A Bridge Too Far is a 1977 World War II film based on the 1974 bestselling book of the same name written by Cornelius Ryan and was directed by Sir Richard Attenborough, the British actor/director 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. The screenplay adaptation was written by William Goldman (Marathon Man, Harper, Misery) and the film featured an all-star cast including Sean Connery, Gene Hackman, Laurence Olivier, Ryan O'Neal, Robert Redford, James Caan and Anthony Hopkins. A Bridge Too Far 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 enemy-occupied Holland in order to allow a British 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 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 Mk 1* 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 Nijmegen 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 used by US Airborne officers and NCOs in the film. Most notably seen when Sergeant Eddie Dohun (James Caan) pulls one out of his jeep when he is hiding from a German patrol in the forest. Also used by Col. Robert 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 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, the bayonet lug is Korean War issue.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSgt. Eddie Dohun (James Caan) readies his M1 Carbine. This 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 Colt M1911A1 is used throughout the film, especially by Sgt. Eddie Dohun (James Caan) when threatening an Army combat surgeon (Arthur Hill) in order to convince 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 Colt M1911 chambered in .455 Webley, issued to members of the R.A.F. In the film, the M1911 is used by British 1st Airborne Major 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 briefly seen 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 paratroopers.
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 his M1928A1 Thompson, noted by the top actuator (wartime-produced M1/M1A1 Thompsons have side actuators). This seems to be the only case where an M1928A1 Thompson 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 Nijmegen Bridge.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingEarly version M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn 82nd Airborne paratrooper with his modified BAR ready to provide cover fire for Major Cook (Robert Redford) 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 film being used by British and Polish Airborne units (who were similarly equipped). This weapon fired a 3-pound 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 No. 2 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 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 Gewehr 98.
The MP40 is used by German troops in the film. A British paratrooper also uses a captured MP40 during the chaotic urban combat in Arnhem.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingMaschinenpistole 40 - 9x19mmError creating thumbnail: File missingA German soldier (Tim Beekman) with his MP40. He fires it briefly but the sound is actually that of an MG42.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe MP40s are seen in hands of retreating German soldiers.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA British 1st Airborne soldier uses his captured MP40 during the battle for Arnhem. An interesting trivia: The British Sten submachine gun was designed to take the stick magazine of the MP40 meaning the British forces could (and probably did) use German ammo and magazines. In this case, though, the paratrooper had no time to properly "loot" the Germans.Error creating thumbnail: File missingLieutenant General Wilhelm Bittrich's (Maximilian Schell) guards carry MP40 submachine guns.
Machine Guns
MG34
The most commonly seen machine gun used by German troops in the film is the MG34.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingEarly MG42 - 7.92x57mm Mauser. The characteristic feature of the early model is a white grip cladding made of metal and a horizontal charging handle.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn MG42 is carried by a retreating German soldier. Note the early slab-sided horizontal charging handle, this is possibly the only appearance of this extremely rare handle in media.Error creating thumbnail: File missingDuring the XXX Corps' advance, German defenders (second and third soldier on the right) are seen with an MG42. This one is mounted on a tripod with a MG.Z.40 scope attached.
Others
7.5 cm Pak 40
German soldiers use several 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank guns in an attempt to repel the XXX Corps' advance.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingPanzerabwehrkanone (PaK) 40 - 75x714mmRError creating thumbnail: File missingGerman soldiers waiting to open fire with their Pak 40s. An interesting note is that by 1944, the German AT-guns were actually painted in either Olivgrün, Rotbraun (2) or Gelbraun camouflage. The gray camouflage seen here, however, is a cinematic means often used to distinguish the different armies. Only at the beginning of WWII, the factory gray was common for heavy weapons. Also worth mention is the insufficient distance between the guns.
5 cm Granatwerfer 36
German soldiers are briefly seen with a Granatwerfer 36 Mortar during the XXX Corps' advance.
Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank (mocked up as a German Panther)
1960s vintage Leopard 1 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 'film' 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 missingLeopard 1 tank. Notice the marks on the gun mantlet. Also notice how the modern sights and smoke grenade launchers are covered up in the film. Also note the shape of the driver's hatch.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe German "Panther" tank is 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" tank front view. The muzzle brake is missing here as the gun is actually seen firing.Error creating thumbnail: File missingRear view of "Panther" tank.
Sherman Tanks
In order to supplement the actual tanks used in the depiction of the XXX Corps' column, several of the Shermans were actually fibreglass replicas (cast from real tanks) that were placed over LWB Land Rovers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe tanks seen 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.
