A BRIDGE TOO FAR

REVIEWED BY SHANNON H.

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: mild sensuality, violence

Rated:

World War II has its famous battles and campaigns. The campaign in North Africa was in El Alamein where the Allied forces defeated Erwin Rommel's German troops. There was also Operation Battleaxe, Operation Overlord, and Operation Barbarossa. And there was Operation Market Garden. I haven't heard of this particular war campaign before prior to viewing the movie and I was surprised that my history professor did not bring it up in class (I guess he thought it was unimportant). This particular area of Europe consisted of parts of the Netherlands and Belgium. It was seen as a way to shorten the war by six months and save the lives of Allied troops. However, it was not meant to be. 
 
A Bridge Too Far is a star-studded film with big name British stars like Laurence Olivier, Dirk Bogarde, Michael Caine, and Sean Connery. It also featured American actors such as Gene Hackman and Robert Redford. Steve McQueen and Audrey Hepburn were given roles in the film but Hepburn's asking price was too high and McQueen wanted to have the starring role but with a film containing major motion picture stars, that was not possible , which is disappointing since McQueen fits most of the film roles quite perfectly with his macho, tough guy image. Lt. Gen. Frederick 'Boy' Browning (Dirk Bogarde), SSgt. Eddie Dohun (James Caan), Lt. Col. J.O.E. Vandeleur (Michael Caine) and others decide to plan a strategic attack on the German forces and shorten the length of the war. The campaign was to be situated in the Netherlands and in Antwerp, Belgium. The idea was to capture as many bridges leading to German occupied territory as possible, cutting off supplies to the German military. All of this seemed like a great idea.
 
Everything started to go well. Tanks rolled into Belgium and the Netherlands, blowing up Nazis along the way. Once situated along a steel-beam bridge, Allied forces proceed to bomb and shoot the living daylights out of German soldiers as they crossed the bridge and made their way toward Allied territory. However, capturing bridges proved to be easier said than done. The plan to secure these strategic points leading to German occupied territory did not pull through, hence the name, "A Bridge Too Far." There isn't any sex or nudity in the film, however it is inappropriately labeled PG when it would receive a 13 by today's criteria for violence and language (the film came out in 1977).  Lt. General Browning (Bogarde at his finest) refuses a cease fire from a German army officer, telling him to "go to h***" (I don't blame him; I wouldn't call a cease fire on the German army, either). Major Julian Cook (Robert Redford) uses "h***," "d***," and "a**" a lot. 

There is a moderate amount of violence but it is not bloody or gory at all. Still, I would keep away anyone 12 or younger from this movie. Since war is NEVER rated G or PG, the violence level is appropriate. The film isn't spiritually redeeming, but it is a great history lesson.  I learned more about Operation Market Garden from the film than I did in the college courses I took on World War II.  I'd recommend A Bridge Too Far (as well as Patton or Battle of Britain) to those who are history buffs, history majors, or those who simply are fascinated by World War II. If that doesn't satisfy one's hunger for information, then I would suggest reading a couple of books on WWII by the late American historian Stephen Ambrose (i.e. Band of Brothers).