ground forces (Thirty Corp) briefing, the overall plan is outlined, laying out the bridges that will be taken by the paratroopers, held and then secured by ground forces. Speed is the vital factor. Arnhem must be reached within 2-3 days. It is the crucial bridge, the last means of escape for the German forces and the last route to Germany for Allied forces who hope to finish the War by Christmas by virtue of Operation Market Garden. There is only a single highway for the advance.


The initial phases of Market Garden go as planned but the German Panzers cause heavy losses for Thirty Corp. The advance is also slowed by the single lane highway. The paratroopers do take and hold Arnhem in some exciting battle scenes, but can only hold so long. Thirty Corp never makes it to Arnhem and the paratroopers are forced to withdraw, Operation Market Garden has failed.

 Paratroopers in Operation Market Garden: A Bridge Too Far lobbycard
Paratroopers in Operation Market Garden: A Bridge Too Far lobbycard

The scenes around the 'Arnhem' bridge were actually shot in Deventer, where a similar bridge over the IJssel was still available. The bridge at Arnhem, while still unchanged from 1944, was by the mid-1970s sitting in modern urban surroundings which could not be used to portray a 1940s city. A few scenes were shot in Zutphen, where the old municipality house (a white building which in the film featured the Nazi command center) and the main church can be seen. Image File history File links Too_far2. ... Image File history File links Too_far2. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland Germany Commanders Bernard Montgomery Gerd von Rundstedt Strength XXX Corps, 35,000 airborne 20,000 Casualties 17,000 casualties 8,000 casualties Operation Market Garden (September 17-September 25, 1944) was an Allied military operation in World War II. Its tactical objectives were to... Deventer is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel on the east bank of the IJssel river. ... Satellite image of the IJssel basin River IJssel, sometimes called Gelderse IJssel (Gelderland IJssel) to avoid confusion with its Holland counterpart, is a 120 km long branch of the Rhine in the Dutch provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel. ... Zutphen (old alternate spelling: Zutfen) is a municipality and a town in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands on the right bank of the IJssel at the influx of the Berkel, and a junction station 29 km by rail N.N.E. of Arnhem. ... National Socialism redirects here. ...


Taken from DVD packaging: "An epic retelling of World War II's most tragic blunder, A Bridge Too Far meticulously depicts the ambitious plan which resulted in more Allied casualties than the entire Normandy landing. Painstakingly recreated on actual battlefield locations and boasting a remarkable all-star cast, A Bridge Too Far accurately recaptures the monumental scope, excitement and danger behind one of the biggest military gambles in history." Combatants Allied Powers: United Kingdom France Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Axis Powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33... Flag of Normandy Normandy (in French: Normandie, and in Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region in northern France. ...


The movie's treatment of military history is somewhat misleading compared to the original book; in particular, the reasons for the delay in XXX Corps reaching the Arnhem bridge, which led to the failure of the attack, differ considerably from the book. The XXX Corps was an infantry corps in the British Army. ...


According to an episode of the Dutch TV history programme Andere Tijden (site in Dutch) (English: Different Times) about the making of this movie, the producer Joseph E. Levine told the Deventer town government that their town should get the world premiere for A Bridge Too Far, on June 14, 1977. This never came to be, though, and Deventer even missed out on the Dutch premiere, which was held in Amsterdam. June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...


Cast and roles include

 Sean Connery (right) as Maj. Gen. Robert Urquhart
Sean Connery (right) as Maj. Gen. Robert Urquhart
 Dirk Bogarde as Lt. Gen. Browning
Dirk Bogarde as Lt. Gen. Browning
 Hardy Krüger and Maximilian Schell as nazi officers
Hardy Krüger and Maximilian Schell as nazi officers
Actor Role
Marlies van Alcmaer Underground leader's wife
Alun Armstrong Cpl. Davies
David Auker 'Taffy' Brace
Michael Bangerter British staff colonel
Hartmut Becker German sentry
Tim Beekman German private
Dirk Bogarde Lt. Gen. Browning
Hans von Borsody Gen. d. Inf. Günther Blumentritt
Bertus Botterman Dutch villager
Michael Byrne Lt. Col. Giles Vandeleur
James Caan SSgt. Eddie Dohun
Michael Caine Lt. Col. J.O.E. Vandeleur
Nicholas Campbell Capt. Glass
Erik Chitty Organist
Sean Connery Maj. Gen. Roy Urquhart
Paul Copley Pvt. Wicks
Michael Graham Cox Capt. Cleminson
Hans Croiset Old Dutch lady's son
Lex van Delden SS-Oschaf. Matthias
Harry Ditson U.S. private
Donald Douglas Brig. Gerald Lathbury
Keith Drinkel Lt. Cornish
Denholm Elliot RAF meteorologist officer
David English Pvt. Andrews
Peter Faber Capt. Harry Bestebreutje
Colin Farrell Cpl. Hancock
Edward Fox Lt. Gen. Brian Horrocks
Christopher Good Maj. Carlyle
Elliot Gould Col. Robert Stout
Norman Gregory Pvt. Morgan
Frank Grimes Maj. Fuller
Gene Hackman Maj. Gen. Stanislaw Sosabowski
Garrick Hagon Lt. Rafferty
Brian Hawksley Vicar
Geoffrey Hinsliff British wireless operator
Anthony Hopkins Lt. Col. John Frost
John Judd Sgt. Clegg
Richard Kane Col. Weaver
Jeremy Kemp RAF briefing officer
Walter Kohut GFM Walter Model
Hardy Krüger SS-Gruf. Ludwig
Stanley Lebor Regimental Sergeant major
Sean Mathias Irish Guards lieutenant
Paul Maxwell Maj. Gen. Maxwell Taylor
Barry McCarthy Pvt. Clark
Anthony Milner Pvt. Dodds
Stephen Moore Maj. Robert Steele
Ryan O'Neal Brig. Gen. James Gavin
Laurence Olivier Dr. Jan Spaander
Josephine Peeper Cafe waitress
Donald Pickering Lt. Col. Mackenzie
Wolfgang Preiss GFM Gerd von Rundstedt
Anthony Pullen Shaw U.S. Captain
John Ratzenberger U.S. Lieutenant
Robert Redford Maj. Julian Cook
John Salthouse Pvt. 'Ginger' Marsh
Maximilian Schell SS-Ogruf. Wilhelm Bittrich
Edward Seckerson British Padre
Peter Settelen Lt. Cole
Gerald Sim Col. Sims
Mary Smithuysen Old Dutch lady
John Stride Grenadier Guards major
Liv Ullmann Kate Ter Horst
Siem Vroom Underground leader
Chris Wiliams Cpl. Merrick
Fred Williams SS-Hstuf. Gräbner
Michael Wolf Field Marshall Model's aide
Erik van't Wout Underground leader's son
Tom van Beek Jan Ter Horst

Image File history File linksMetadata 008a. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 008a. ... Image File history File links Too_far_bogarde. ... Image File history File links Too_far_bogarde. ... Image File history File links Too_far_max. ... Image File history File links Too_far_max. ... Alun Armstrong (born July 17, 1946) is an actor from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. ... Dirk Bogarde Sir Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde (28 March 1921 – 8 May 1999), better known by his stage name Dirk Bogarde, was an actor and author. ... Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, KBE, CB, DSO (December 20, 1896 - March 14, 1965) was a British military officer. ... Günther Blumentritt (February 10, 1897-October 12, 1967) was a German general. ... Michael Byrne was born in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1761. ... Lt. ... James Edmund Caan[1] (born March 26, 1940 in The Bronx, New York) is an Academy Award, Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated American film, stage and television actor. ... Sir Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, KBE (born March 14, 1933), known professionally as Michael Caine, is a double Oscar-winning English film actor. ... Brig. ... Nicholas Campbell as Dominic Da Vinci Nicholas Campbell (b. ... Erik Chitty (born 8 July 1907 in Kent — died 22 July 1977), was an English actor of film and television. ... Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh) is an Oscar-winning Scottish actor and producer who is best known as the first actor to officially portray James Bond. ... Robert Elliott Urquhart, CB, DSO (November 28, 1901 - December 13, 1988) was a British military officer. ... Paul Copley (b. ... Michael Graham Cox (Born January 6 1938 - April 8 1995) was a British actor. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Donald Wills Douglas may be: Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. ... Sir Gerald William Lathbury was a British Army officer during the Second World War and later became Govenor of Gibraltar . ... Keith Drinkel is a British actor. ... Denholm Mitchell Elliott, CBE (May 31, 1922 – October 6, 1992) was a distinguished British actor, well known for his appearances on stage, film and television. ... Melvin Franklin (far left), with the Temptations in 1967. ... Edward Fox as M in Never Say Never Again Edward Fox, OBE (born 13 April 1937) is an English stage, film and television actor. ... Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Gwynne Horrocks, (September 7, 1895 - January 4, 1985) was a British military officer. ... Elliott Gould (born August 29, 1938), born Elliott Goldstein, was one of the most prominent American film actors in the early 70s, best known for playing Trapper John in the satirical 1970 film M*A*S*H. Time magazine put him on its cover in 1970, when he was at... Eugene Allen Hackman[1] (born January 30, 1930) is an acclaimed Academy Award-winning American actor. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... Garrick Hagon is a British film and theatre actor and voice actor best known for his portrayal of Biggs Darklighter in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and Goemon Ishikawa XIII in the Manga UK dubs of The Secret of Mamo and Goodbye Lady Liberty. ... Geoffrey Hinsliff (born 1937 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England) is a British actor best known for his portrayal of Don Brennan in Coronation Street from 16 August 1987 to 8 October 1997. ... Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, CBE (IPA: ) (born 31 December 1937) is an Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning Welsh-born film, stage and television actor. ... John Frost, after having received a medal Major-General John Dutton Johnny Frost (December 31, 1912 - May 21, 1993) was a British airborne officer, prominent in Operation Market Garden. ... Jeremy Kemp (born 3 January 1935 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England is an actor. ... Walther Model (pronounced modal) (January 24, 1891–April 21, 1945) was a German general, and later a Field Marshal, during World War II. He was noted for his defensive skills, and was nicknamed Hitlers fireman. Model served as an infantry officer in World War I. During the Polish... Born Franz Eberhard August Krüger, April 12, 1928 in Berlin-Wedding, Germany. ... Stanley Lebor (born September 1934) is a British actor, best known for his role as Howard in the 1980s BBC TV series, Ever Decreasing Circles. ... Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (June 25, 1900 – August 27, 1979) was a British admiral and statesman and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... General Maxwell Davenport Taylor (August 26, 1901 – April 19, 1987) was an American soldier and diplomat of the mid-20th century. ... Anthony Milner (born May 13th, 1925, in Bristol, UK, died September 22nd, 2002), was a composer, teacher and conductor. ... Stephen Moore refers to multiple people: Stephen Moore is an English actor. ... Patrick Ryan ONeal (born April 20, 1941) is an Oscar-nominated American actor. ... James Maurice Jumpin Jim Gavin (born as James Nally Ryan; March 22, 1907, New York, New York - February 23, 1990, Baltimore, Maryland) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army. ... Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM (22 May 1907–11 July 1989) was an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and four-time Emmy winning English actor, director, and producer. ... Donald Pickering is an English actor born in 1933. ... Wolfgang Preiss (February 27, 1910 at Nuremberg - November 27, 2002 at Baden-Baden) was a German cinema and television actor. ... Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (December 12, 1875 - February 24, 1953) was a field marshal of the German Army during World War II. He held some of the highest field commands in all phases of the war. ... John Ratzenberger. ... Robert Redford (born Charles Robert Redford, Jr. ... John Salthouse (b. ... Maximilian Schell (left) in the film Judgment at Nuremberg Maximilian Schell (born December 8, 1930) is a Swiss-Austrian actor. ... Wilhelm Bittrich Wilhelm Willi Bittrich (February 26, 1894 – April 19, 1979) was a General of the German SS during World War II. Born in the town of Wernigerode in the Harz mountains of Germany, Bittrich served as an army officer during World War I. He joined the SS-Verfügungstruppe... Gerald Sim (1924) is a British character actor. ... John Stride (born July 11, 1936) is an English actor best known for his television work during the 1970s. ... Liv Ullmann at Cannes in 2000 Liv Johanne Ullmann (born December 16, 1938) is a Norwegian actress, author and film director. ... Kate ter Horst, maiden name Kate A. Arriëns (1906 - February 21, 1992) was a Dutch nurse - later a doctor - who tended wounded and dying Allied soldiers during the Battle of Arnhem. ... Fred Williams, (1927-1982) is an Australian painter, known particularly for his landscapes. ... Michael Wolf is the President and COO of MTV Networks. ...

Historical accuracy

The film was never intended to be a literal retelling of the book, and certain liberties were understandably taken. Nevertheless, it tried for an admirable degree of accuracy.

  • During the conference between Model and von Rundstedt where they discuss moving II SS Panzer Corps to Arnhem, the marker designating that unit incorrectly reads, "II SS Panzer Div".
  • German military policeman properly wear the appropriate gorget while on duty.
  • The "such power at my disposal" dialogue attributed to General Bittrich as he watched the massive Allied air armada was actually only thought by German paratroop expert General Student.
  • On the German side, there was no "Maj. Gen. Ludwig". He is a composite of Generals Harzer and Harmel of the 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions. In the film's meeting between "Ludwig" and Bittrich right after the initial British landings, Bittrich says he'll handle Arnhem and that Ludwig should deal with the Allied troops in Nijmegen. In reality, the 9th SS (Harzer) was ordered to deal with the British in Arnhem and the 10th SS (Harmel) was ordered to Nijmegen.
  • British tanks are of the right color, and impressively, wear the appropriate divisional insignia of the Guards Armoured division. However, there are no short-barrelled 75 mm Shermans in evidence, which should still be the predominant type in service in late 1944.
  • The anti-tank guns used by the Germans defending against XXX Corps' advance look like 75 mm PAK 40s, which would be correct. However, their light grey color is wrong and the muzzle for some pieces are incorrect.
  • In a road clearing operation, a British Guards Armored division tankdozer pushes a knocked out M24 Chaffee out of the road - but the British did not use M24s during that period.
  • Unusually for a film of this period, many actors representing Waffen SS soldiers wore their correct distinctive uniforms. However, by 1944, the party insignia on the helmets of Waffen-SS soldiers was usually not worn.
  • For the attack by the 9th SS Aufklärungs Abt, commanded by SS-Hauptsturmführer Graebner, it was understandably impossible to accurately recreate that unit's armored cars and half-tracks, although a reasonable attempt was made. Vehicles that somewhat resemble Sdkfz 231s and Sdkfz 222s were built for the film. Also, authentic Sdkfz 7 prime movers (atlthough Graebner's unit did not deploy those) and Kübelwagens were also used. The actor portraying Graebner rides in what looks like a Sdkfz 251/3 command/communications half-track which was correctly used by his HQ company. But in reality Graebner reportedly rode in a captured British Humber armored car.
  • The vehicles of the 9th SS Aufklärungs Abt bear the correct insignia of the "Hohenstaufen" division, and the correct tactical sign for the unit. But their dark grey color is incorrect for German vehicles of this period.
  • In reality, the first few German armored cars of Graebner's column made it across the bridge unscathed due to the fact that they took the defenders by surprise. The British had laid mines on the bridge's approaches and these were expertly avoided by the speeding German drivers.
  • Leopard tanks of the Dutch Army portrayed German armor (presumably intended to be German Tigers). Their light grey color was incorrect for any German armor of WWII.
  • When the lone "Tiger" attacks the British at Arnhem, it attacks from the southern end of the bridge. In reality, after Graebner's failed attack, no more German armored attacks came from that direction.
  • In the film, the British kill or disperse the resting crew of a German tank, thus allowing General Urquhart to return to his headquarters. In reality, while a number of German tanks (including Royal Tigers) were lost in the battle to British PIATs and 6-pounders, in this case, he just waited for them to move off.
  • On the American side, there was no "Col. Robert Stout" of the 101st Airborne. The character is based on Colonel Robert Sink, commander of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment whose troops were about to seize the Son River bridge when it blew up in their faces, and who hastily built a temporary bridge in its place. (Sink was portrayed by Dale Dye in the TV miniseries Band of Brothers, which also covered Operation Market-Garden.)
  • In a few scenes filmed in Nijmegen, the Sint Stevenskerk (Saint Stevenschurch) isn't partially destroyed, which it was, because of the bombardment of February 22, 1944 by the Americans.

Walther Model (pronounced modal) (January 24, 1891–April 21, 1945) was a German general, and later a Field Marshal, during World War II. He was noted for his defensive skills, and was nicknamed Hitlers fireman. Model served as an infantry officer in World War I. During the Polish... Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (December 12, 1875 - February 24, 1953) was a field marshal of the German Army during World War II. He held some of the highest field commands in all phases of the war. ... Students attending a lecture at the Helsinki University of Technology The word student is etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb stÅ­dÄ“rÄ•, meaning to direct ones zeal at; hence a student is one who directs zeal at a subject. ... SS-Oberführer Walter Harzer (1912-1982) was a German Waffen-SS officer who served in the SS-Standarte Deutschland and later commanded the 9. ... The official cuff title worn by men of 9. ... The 10. ... The British XXX Corps was an armoured corps in the British Army during World War II. Its ensignia was a prancing lion. ... German PaK 40 75 mm anti-tank gun, displayed in Finnish Tank Museum in Parola The 7. ... This article is about armoured fighting vehicles. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... An armored car ( or armoured car in British English) is one of several types of wheeled armored vehicles: a civilian bullet-proof passenger car, a military wheeled armored vehicle, or a special-purpose armored cargo vehicle for transporting valuables. ... M3 Half-track A half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels on the front for steering, and caterpillar tracks on the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. ... The SdKfz 222 is a light 4x4 armored car similar to the SdKfz 221. ... I love this car . ... Sd. ... River Hull tidal barrier. ... An Anti-tank mine, or AT mine is similar to a Landmine except generally designed with a less sensitive trigger and more explosive power so as to be able to take out an armored vehicle, and not go off until such a vehicle comes along. ... The Leopard (or Leopard 1) is a German designed and produced main battle tank that first entered service in 1965 and was used as the main battle tank for Germany, several other European countries, Australia, Canada, Brazil and Chile. ... The Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht) is the land forces element of the Military of the Netherlands. ... First Tiger I tank captured near Tunis The Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. ... PIAT in Canadian War Museum The PIAT, for Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank, was one of the earlier anti-tank weapons based on a HEAT shell. ... The QF 6-pdr 7 cwt was a British anti-tank gun of World War 2. ... The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)—nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles”—is an airborne division of the United States Army primarily trained for air assault operations. ... Dale Dye as Robert F. Sink in Band of Brothers. ... Band of Brothers is an acclaimed 10-part television miniseries set during World War II, co-produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. ...

Facts and figures

  • Joseph E. Levine financed the $22 million budget himself. During the production, he would show footage from the film to distributors who would then pay him for distribution rights. By the time the film was finished, Levine had raised $26 million, putting the film $4 million in the black before it had even opened.
  • To tempt the distributors, Levine needed to assemble an all-star cast. The principal players were paid $250, 000 a week, though Sean Connery held out for a total of $750, 000. The part of Major Cook came down to a choice between the two biggest box office stars, Steve McQueen and Robert Redford. Attenborough pushed for McQueen, who he had worked with as an actor on The Sand Pebbles and The Great Escape. But McQueen wanted $3 million, plus $50, 000 for his entourage, $470, 000 to buy a house he couldn't sell and to have his part scheduled so he could immediately begin production on another film he was being paid $3 million for. Levine turned him down and Redford agreed to play the part for $2 million.
  • Shooting of the American-led assault on the Bridge at Nijmegen was dubbed the “Million-Dollar Hour”. Because of the heavy traffic, they had permission to film on the bridge between eight and nine o'clock on the 3rd October 1976, and if they couldn't shoot the scene, they would have to reschedule at a cost - including Redford's overtime - of at least a million dollars. For this reason, Attenborough insisted all corpses keep their eyes closed.
  • Michael Caine's scripted line to order the column of tanks and armored cars into battle, was "Forward, go, charge". Luckily for Caine, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Vandeleur was on the set, so he could ask him what the actual line was. Vandeleur told him "I just said quietly into the microphone, 'Well, get a move on, then.'" And that's the line Caine spoke.
  • Steven Spielberg's idea for putting his "Saving Private Ryan" actors through boot camp was originally done by Attenborough for this film. Attenborough put many of the extras/soldiers through a mini-boot camp and even had them housed in a barracks of sorts during filming.

Joseph E. Levine (September 9, 1905 – July 31, 1987) was an American film producer. ... Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh) is an Oscar-winning Scottish actor and producer who is best known as the first actor to officially portray James Bond. ... Steve McQueen in The Great Escape Steve McQueen (March 24, 1930 – November 7, 1980) was an American movie actor, nicknamed The King of Cool. He was one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1960s and 1970s due to a popular anti-hero persona. ... Robert Redford (born Charles Robert Redford, Jr. ... The Sand Pebbles is a 1966 film based on the 1962 novel The Sand Pebbles by Richard McKenna. ... The Great Escape, written by James Clavell, W.R. Burnett, and Walter Newman (uncredited), and directed by John Sturges is a popular 1963 World War II film, based on a true story about Allied prisoners of war with a record for escaping from German prisoner-of-war camps. ...

See also

The war film is a film genre that has to do with warfare, usually focusing on naval, air, or land battles, but sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training, or other related subjects. ... Detailing the battleplans in the film Theirs is the Glory. ... Piet J. Kroonenberg is the historical consultant to the European Scout Committee. ...

References

  • Cornelius Ryan (1974). A Bridge Too Far. Coronet Books. ISBN 0-340-19941-5. 

External link



 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.