A Bridge Too Far

Richard Attenborough (1977)

168min

15 Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Tony Sloman

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.

Summary

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.

Cast & Crew

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

Director Richard Attenborough

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: United Artists Corp. LtdGuidance: Edited for violence and swearing.Available on: video, DVD and Blu-ray

Drama

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Richard Attenborough (1977)

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