Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far

Olivier, Redford, Connery, Bogarde Re-enact Operation Market Garden

Nov 12, 2008

Richard Attenborough directs an all-star cast, re-staging the famous Operation Market Garden in World War Two, but the film itself is conflicted, confused and congested.

In attempting to stop the Nazis in their relentless crusade through the Netherlands, British and American forces plot Operation Market Garden. By taking out bridges key to progression, the Allies hope to halt the German assault. However, the plan, intricate and dangerous in design, historically proved too difficult for the forces to succeed with, despite the efforts of all involved.

Acting Class In Great Numbers

The first point that can be made about this movie is the sheer amount of classic British and American actors on display. Richard Attenborough, himself a famous actor at the time, directs contemporaries such as Dirk Bogarde, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Robert Redford and Laurence Olivier as Allied soldiers, all attempting to execute Operation Market Garden.

Michael Caine, Sean Connery and Anthony Hopkins provide viewpoints of the operation, with Caine's prim tank officer on the cusp of the action, Connery's gruff Scottish (for a change) officer stuck deep in Nazi territory, and Hopkins' character in the thick of the battle for one of the last, most important bridges. The three actors present their soldiers as charismatic, staunch men who know the plan is failing, but continue their duty nonethless.

The supporting cast reads like a guide to famous actors of the time, with Robert Redford, Laurence Olivier, Elliot Gould, Dirk Bogarde, Gene Hackman, Ryan O'Neal and Edward Fox all playing smaller, seemingly cameo roles in comparison to the three British actors, but their class is nonetheless evident. Bogarde in particular stands out as one of the convenors of the plan, and he conveys his stiff British general's role with apt restraint.

Richard Attenborough's direction really sets the film apart however. Viewing the assault through the soldier's viewpoints, it appears as if the viewer is there, watching the attack in real time. An early scene with thousands of parachutists is particularly impressive, and a fore-marker of Attenborough's later propensity for epic scenes with thousands of extras. The action is bruising too, as bombs, bullets and latterly bridges reap destruction on both sides.

Re-enactment, Not Narrative

However, despite the film's strengths in cast, action and set-pieces, its position as a motion picture is somewhat under question. Whilst it does appear at first glance a stirring reconstruction for film audiences, it soon becomes apparent that tension and excitement is lacking when it should be strong, and the film suffers as such. In particular, knowing the outcome of Operation Market Garden, the audience will already know the conclusion.

Despite the poor narrative construction, the film is a spectacle, and should be viewed as such. Attenborough pulls out all the stops to present a pain-staking re-enaction, and as long as the film is watched as such, it will provide entertainment and interest.

The copyright of the article Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far in Classic Films is owned by Will Roszczyk. Permission to republish Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.