Fact-based drama recreating the famous Second World War battle for Arnhem, as Allied forces try to capture a series of strategically important bridges and cut off the Germans from their retreat through Europe. Starring Robert Redford, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Edward Fox and Laurence Olivier. Based on the book by Cornelius Ryan, and directed by Richard Attenborough.
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 Panavision 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.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Lt Gen Frederick Browning | Dirk Bogarde |
| Staff Sergeant Eddie Dohun | James Caan |
| Lt Col Joe Vandeleur | Michael Caine |
| Maj Gen Robert Urquhart | Sean Connery |
| Lt Gen Brian Horrocks | Edward Fox |
| Colonel Bobby Stout | Elliott Gould |
| Maj Gen Stanislaw Sosabowski | Gene Hackman |
| Lt Col John Frost | Anthony Hopkins |
| Maj Gen Ludwig | Hardy Kruger |
| Dr Spaander | Laurence Olivier |
| Brig Gen James M Gavin | Ryan O'Neal |
| Major Julian Cook | Robert Redford |
| Lt Gen Bittrich | Maximilian Schell |
| Kate Ter Horst | Liv Ullmann |
| RAF meteorologist officer | Denholm Elliott |
| Field Marshal von Rundstedt | Wolfgang Preiss |
| Major Steele | Stephen Moore |
| Lt Col Giles Vandeleur | Michael Byrne |
| Private Wicks | Paul Copley |
| Captain Glass | Nicholas Campbell |
| Corporal Davies | Alun Armstrong |
| Trooper Binns | Ben Cross |
| US Medical Colonel | Arthur Hill |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Richard Attenborough |
