A Bridge Too Far (1977)

The year 1977 saw the release of the movie A Bridge Too Far, which now ranks as one of the epics of World War II. It is based on Cornelius Ryan’s book of the same name, which chronicled the British, American and Polish Airborne Forces, as well as their German foes, during Operation ‘Market-Garden’, 17 September 1944 – 25 September 1944. There is a specific focus on the British 1st Airborne Division and their action during the battles of Arnhem and Oosterbeek. It is one of the last major war movies to be made in Western Europe.

In addition to accurately conveying the overall action, the movie used a series of vignettes portraying significant personages in the battle with a cast of eminent actors. The Hollywood production directed by Sir Richard Attenborough, and produced by Joseph E. Levine, included, Anthony Hopkins, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Robert Redford, Sir Laurence Oliver, Liv Ullmann, Edward Fox,Gene Hackman,Maximilian Schell, Ryan O'Neal, Dirk Bogarde, Hardy Kruger, Elliott Gould, and Jimmy Caan.

There were several significant technical features in the movie. Included was the hire of a veritable livery of over 100 World War II vehicles and armour from the Military Vehicle Museum, in Falmouth, owned by Charlie Mann. Eight C-47 Dakota troop transport aircraft were on hire from the Finnish and Royal Danish Air Forces. Six full-scale Horsa gliders were constructed. The logistics of feeding, boarding, transportation, wardrobe, armoury, film-making equipment was equivalent to an actual major military operation. The movie was estimated to have been injected in excess of £8 million into the local Dutch economy for hotels, motels, hostels, lodging rooms, suburban homes and caravan parks.

The movie is available in both VHS and DVD format. A detailed article on the making of the film was contained in After the Battle magazine, Issue number 17.

Compiled with thanks to Jim Gordon