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A Bridge Too Far

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A Bridge Too Far is the 1977 World War II film 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: Jurassic Park).


See the Discussion section for some trivia on the film.


The following weapons were used in the film A Bridge Too Far:




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A Bridge Too Far (1977)



Allied Weapons

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.

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Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk1 .303
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British troops from the XXX Armored Corp. advance with a variety of weapons including the No 4. Mk 1. - 303
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British 1st Airborne Brigade in Arnhem use No 4 Mk. 1 Rifles - .303
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British 1st Airborne soldier in Arnhem using No 4 Mk. 1 Rifle - .303

M1 Garand

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.

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M1 Garand .30-06
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Major Julian Cook (Robert Redford) of the 82nd Airborne leads his soldiers carrying an M1 Garand .30-06
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Major Julian Cook (Robert Redford) hunkers down with his M1 Garand .30-06

M1 Carbine

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.

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World 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
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Col. 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.
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Exhausted 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.
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Korean 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.
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Sgt. 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.
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Closer 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.

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M1A1 Carbine - .30 Carbine.
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American 101st soldier on the far left runs with an M1A1 Carbine - .30 carbine

M1911A1

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.

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M1911A1 .45 ACP
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Sgt. Eddie Dohun (James Caan) threatens the combat surgeon (Arthur Hill) to convince him to treat his friend.

M1911

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.

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M1911 .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.)
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British 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)
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M1A1 Thompson SMG - .45 acp
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101st soldier runs across with an M1/M1A1 Thompson, but none are seen during the battles in the movie - .45acp
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Another 101st Airborne soldier runs off with an M1A1 Thompson - .45acp

Browning Automatic Rifle

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Example of a Browning Automatic Rifle used in film
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82nd Airborne Soldier with a modified BAR prepares to assault the Nijmegen Bridge - 30.06

Browning M2 HB

Used by British Armored troops mounted to their Lend Lease Sherman Tanks.

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Browning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMG
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Grenadier Guard fires his Browning M2 - .50 Cal (Note: In the movie, the sound effect for the .50 cal gun is that of an MG42!

Sten Mk5

The standard submachine gun for British and Polish Airborne units, most featured had the forward pistol grip removed as was the case for Market Garden.

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Sten Mk5 as used by British Airborne.
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Sten Mk5 as used by British 1st Airborne.
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Sten Mk5 used by British Paratroopers.
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British Paratrooper yells for Col. Frost to run, carrying a Sten Mk5 - 9mm

No2 Portable Flamethrower

A No2 Portable Flamethrower is 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.

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No2 Portable Flamethrower as used by British Airborne.

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Cpl. Davies (Alun Armstrong) 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.

PIAT Anti Tank Projectile
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British 1st Airborne prepares to defend Arnhem with PIATs
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British 1st Airborne uses a PIAT

Bren gun

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Bren gun, .303
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British Grenadier Guards fight with a Bren Gun - .303

Vickers Machine Gun

Used by British soldiers when the armored convoy is ambushed.

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Example of a Vickers Mk1 machine gun used in film
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British Grenadier Guards fight with a Vickers - .303

Axis Weapons

Mauser 98K

The Mauser Karabiner 98 (98K) was the standard weapon for all German ground forces during World War II.

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Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm
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German Soldiers defend the Nijmegen Bridge with their K98 - 7.92x57mm
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German Soldiers fight for the Nijmegen Bridge with their K98 rifles - 7.92x57mm
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German defenders of the bridge with the K98 - 7.92x57mm
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A boy drafted into the Wehrmacht fights the Americans with his K98 - 7.92x57mm (note the rear sight being fully elevated)


Karabiner 98 Sniper

Used by designated Marksmen and Snipers in the German Armed forces.

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German soldier aims his K98 Sniper rifle.

MP40

Used by German troops.

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MP40 9mm
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Closeup of an MP40 - 9mm
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A British 1st Airborne soldier use a captured MP40 during the battle for Arnhem - 9mm
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Lieutenant General Wilhelm Bittrich's (Maximilian Schell) guards carry MP40 SMGs - 9mm

MG42

Used by German troops

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Example of a MG42 used in film
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Carried by retreating German Soldiers - MG42

MG34

The most commonly seen machine gun used by German troops in the film is the MG34.

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Example of a MG34 used in film
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German Soldier in the woods scans for US Paratroopers with his MG34.
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More Fighting with the MG34.
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German Panzer Grenadier (wearing anachronistic West German 1960s experimental Cammo pattern) aims his MG34.