A Bridge Too Far is the 1977 World War II film based on the 1974 bestselling book by Cornelius Ryan and was directed by Sir Richard Attenborough, who was known for his work both in front of the camera (The Great Escape) as well as behind the camera (Gandhi) and perhaps is better known to younger viewers for his portrayal of "John Hammond" in the films Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Featuring an all-star cast, the film follows the events surrounding Operation Market Garden, an audacious military plan to end the war in Europe by landing Allied paratroopers along a series of bridges in Holland in order to allow an armored column to pass into Germany.
See the Discussion section for some trivia on the film.
The following weapons were used in the film A Bridge Too Far:
The Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk 1* is the rifle seen carried by the majority of the British troops, mostly the Grenadier Guards in the Armored Column as well as the British 1st Airborne Division when they were trapped in Arnhem. The No.4 Mk 1* rifle was also seen in the hands of the Polish Airborne brigade troops. Colonel John Frost (Anthony Hopkins) was also seen using a No.4 rifle during the later stages of the battle for Arnhem.
The main rifle used by US Airborne troops in the film is the M1 Garand. A gas-operated clip-fed semi-automatic shoulder weapon, it served as the primary American weapon from 1942-1957 and notably used by Major Julian Cook (Robert Redford) of the 82nd Airborne while leading his men to capture the Njmegen bridge. German troops crossing a small bridge also appear to be carrying M1 Garands - Though it's quite possible German soldiers could have used captured American Garands, their use in this particular sequence appears to be continuity error.
The M1 Carbine is also seen used by US Airborne officers and NCO's in the film. Most notably seen when Sergeant Eddie Dohun (James Caan) pulls one out of its Jeep mount when he is hiding from a German Patrol in the forest. Also used by Col. Stout (Elliott Gould) when leading the charge to capture the Son bridge.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingWorld War II Era M1 Carbine, with Dark Walnut Stock, 'L' peep sight and no bayonet lug - correct for most of WW2, shown with khaki sling and Magazine pouch for buttstock - .30 CarbineError creating thumbnail: File missingCol. Robert Stout (Elliott Gould) leads 101st Airborne paratroopers in his charge to capture the Son bridge. Stout carries a correct World War II era M1 Carbine. The character of Col. Stout was based on Colonel Robert Sink (portrayed by Dale Dye in the miniseries Band of Brothers), commander of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which was about to seize the Son River bridge when the Germans managed to blow it up just before they got there.Error creating thumbnail: File missingM1 Carbine, late 1945 issue - .30 Carbine. Usually referred to as the Korean War Era M1 Carbine, since it saw the most US military action in that campaign. Also there are no Wartime photographs of Soldiers carrying this model Carbine during World War II, however occupation troops have them. It has the adjustable rear sight and a bayonet lug.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn exhausted 101st Airborne MP points the way with his M1 Carbine. Note that though the "L" peep sight is correct, but the bayonet lug is Korean War Issue.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSgt. Eddie Dohun (James Caan) readies his M1 Carbine. The M1 Carbine is a Post World War II variant with a bayonet lug and an adjustable rear sight.Error creating thumbnail: File missingCloser shot of Sgt. Eddie Dohun with his anachronistic Korean War vintage M1 Carbine.
M1A1 'Paratrooper' Carbine
A folding stock version of the M1 Carbine, the M1A1 Carbineshould have been more prevalent among the US Airborne troops, however only a few samples are ever seen in the film, most notably during large scenes of massing troops.
The M1911A1 is used throughout the movie, especially by Sgt. Eddie Dohun (James Caan) when threatening an Army combat surgeon (Arthur Hill) in order to get him to treat his wounded captain (Nicholas Campbell). The handgun is also seen, albeit briefly, holstered amongst American officers, NCOs and Military Police.
Apparently, the widespread issue of Browning Hi Power pistols (the iconic handgun of elite British Military units in World War II) to British Airborne units only started after Operation Market Garden, so it is appropriate that they are seen using another handgun. A likely candidate in this case is the M1911 chambered in .455 Webley, issued to members of the R.A.F. In the film, the British M1911 is used by British 1st Airborne General Roy Urquhart (Sean Connery) and several other Airborne officers as they try to evade capture by Waffen SS forces.
The Sten Mk V is the standard submachine gun for British and Polish Airborne units in the film, most featured had the forward pistol grip removed as was the case for operation 'Market Garden'.
The M1A1 Thompson is seen only briefly in the hands of US Airborne troops during the drop into Holland. Strangely, the Thompson is not prominently featured in the film despite being one of the primary weapons carried by the US Airborne along with M1 Garands and M1A1 folding stock Carbines.
At least one M1928A1 Thompson is seen being carried by one of the US Airborne troopers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP. This variant has the 'simplified' rear sight that would be adopted for the M1 Thompson.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn 101st Airborne paratrooper on the right runs across with an M1928 Thompson, noted by the top actuator (Wartime-produced M1/M1A1 Thompsons have side actuators). This seems to be the only case where a M1928 appears in the film, however.
Machine Guns
M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
The Browning Automatic Rifle is carried by US Airborne troops in the film, notably by 82nd Airborne troops during the assault on the Nijemegen Bridge.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingEarly-version (M1918) Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn 82nd Airborne trooper with a modified BAR ready to provide cover for Major Cook during the assault on the Nijmegen Bridge. This appears to be an older model M1918 BAR, rather than the M1918A1 or M1918A2, noted by the particular early handguard and lack of bipod.
Bren Mk I
Bren Mk I light machine guns are also used by the British Grenadier Guards of XXX Corps.
The PIAT (Projector Infantry Anti-Tank) spigot mortar is seen throughout the movie being used by British and Polish airborne units (who were similarly equipped). This weapon fired a 3 lb. hollow charge warhead via means of a powerful spring which ignited its propellant. The weapon had a powerful recoil, which necessitated it being fired prone since any other position would knock the user flat down. Seen especially during the repulse of the initial German assault on Arnhem bridge.
A No2 Portable Flamethrower is used in the attack on the German bunker on Arnhem bridge. This weapon, known as the "Lifebuoy" for its resemblance to a lifesaver, was the standard British flamethrower.
The Mauser Karabiner 98k was the standard weapon for all German ground forces during World War II. Several of the rifles used in the film appear to be shortened Gewehr 98 rifles, based on the prominent Lange-Visier rear sight. This is a very uncommon conversion; most Gew.98-to-Kar98k conversions used the tangent-leaf sight of the Weimar-refurbished Gew.98.
Leopard I Main Battle Tank (mocked up as a German Panther)
1960s Vintage Leopard I tanks were mocked up to resemble the World War II German Panther tank. The Leopard 1 tanks had 105mm main guns and two 7.62x51mm machine guns (FN MAGs or MG3s). What is interesting is that supposedly all of the original cast hull Leopard 1 tanks were converted into the newer Leopard 1A1 during the 1970s (with upgraded armor, track skirts and thermal jacket on the gun barrel), however, despite the 'movie' modifications to make it look like a Panther, this is an original and unconverted Leopard 1. Since the film was mostly shot on location in the Netherlands (where many of the original battles took place), this is most likely a Dutch Army Leopard, one of the batch purchased from West Germany in 1969 (when the Netherlands officially adopted the Leopard as its main battle tank).
Error creating thumbnail: File missingNotice the marks on the gun mantlet. Also notice how the modern sights and smoke grenade launchers are covered up in the movie. Also note the shape of the driver's hatch.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe German "Panther" as seen from an attic window. Note that in this shot a fake muzzle brake has been added to simulate the one on the real Panther's 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 main gun.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe "Panther" front view. The muzzle brake is missing here as the gun is actually seen firing.Error creating thumbnail: File missingRear view of "Panther".
Sherman Tanks
In order to supplement the actual tanks used in the depiction of the XXX Corps' column, several of the Shermans were actually mockups that were placed over VW Beetles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingTanks shown in this column are of several versions; note the (hard to distinguish) third and the fourth tanks have the less angular cast hull of an early-production Sherman while the others have the later welded hull, and the mixture of early-war vertical and late-war horizontal volute spring suspensions.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThis is a late M4A1(76) with the newer E8 HVSS track suspension.
