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A Bridge Too Far
1977
A starkly realistic account of the ill-fated airborne assault on Arnhem during World War II. Some of the best special effects ever seen in a war film. Read more
| Starring | Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery |
|---|---|
| Director | Richard Attenborough, Sidney Hayers |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Drama |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Richard Attenborough's epic retelling of one of the Second World War's biggest debacles is impressive enough, with its eye-catching list of stars, fabulous parachute-drop sequences and superb Panavison photography from Geoffrey Unsworth. But the depressing nature of this moving story of human suffering and sacrifice makes for grim, unedifying viewing, no matter how cleverly writer William Goldman has created drama from the event. Only Sean Connery and Edward Fox really shine in an all-star cast that includes Dirk Bogarde, Gene Hackman, Laurence Olivier, Elliott Gould, James Caan and Robert Redford, though Hardy Kruger and Maximilian Schell emerge with credibility as Germans.
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Like all large-scale military films, this one fails to make its tactics clear, and its sober intent conflicts with its roster of guest stars. For all that, there are impressive moments of acting and production.
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"...The last cast-of-thousands, star-studded war movie ever made, Attenborough's three-hour epic deserves repeated viewing..." -- 4 Stars
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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37 out of 39 people found this review helpful
The Greatest Ever War Movie?
One of the best war films ever made and possibly one of the greatest films across any genre. Richard Attenborough's breathtaking epic sits confortably amongst other masterpieces such as The Great Escape and Ice Cold in Alex. Unlike many Hollywood crowd pleasers the film is true to history and represents an accurate account of Operation Market Garden and the cast list reads like a whos who of world cinema. Everything about this film is epic: the tank battles, the war-torn street fighting and the biggest parachute drop ever seen. A Bridge too Far will keep you enthralled throughout and will leave you wishing for 3 more action-packed hours.
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8 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Excellent, though too long.
A truly splendid example of the 'super-cast' film, which focuses on Operation Market Garden, one of the largest allied attacks against the Nazis in 1944. However, things go wrong and the 101st are left to fend for themselves in the Dutch city of Arnhem surrounded by 2 elite German Panzer divisions...
This lavish film is remarkable for a few reasons, the cast is excellent (particularly Antony Hopkins' unflappable Colonel) the battle scenes are spectacular - all the more commendable for the fact that they were created without any help of computer effects - and the story, based on the real events is gripping. The film is too long though and you feel maybe subplots involving James Caan (searching for a fallen comrade) and Sean Connery (being stuck in an attic!) could've been altered or cut without too much trouble.
Cut by 20 or 30 minutes, this would rank as one of the truly great war films, however it must remain as simply excellent. -
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful
I loved it
An excellent film, intense action, good design. If your under ten do not watch it even though it’s a 15.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Customer Review
As action movies go, this is one of the best.
However, as an older Brit, I noticed there seems to be an ongoing theme in the movie that the British were incompentent and the Americans totally switched on and efficient.
Really?
Whilst I love our "cousins" dearly, my experience with them in the past has left a lot to be desired miltary wise.
What was Richard Attenborough thinking of when he made the film? He could have left out all the anti-Brit quips and still had a great movie.
But, it's still a fantastic piece of entertainment, even more so because it is (mainly) true.
Buy and enjoy. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Good Loooooong War Film
Ok, so it is a little long, but the special effects are good (considering the age of the film) and I felt it had very few borning parts.
Well worth a look.
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37 out of 39 people found this review helpful
The Greatest Ever War Movie?
One of the best war films ever made and possibly one of the greatest films across any genre. Richard Attenborough's breathtaking epic sits confortably amongst other masterpieces such as The Great Escape and Ice Cold in Alex. Unlike many Hollywood crowd pleasers the film is true to history and represents an accurate account of Operation Market Garden and the cast list reads like a whos who of world cinema. Everything about this film is epic: the tank battles, the war-torn street fighting and the biggest parachute drop ever seen. A Bridge too Far will keep you enthralled throughout and will leave you wishing for 3 more action-packed hours.
-
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Excellent, though too long.
A truly splendid example of the 'super-cast' film, which focuses on Operation Market Garden, one of the largest allied attacks against the Nazis in 1944. However, things go wrong and the 101st are left to fend for themselves in the Dutch city of Arnhem surrounded by 2 elite German Panzer divisions...
This lavish film is remarkable for a few reasons, the cast is excellent (particularly Antony Hopkins' unflappable Colonel) the battle scenes are spectacular - all the more commendable for the fact that they were created without any help of computer effects - and the story, based on the real events is gripping. The film is too long though and you feel maybe subplots involving James Caan (searching for a fallen comrade) and Sean Connery (being stuck in an attic!) could've been altered or cut without too much trouble.
Cut by 20 or 30 minutes, this would rank as one of the truly great war films, however it must remain as simply excellent. -
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful
I loved it
An excellent film, intense action, good design. If your under ten do not watch it even though it’s a 15.
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
A bridge too far
plenty of famous faces,a good action war film, well worth watching.
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3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
A TRUE BRITISH WAR MOVIE
The best way to put it is, yes its old BUT ITS A BRIITSH WAR MOVIE, NOT THIS AMERICAN GLORY AMERICAN SPIRIT S**T.
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4 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Sorry old chap, bridge too far!
American's love crushing victories. But Brit's love glorious defeats. And so director Mr Richard Attenborough and a stellar 70's cast at once applaud and castigate the bravery and sheer disorganisation of Monty's attempt to end the war by Christmas.
The plan was to capture key bridges behind German lines across Holland and Belgium. Brit's Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins and Michael Caine show stiff upper lips whilst American's Robert Redford, Edward Gould and James Caan show a reckless regard for their own life and limb.
The writer of the film, William Goldman, remarked that if he'd put some of the real life acts of bravery in the film audiences simply wouldn't have believed it. One scene at least will have cynics wrongly commenting on the `Hollywood treatment.'
A classic true story guaranteed to make you whistle along in the heroic bits, shout at the screen at the ineptitude of British military brass and even shed a few war weary tears by the end. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Good Loooooong War Film
Ok, so it is a little long, but the special effects are good (considering the age of the film) and I felt it had very few borning parts.
Well worth a look. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Incredible Story - Epic Film of Incredible Courage and Determination
To laden a review with adjectives does not do the memory of those incredible paratroopers, and this Film, justice - there are not enough in the English Language. It is a very accurate no holds barred account of the battle, glossing over nothing, and revealing all the key good and bad decisions made - a refreshing change not to watch a whitewash exercise. It is a fitting tribute to the thousands of paratroopers from 1st Airbourne Division that died, the soldiers of the American Airborne Divisions, and the soldiers of 30th Corps who fought tirelessly and bravely trying to break through to the British Airbourne Division. A Tactical disaster, but the Battle immortilised forever the British Paratrooper as a resilient, tough soldier prepared to go through anything to achieve the given task. Extremely well put together, the film drew a good balance on all sides without Jingoism. It was also wonderful to see the acknowledgement of the horrors the civilian population of Arnham went through, a stoic population who helped as much as they could without hesitation, and suffered greatly. That bond still exists today with a Museum in Arnham, initiated by and maintained by the people of Arnham, dedicated to the battle and the First Aitborne Division. A must see film. Awesome .....
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Epic story
A very realistic account of Market Garden excellent British,American and German casting - stunning battle scenes no CGI here chaps its done the old way with sheer people power.
Well worth watching but because its so long try splitting in two. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
ONE OF THE BEST
I currently have 180 of the possible 660 odd World War Two films available.
This is undoubtedly in the top 10.
Loads of top names. Great storyline, probably because its true. Each character is real. It doesn't glorify the war and dramatise it like most US WW2 films, it just tells the story, as it was.
Critics' reviews (4)
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Richard Attenborough's epic retelling of one of the Second World War's biggest debacles is impressive enough, with its eye-catching list of stars, fabulous parachute-drop sequences and superb Panavison photography from Geoffrey Unsworth. But the depressing nature of this moving story of human suffering and sacrifice makes for grim, unedifying viewing, no matter how cleverly writer William Goldman has created drama from the event. Only Sean Connery and Edward Fox really shine in an all-star cast that includes Dirk Bogarde, Gene Hackman, Laurence Olivier, Elliott Gould, James Caan and Robert Redford, though Hardy Kruger and Maximilian Schell emerge with credibility as Germans.
-
Like all large-scale military films, this one fails to make its tactics clear, and its sober intent conflicts with its roster of guest stars. For all that, there are impressive moments of acting and production.
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"...The last cast-of-thousands, star-studded war movie ever made, Attenborough's three-hour epic deserves repeated viewing..." -- 4 Stars
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"...Certainly equal to Darryl F. Zanuck's THE LONGEST DAY....One watches it not so much in admiration as in awe..."
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- Bridge Too Far, A - BLU-RAY Version
- Blu-Ray: £11.93
Free Delivery - RRP £14.99 (you save: 20%)
Richard Attenborough's ambitious, all-star adaptation of Cornelius Ryan's book, scripted by William Goldman, gives an account of the Battle of Arnhem during 1944, part of an Allied attempt to ... -
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A Bridge Too Far
A starkly realistic account of the ill-fated airborne assault on Arnhem during World War II. Some of the best special effects ever seen in a war film....
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