In the 1960's and 1970's, a multitude of movies were made about World War II. Most of the movies made celebrated the victories of the allies over Japan and Germany. "A Bridge Too Far" is unique in that it tells the story of one of the largest military blunders of the war. It is a typical war movie of the time meaning that it has an all star cast and the special effects were good for the day but it was because they had the use of some of the actual equipment used during the war. Not on the same level as "Saving Private Ryan," but "A Bridge Too Far" is a good movie that tells an interesting story.

The movie is based on the book with the same name about Operation Market Garden. An idea conceived by British Field Marshall (General in our terms) Sir Bernard Law Montgomery, Operation Market Garden involved dropping thousands of paratroopers behind enemy lines to capture major bridges in The Netherlands towns of Eindhoven, Nijmagen, and Arnheim. With the capture of the bridges, the XXX corps of the British Army would drive the 80 miles to Arnheim and capture the surrounding towns in two days. However, the German Army was in full retreat and their high command was convinced that American General Patton was going to lead the attack into Germany from France. So the German High Command pulled two of its Panzer (Tank) divisions into The Netherlands to rest them for their defense of Germany against Patton's 3rd Army. After they were dropped, the lightly armed paratroopers were no match for Panzer units. Added to the problem, some of the bridges between Eindhoven and Nijmagen were destroyed by the German's and had to be rebuilt using pontoon bridges by the XXX Army. The XXX Corp made it to within a mile of Arnheim, but did not have the supplies to engage the two divisions that had surrounded the British Paratroopers in Arnheim. Overall, 5,000 (I think) British troops were captured by the German's and the allies were forced to retreat back into Belgium. The Netherlands would not be liberated for another year.

This is truly an all-star cast staring Sean Connery (Bond Movies), Robert Redford (The Clearing,) Elliot Gould (Ocean's 12), Ryan O'Neal (Malibu's Most Wanted,) Gene Hackman (Crimson Tide), Michael Caine (Second hand Lions), James Caan (Erasure), and Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs.) All of the actors did a good job of portraying their real life characters, except Elliot Gould, who did a good job, but wasn't an actual person, but a combination of a few, and believe it or not, Gene Hackman. I feel he did a good job, I am just curious in that he plays a Polish General, and if the casting director took the time to cast famous German actors, why not take the time to cast a famous Polish actor.

The special effects are good but the action is tame and by that I mean there is very little blood. No one actor stands out either in a good way or bad, it is a true ensemble cast. I did find it interesting in that there was a British director, Richard Attenborough (Gandhi), and the film was based on a book by Cornelius Ryan, an Irishman, and the movie takes a couple of shots at the British General Montgomery. That is somewhat unusual since he is a legend in British history. The screenplay is by William Goldman who has written some good movies, "Maverick", "All the President's Men," "The Princess Bride," and some bad ones, "Dreamcatcher," "Fierce Creatures" and "The Chamber." I feel that he did an adequate job of converting Ryan's novel to screen.

Overall, I would say that this is a very adequate war movie from the 1970's. If you like this kind of movie and you have the time, then I recommend this movie.

Brian - the Naked Gun