A Bridge Too Far was an epic World War II movie based on the 1974 best selling book by Cornelius Ryan and directed by Sir Richard Attenborough (better known to younger viewers as an actor, for his portrayal "John Hammond" in the Spielberg Films "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World"). The film had a mega budget for its time, $22 Million in 1976 (the film was released in 1977), however the producer, Joseph E. Levine, pre-sold the distribution rights all over the world (and to tempt them, used American and Foreign movie stars who had drawing power all over the world). Ultimately the distributors ended up paying Levine $26 Million for the rights to all of the domestic and foreign markets, thus making it one of the first films to make a profit, before a single screening. However, the film did not do so well in the theaters and received mixed review, so the various distributors around the world, each bore the brunt of the box office disappointments.
The film is an epic telling of the Allied Airborne operation code-named 'Market-Garden', in which 35,000 American, British and Polish Paratroopers were flown 300 miles and dropped behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied Holland. Their mission was to seize and hold a series of critical bridges in time for their ground armored and infantry divisions to arrive. It was the largest Airborne operation ever attempted. The title is based on a historical quote by British Lieutenant-General Frederick "Boy" Browning (portrayed in the film by Dirk Bogarde) who feared early on that they were being too ambitious and famously declared "I think we may be going a bridge too far." In the film, we only hear this line in retrospect, when General Browning mentions that he said it, to a disgusted General Roy Urquhart (Sean Connery), after the disaster that befell the British 1st Airborne at Arnhem.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingA boy drafted into the Wehrmacht fights the Americans with his K98 - 7.92x57mm (note the rear sight being fully elevated)
Lee-Enfield No 4 Mk 1*
Used by all 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.
Used by American troops The M-1 Garand rifle was a gas operated clip fed semi-automatic shoulder weapon, it served as the primary American weapon from 1942-1957.
Used by American paratroopers as well as seen mounted on jeeps and other vehicles. Most notably seen when Sgt. 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 a 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 buttstockError 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, 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 missingExhausted 101st Airborne MP points the way with his M1 Carbine - .30 carbine. Note that though the "L" peep sight is correct, but the bayonet lug is Korean War Issue.Error creating thumbnail: File missingKorean War Era M1 Carbine, late 1945 issue, usually referred to as the Korean War Era M1 Carbine, since it saw the most US military action in that campaign- .30 carbine. 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 missingSgt. Eddie Dohun (James Caan) readies his M1 Carbine - .30 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 - .30 carbine
M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine
A Folding stock version of the M1 Carbine, this should have been more prevalent amongst the American Airborne troops, however only a few samples are ever seen in the film, most notably during large scenes of massing troops.
Used throughout the movie, especially by Sgt. Dohun (James Caan) when threatening a 101st Airborne 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 Roy Urquhart (Sean Connery) and several other Airborne officers as they try to evade capture by Waffen SS forces.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM1911 .455 Webley, a licensed handgun to the British Armed Forces after World War 1, issued to members of the R.A.F. (and possibly by association, members of the Army Airborne.)Error creating thumbnail: File missingBritish 1st Airborne General Roy Urquhart (Sean Connery) fires an M1911 Variant, quite possibly the .455 Webley Version of the M1911.
M1A1 Thompson
Seen only briefly during some of the massing troop scenes, the M1/M1A1 Thompson has a peculiarly small role in the film. The vast majority of Americans are armed with M1 Garands and M1 Carbines, which is unusual, since during many of the battles, nary an M1A1 Thompson can be seen, which is inaccurate.
Except that the majority of US Paratroopers did carry M1 Garands and M1A1 folding stock Carbines. The Wierd It 11:37, 18 August 2009 (UTC)
The standard submachine gun for British and Polish Airborne units. Differentiated from earlier models by the wooden vertical foregrip and wooden stock.
Used in the attack on the German bunker on the Arnhem bridge this weapon, known as the "Lifebuoy" for its' resemblance to a lifesaver, was the standard British flamethrower.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBritish 1st Airborne Soldier with the No.2 Portable Flamethrower. Note the "Life Saver" shape of the fuel reservoir.
PIAT
The PIAT (Projectile Infantry Anti-Tank) 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 the Arnhem bridge.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingSome seen with a muzzle brake on the guns, some without. But other than the paint job, it is an unaltered Leopard Tank from the 1960s.
Historical Notation
Was the operation a failure?
The movie's dark ending is harsh, yet historically accurate. The Allies never made it into Arnhem, the Allied invasion was halted outside Nijmegen effectively cutting off more than 10,000 British paratroopers trapped in Arnhem. Surrounded, the men of the 1st Airborne fought on for seven days, refusing to yield the North side of Arnhem bridge to a superior force, finally, after it was decided that Operation Market-Garden could not succeed, the Allies began to fall back. 8,000 British soldiers of the 1st Airborne were left behind at the mercy of the Nazis and the Dutch would not see liberation for another 7 months.
