A Bridge Too Far [Blu-ray]

There's a lot to unpack here. TLDR watch this film. While not perfect, this is the best version of the film we're likely to get any time soon. Its not a definitive restoration, some scenes are very rough indeed especially on a large screen, but I want to give credit where its due for going to the trouble of releasing it in the first place. Sadly its probably a niche picture as this point. Massive collection of extras, attractive case and booklet.As the events and struggles of WWII continue to recede into distant memory, I think films like this need to remain in the public consciousness. Made with authentic equipment (no CG obviously), shot at the actual locations and an all star cast of people who either lived through the events of the war or were born around that time, the film aims at authenticity most of all. Dare I say, it attempts to be "fair," where such a thing is even possible. Shot in the 1970s, both sides are depicted objectively with minimal "bias." If anything, the Germans are depicted as too professional and the Allies as incompetent buffoons.The events of Operation Market Garden take place around a time when the bulk of the German war machine was in the process of annihilation on the eastern front, with hundreds of divisions battling the soviets for survival. As such, the Allies are indeed facing under strength forces, if not all "old men and boys." (We do see very young looking Germans with the distinctive V of the local militia). It is interesting that the film makers hint at the danger of what could have been, if actually facing full strength forces.This is a film that follows the "show, don't tell" technique. Watch and draw you own conclusions.

Unquestionably a worthwhile objective. It doesn’t always work out that way, of course. The lads who intended to hang their laundry on the Siegfried Line, as they marched off in August 1914, were still in the trenches when Santa flew over. The Yalu River was the backdrop for Thanksgiving dinner for the Second Infantry Division. A million Chinese soldiers came over that river the next day, putting a serious damper on the Christmas home fires. Yet the audacious aggressive breakthrough sometimes works: it did twice, in almost exactly the same place, Sedan, in 1870 and 1940; half a world away, after seemingly endless war, the quick collapse of Ban Me Thuot surprised even the PAVN victors, and more surprising still, their tanks, largely limited by fuel supplies, crashed through the Presidential Palace gates in Saigon in another six weeks.The “fog of war” and the roll of the dice. Conceptually, Operation Market Garden was a great, even necessary plan. D-Day had been a success. Three months later, the front line was 400 long miles to the east of Normandy. The supply lines needed to be shortened. The use of Allied air superiority might roll up the remains of the Wehrmacht, and the Allies could be in the German capital before the Red Army even, by December 1944, and the European phrase of the Second World War would be at an end. Capturing the key bridges in the Netherlands, by Allied paratroopers, was the critical objective of the plan. They would be held for a short period of time, allowing the quick advance of Allied tanks and infantry.“The Perfect Storm,” a book and movie title about the fate of a Gloucester (MA) fishing boat has become a metaphor in the English language. So too has Cornelius Ryan’s book title, and the eponymously named movie – a metaphor for “overreach.” In hindsight. But in foresight, with 35,000 airborne troops, a plan devised by Field Marshal Montgomery, and eventually approved by Eisenhower, over the objections of Montgomery’s archrival, Patton, the Allies would seize three key bridges, in a plan that allowed only seven days for detailed planning. The American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions would take the first two bridges; the British 1st Airborne would take the furthest, “the one too far,” at Arnhem. According to plan, they were to hold the bridge for two days until relieved by ground troops. Of the 10,000 who landed, only 2,000 would remain, nine days later.This is a Hollywood movie, with an excellent cast, commencing with Sean Connery, commander of the British 1st Airborne. Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, Anthony Hopkins also performed outstandingly. No long (or short) love scenes… just some Dutch women throwing the proverbial flowers with a quick hug as Eindhoven is freed of the Nazis. There are impressive airborne drops and a lot of old military equipment is on display for a movie released in 1977. On both the Allied and German side, the pigheadedness and venality are shown. And the blunders. The Allies had photographic evidence that Panzer Divisions were in place, but ignored the evidence, figuring they could delay no longer. The Germans captured the entire Operation Market Garden plans when a glider crashed, but dismissed them as a “plant.” The help of the Dutch underground is also depicted.In checking the negative reviews, no 1-star review said there were historical inaccuracies. Or even a lack of balance. Yes, some of the lines were trite, and some acting on the wooden side. Images of mangled bodies are almost always left on the cutting room floor. But those deficiencies seem to be far outweighed by a balanced assessment and depiction of the dilemmas involved in the hopes for a quicker victory. As those tanks tried to get to Arnhem, it is always useful to remember a fact not directly stated: tanks do not get miles per gallon, but require gallons per mile. Overall, 5-stars, for the movie, and a most useful metaphor.

Very good movie to watch. Very good action.

A real classic. All star cast