A Bridge Too Far

[Steve Crook]

I liked this film ever before my following of Dirk Bogarde. I have a preference for British war films, and although this was an American financed film, I like this movie too. It is a glimspe into the amazing cockups that the leaders of the civilized world lead our soldiers, sailors, and airmen into in WW2. Thinking of all of those lives lost because some stupid pratt was afraid to speak up about the radio's, and going just that bridge too far although it had been pointed out beforehand that maybe it was too ambitious a plan, makes me as an onlooker seethe. My opinoin of this movie is it makes great viewing, it tells the story, with a great deal of embroidery. Which is usual with most films. Just to say I think Dirk Bogarde played a good General Brownlow? He acted as a General in the British army might, and as Dirk had been part of Operation Market Garden, he had been in contact in a small small way with him so knew a little of the man himself at the time.

It wasn't just the radios. Almost everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong and if just a few of those things had gone right then the whole operation might have worked. It was worth the risk, and the losses

Steve

[Steve Crook]

Last time i was at Arnhem there was a BASF factory where frost and his mob held out. Also as we found out it is quite a hike from the bridge to the Hartenstien/Airborne museum in Oosterbeek - er if you go, take the trolly bus!
Loved the film as a kid, lost some of its pizaz now.

No, walk it. All the way from Oosterbeek to Arnhem, and think about the Paras as you do so.

Might i also suggest a book, "It never snows in September". found it quite an eyeopener.[/QUOTE]
I would also recommend Frost's auto-biography "A Drop Too Many"

Steve

[ayrshireman]

"It never snows in September".

Brilliant book. The definitive look at the battle from the German side.

[Richard_in_wales]

I've been a good few times although I no longer visit.

If you do go to the Arnhem area visit
Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A humbling experience.

[markrgv]

Not only that but all the people and events portrayed were real people and as accurate events as the film-makers could make them. The only made-up character was the one played by Donald Sutherland who was the amalgam of a few real characters. A lot of the actors also looked uncannily like the people they were portraying

It's rare for any war film to be as accurate as this one was

Steve

I've never seen Donald Sutherland in this film??

[Nick Dando]

Has someone been watching Kelly's Heroes? Just checked IMDB and he's not listed in ABTF. So, who was it that Steve thought was Donald?

Nick

[Steve Crook]

I've never seen Donald Sutherland in this film??

Maybe it was Elliott Gould, these actors all get MASHed up in the memory

Steve

[Rick C]

Yes, I have the full-page premiere day advert in front of me from 1977 (part of the portfolio previously mentioned). Mr Sutherland should come in between Maximilian Schell and Liv Ullman (one of those casts in alphabet order) but he doesn't...