Every day, AlloCiné recommends a film to (re)watch on TV. This evening: a great war film by Richard Attenborough.
In September 1944, the Allied forces are considering a way to end the war as soon as possible. Operation Market Garden, designed by British General Montgomery, attempted an unprecedented daring move: parachuting several British and American airborne divisions behind German lines, in order to capture several strategic bridges that would allow ground troops to cross the Rhine and to enter Germany directly. The attack must make it possible to reach the city of Arnhem, in the Netherlands, located on the bank of the Rhine, behind the third bridge to be taken. But didn’t Montgomery aim for a bridge too far?
Recounted in the novel “A Bridge Too Far” by Cornelius Ryan in 1974, this story, unknown to the general public, was brought to the screen three years later by British filmmaker Richard Attenborough. With a budget of 25 million dollars – a colossal sum at the time – the latter recreated the five days of the operation as faithfully as possible.
In addition to its prestigious cast – let us quote Sean Connery, Michael Cain, Anthony Hopkins, Dirk Bogarde, who actually served in Arnhem during the battle, James Caan or even Robert Redford -, A Bridge Too Far benefits from a real authenticity in terms of decorations and accessories. Indeed, the vehicles, weapons and uniforms are period.
In addition, the film is based on the testimonies of the real protagonists of the operation, officiating as technical advisers, which makes it possible to transcribe all the harshness and violence of the clashes on the screen. We remember several memorable scenes, including the passage of planes over a church, the shelling or the parachute scene.
A Bridge Too Far by Richard Attenborough with Dirk Bogarde, Sean Connery, Ryan O’Neal…
Tonight on Arte at 8:50 p.m.