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The war movie ‘A Bridge Too Far’’ was one of the hits of 1977. It was a much-anticipated extravaganza that was well received by the public , if not all the critics. The movie tells the story of Operation Market Garden. This was an attempt by the allies to seize several key bridges over the Rhine in the Netherlands in 1944. This , it was hoped , would have allowed the Allies to seize control of key crossing points and then attack Northern Germany from the Netherlands. The plan was to use airborne forces to seize the bridges before the Germans could react. Armored divisions would then join the lightly armed paratroopers and secure them for the allies.  However, things did not go to plan, and the Germans were at first able to delay the attacks and then defeated the British paratroopers at Arnhem, the offensive’s key objective. Arnhem was the "Bridge Too Far." Operation Market Garden was widely seen as a failure and resulted in the loss of thousands of Allied paratroopers and soldiers. The 1977 motion picture was directed by Richard Attenborough, a former British movie star. The movie had a huge budget and is visually spectacular.  The movie A Bridge Too Far was based on the non-fiction book of the same name written by the journalist Cornelius Ryan.<ref>McKenna, A. T. "Joseph E. Levine and A Bridge Too Far: A Producer's Labour of Love." <i>Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television</i>. 31 (2011), pp 211–214</ref> Attenborough was committed to making the movie as accurate as possible. The production had several veterans of Market Garden on hand to give technical advice. One of the stars of the movie was Dirk Bogarde, who had fought in the campaign. The movie was a real epic and had an all-star cast. Among its stars were Sean Connery, Ryan O Neill, James Caan, Elliott Gould, Robert Redford, and Gene Hackman. How accurate is <i>A Bridge Too Far</i>, and does it really portray the events during Operation Market Garden? ==Which characters were portrayed in <i>A Bridge Too Far</i>?== All the characters in the film are based on historical figures. Sean Connery played his fellow Scot, Major General Urquhart. Gene Hackman played Polish General Stanislaw Sosabowski. Ryan O Neill had the role of General James Gavin, while Dirk Bogarde played Lt Gen. "Boy" Browning. These characters were key players in Operation Market Garden.<ref> MacKenna, p. 216</ref> The German commanders are all based on those involved in the fighting. For example, Lieutenant General Wilhelm Bittrich, the SS commander at Arnhem, is shown in the movie. However, General Karl Student was not the western front commander when Market Garden commenced; it was Von Rundstedt.

HoweverIn general, things did not go to plan and the Germans were at first able film is very faithful to delay history concerning the attacks and then defeated identity of those involved. However, there was one glaring omission from the British paratroopers at Arnhemmovie, and that was Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. He was the offensive’s key objective. driving force behind Operation Market Garden was widely seen as a failure , and resulted in without him, it is unlikely that it would have even proceeded. The film does not include him, but there are many references to him throughout the loss of thousands of Allied paratroopers and soldiersmovie. Why Attenborough did this is not really known. The 1977 motion picture In Cornelius Ryan’s book, Montgomery was directed by Richard very prominent. It is believed that Attenborough, like many other Britons, had too much respect for Monty, the victor of El Alamein, to include him as a former British movie starcharacter.<ref> Ryan, Cornelius. <i>A Bridge Too Far</i> (Pelican, London, 1970), p 67, 89</ref> The movie had a huge budget also shows the diverse nature of the allied forces in Operation Market Garden, including British, American, Canadian, Free Dutch forces and is visually spectacularPolish Paratroopers.

The movie A Bridge Too Far ==What was based on the non-fiction book Intelligence disaster that doomed Operation Market Garden?==[[File:Arnhem.jpg|300px|thumb|left| Captured British paratroopers at Arnhem, 1944]]One of the same name written by main reasons for the journalist Cornelius Ryanfailure of Operation Market Garden was the fact that many senior officers ignored the warnings from the Dutch Resistance.<ref>McKenna, A. T. "Joseph E. Levine The British and Montgomery had believed that the Germans were all but defeated and A Bridge Too Far: A Producer's Labour of Love"that their morale was low. <iref>Historical Journal of FilmRyan, Radio and Television</i>p. 31 (2011), pp 211–21437</ref> Attenborough He also believed that the bridges were only lightly defended, which was committed to making the movie as accurate as possiblecorrect, but he did not consider that there were substantial German forces near these bridges. The production In fact, Von Rundstedt had several veterans of Market Garden on hand, ordered two SS divisions to give technical advice. One of the stars of the movie was Dirk Bogarde who had fought in the campaign. The movie was a real epic area around Arnhem for rest and had an all-star castto be refitted. Among its stars were Sean Connery, <ref> Ryan O Neill, James Caan, Elliott Gould, Robert Redford and Gene Hackmanp. How accurate is <i>A Bridge Too Far34</iref> and does it really portray The Dutch Resistance had informed the events during Operation Market Garden?British of this.

===The characters=== All Furthermore, the characters in British intelligence service had passed on evidence that corroborated the Dutch claims to the film are based on historical figuresAllied high command. Sean Connery played his fellow Scot, Major General Urquhart. Gene Hackman played Polish General Stanislaw Sosabowski. Ryan O Neill They had solid evidence that the Germans had regrouped in the role of General James Gavin, while Dirk Bogarde played Lt Gen. "Boy" Browning. These characters Arnhem area and were key players in Operation Market Garden.<ref> MacKenna, pa formidable fighting force. 216</ref> The German commanders are all based on those who were involved in In the fighting, for examplemovie, Lieutenant -General Wilhelm BittrichFrederick Browning, commander of the SS commander at Arnhem airborne operation is shown in the movieignoring warnings. HoweverMajor Fuller (based on the British intelligence Officer and future diplomat Brian Urquhart), General Karl Student was an intelligence officer, shows Browning (Dirk Bogarde) photos of the Panther and Tiger tanks, but this does not stop the commander on Operation. Browning refused to accept that there were German divisions in the western front when Market Garden commenced it was Von Rundstedttarget areas.

In generalfact, the film is very faithful to history with regard to the identity of those involved. However, there was one glaring omission from the movie and despite being told by his own intelligence officer that was Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. He was the driving force behind Operation Market Garden and without himSS panzers were located near Arnhem, it is unlikely that it would have even proceeded. Yet the film does not include him but there are many references to him throughout the movie. Why Attenborough Browning did this is not really known. In Cornelius Ryan’s book, Montgomery was very prominent. It is believed even order that Attenborough like many other Britons had too much respect for Monty, the victor of El Alamein to include him as a characterparatroopers landing in the area be equipped with any anti-tank weapons.<ref> Ryan, Corneliusp. A Bridge Too Far (Pelican, London, 1970), p 67, 89114</ref> The movie also shows the diverse nature of Browning is shown as placing any officers who called for the allied forces in Operation Market Gardento be canceled, including Britishsuch as the intelligence officer, Americanon sick leave, Canadian, Free which is correct. The anger of the Dutch forces and Polish ParatroopersResistance when their intelligence was ignored is also true. The series of intelligence failures that led to Arnhem's disaster is portrayed in the movie very accurately.

===Intelligence disaster=Were the individual battles portrayed accurately in <i>A Bridge Too Far?</i>==[[File:ArnhemThe movie was very committed to showing the real campaign, and in general, it does illustrate how the battle unfolded.jpg|200px|thumb|left| Captured British paratroopers at Arnhem It somewhat simplifies what happened, 1944]]One but it gives a good overview of the main reasons for fighting and the failure operation. The first day of Operation Market Garden was the fact that many senior officers simply ignored campaign went well, and the warnings from the Dutch Resistanceallied paratroopers seized several key targets, including several bridges. The British and Montgomery had believed that By the Germans were all but defeated and that their morale was low.<ref> Ryansecond day, pthe paratroopers began to take heavy casualties. 37</ref> He It also believed that correctly shows the bridges were only lightly defended which was correct, but he did not consider that there were substantial German forces near these bridgescontribution of the Dutch Resistance to the Allied cause. In factone memorable scene, Von Rundstedt had ordered two SS divisions to the area around Arnhem we see Dutch resistance fighters using dead bodies for rest barricades, and to be refittedthis occurred. <ref> Ryan, p. 34</ref> The Dutch Resistance had informed Germans were able to respond very quickly to the British of thisairborne attacks.

FurthermoreIn one scene in the movie, the British intelligence service Germans are shown as detonating explosives that they had passed on evidence that corroborated rigged to a bridge. This is what happened. The movie also shows the Dutch claims to ferocity of the Allied high commandGerman resistance very accurately. They had solid evidence that It shows how the Germans had regrouped in could slow down the Arnhem area and were a formidable fighting force. In British unit's advance, the movie Lieutenant General Frederick BrowningIrish Guards, commander of as they tried to move forward along the airborne operation is shown ignoring warningsnarrow Dutch roads<. Major Fullerref> Ryan, an intelligence officer, shows Browning (Dirk Bogarde) photos of p. 234</ref> Holland's geography helped the German defenders because the Panther and Tiger British tanks but even this does could not stop drive off the Operationroads because of the many canals. Browning refused to accept This meant that there were German divisions in the target areasNazis inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing allies and fatefully slowed down their advance. The movie, which is quite long even for a Hollywood blockbuster, shows nearly all the key battles, including how the Americans captured the bridge at Nijmegen by rowing across the river and attacking the Germans from behind.

In fact, Browning despite being told by his own intelligence officer that SS panzers were located near Arnhem, did not even order that the paratroopers landing in the area be equipped with any anti<dh-tank weapons<ref> Ryan, p. 114<ad/ref>. Browning is shown as placing any officers who called for the Operation to be canceled such as the intelligence officer, on sick leave, which is correct. The anger of the Dutch Resistance when their intelligence was ignored is also true. The series of intelligence failures that led to the disaster at Arnhem is portrayed in the movie very accurately.

===The campaign===The movie was very committed to show accurately shows the importance of the real campaign SS 9th and 10th Division and in general, it does illustrate how they helped pin down the battle unfoldedBritish at Arnhem. It does somewhat simplify what happened but it gives a good overview of the fighting and Without the operation. The first day intervention of the campaign went well and elite SS troops, the allied paratroopers seizedBritish would have been able to secure their objective at Arnhem, several key targets including several bridgesholding the bridge until an armored division arrived. By However, the second day, SS with their tanks were too much for the lightly armed paratroopers began . The significance of Arnhem to take heavy casualtiesOperation Market Garden is also shown in the film. It also A Bridge Too Far correctly shows that the contribution of British and Americans captured all the Dutch Resistance to bridges except the Allied causekey one at Arnhem, which is correct.<ref>Badsey, Stephen. In one memorable scene<i>Arnhem 1944: Operation Market Garden</i> (London: Osprey Publishing, 1993), we see Dutch resistance fighters using dead bodies for barricades and this occurredp. The Germans were able to respond very quickly to 267</ref> Indeed, Browning claims in the movie that the airborne attacksoperation was 90% successful as a result.

In one scene in the movieHowever, the Germans are shown as detonating explosives that they had rigged to a bridge. This is what happened. The movie also shows very accurately that because the ferocity of the German resistance. It shows how the Germans British paratroopers could slow down not hold the advance of the British unitBridge at Arnhem, the Irish Guards, as they tried to move forward along the narrow Dutch roads<ref> Ryan, p. 234</ref>offensive was costly. The geography rest of Holland helped the German defenders because the British tanks could allied army did not drive off reach them in time, which led to their near annihilation by the roads because of SS. Attenborough’s movie shows Operation Market Garden to be a failure, and this was the many canalscase. This meant that the Nazis inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing allies and fatefully slowed down their advance. The movie, which is quite long even for a Hollywood blockbuster shows nearly all the key battles, including how the Americans were able to capture view held by the bridge Allied High Command at Nijmegen by rowing across the river time and attacking the Germans from behindby historians since.

The movie shows very accurately ==Who wrote the book <i>A Bridge Too Far?</i>==<i>A Bridge Too Far</i> was the importance title of Ryan’s book upon which the SS 9th and 10th Division and how they helped to pin down movie was based. The phrase a Bridge Too Far accurately sums up the British at Arnhem. Without reason for the intervention defeat of the elite SS troops, allied advance. In the British would have been able to secure their objective at Arnhemmovie, that this phrase is uttered by Browning. This is to hold the bridge until an armored division arrivedcorrect, and he did indeed say it. However, in the movie, he speaks the SS with their tanks were too much for phrase at the lightly armed paratroopers. The significance end of Arnhem to Operation Market Garden is also shown in after the film. A Bridge Too Far correctly shows that Allied efforts to take the British and Americans captured all the bridges except the key one bridge at Arnhem and this is correcthad failed.<ref>Badsey, Stephen. <i>Arnhem 1944: Operation Market Garden</i> (London: Osprey Publishing, 1993), p. 267</ref> Indeed, Browning claims in the movie that the operation was 90% successful as a result.

HoweverIn fact, Browning used the movie shows phrase a Bridge Too Far in conversation with Montgomery before the operation started. He had some misgivings about Montgomery's ambitious strategy. He stated that because he was worried about the British paratroopers could not hold timetable and that if the Bridge at attack was delayed, Arnhem the offensive was could prove to be a costly failureBridge Too Far. <ref>Ryan, p. 123</ref>. The rest of Polish General Stanislaw Sosabowski also had genuine doubts and stated that he too feared that the allied army did Bridge at Arnhem could not reach them be reached in time and this led to their near annihilation by the SS. Attenborough’s movie shows Operation Market Garden to be a failure and this was the case. This is accurately shown in the view held by the Allied High Command at the time and by historians sincemovie.

==<A Bridge Too FarWho was to blame for Operation Market Garden's Failure?==<i>[[File:1200px-Shooting of a scene from A Bridge Too Far</i> was the title of Ryan’s book upon which bridge too far.jpg |300px|thumb|left|Shooting a bridge scene from in the movie was based. ]]The phrase a Bridge Too Far accurately sums up movie seems to lay much of the reason blame for the defeat failure of the allied advanceOperation Market Garden on Browning. In the movie, this phrase he is uttered by Browning. This is correct and he did indeed say it. Howevershown as not a very likable character, in the movie he speaks the phrase at the end of Operation Market Garden after the Allied efforts which seems to take have been the bridge at Arnhem had failedcase. In factthe book upon which the movie is based, Browning used the phrase a Bridge Too Far in conversation with Montgomery before the Operation started. He had some misgivings about ultimate blame for the ambitious strategy failure of Market Garden was placed firmly on Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and he stated that he was worried about the timetable and that if the attack was delayed that Arnhem could prove to be a Bridge Too Far. <ref>Ryan, p. 123401</ref>. The Polish General Stanislaw Sosabowski also had genuine doubts and stated that he too feared that the Bridge at Arnhem could not be reached in time. This Most historians would agree with this, but Montgomery is accurately shown in noticeably missing from the movie.

===Who was to blame===[[File:1200px-Shooting At the end of a scene from A bridge too farthe movie, Browning's character is shown criticizing Montgomery’s tactics and orders.jpg |200px|thumb|left| shooting a scene in While Browning made many mistakes, including ignoring the movie]]The movie seems to lay much of intelligence, the ultimate blame for the failure of Operation Market Garden on Browninglay with Montgomery. In the movie, he is shown as not It was his idea that airborne forces should be used to secure a very likable character, narrow strip of territory in Holland which seems would be used to have been hold key bridges that would allow the case. In Allies to cross the book upon which Rhine, the movie is based Nazi’s regime last line of defense in the ultimate blame for the failure of Market Garden was placed firmly on Field Marshal Bernard Montgomerywest.<ref>RyanBadsey, p. 401214</ref> Most historians would agree The strategy was too ambitious, and the idea of holding territory with this. In the movie, Montgomery is missing lightly armed airborne troops was somewhat reckless and not even shown on screenmisguided.

At Earlier in the end of war, in Crete, the movieGermans had learned this lesson, and they had abandoned the character idea of large-scale airborne operations by paratroopers. Montgomery did not heed this and instead produced a plan that had a high likelihood of Browning failure. The movie somewhat spares Montgomery, and this is shown criticizing Montgomery’s tactics unfair. It seems likely that Attenborough knew that if they blamed the great British hero that it would be controversial and ordersbad for box office. While Browning made many mistakes, including ignoring The movie also does not show the intelligence, unpleasant way the ultimate British commanders tried to blame for the failure of Market Garden lay with MontgomeryPolish commander Stanislaw Sosabowski. It was In fact, he had opposed the plan and had wanted his idea that airborne forces should be used men to secure a narrow strip of territory in Holland which would be used dropped into his native land to hold key bridges which would allow help the Allies Polish Resistance to cross liberate their country from the Rhine, the Nazi’s regime last line of defense in the westNazis.<ref>BadseyBadesy, p. 214289</ref> The strategy was too ambitious and the idea of holding territory with lightly armed airborne troops was somewhat reckless and misguided.

Earlier in ==How accurate is the war, in Crete, the Germans had learned this lesson movie?==Hollywood has a long history of getting it wrong on history. Movies often sacrifice truth to enhance entertainment and they had abandoned the idea of largebox-scale airborne operations by paratroopersoffice appeal. Montgomery did This is not heed this the case with Attenborough’s <i>A Bridge Too Far</i>. It is very accurate and instead produced a plan that had gives a high likelihood good account of failure. The movie somewhat spares Montgomery Operation Market Garden, its battles, and this is unfair. It seems likely that Attenborough knew that if they blamed most of the great British hero that reasons as to why it would be controversial and bad for box officefailed. The movie also does not show movie’s portrayal of the unpleasant way that battles is particularly accurate and shows the British commanders tried to place some intensity of the blame for the failure on the Polish commander Stanislaw Sosabowskifighting. In factHowever, he had opposed the plan there are some minor inaccuracies about units and had wanted his men to be dropped into his native land to help the Polish Resistance to liberate their country from the Nazisarmaments.<ref>Badesy, p. 289</ref>

===How accurate is The motion picture does show all the movie===Hollywood has a long history of getting it wrong on history. Movies often sacrifice truth to enchance entertainment leading players in Market Garden, and box-office appeal. This is not the case with Attenborough’s <i>A Bridge Too Far</i>. It is very accurate and gives a good account only real omission was Montgomery, who was the architect of Operation Market Garden. Indeed, its battles and most this is perhaps the main failing of the reasons as movie. The movie noticeably fails to why it failedshow who was ultimately responsible for the failure of Market Garden. The movie’s portrayal Browning's rejection of the battles is particularly accurate intelligence offered by the Dutch Resistance and shows his own intelligence service was critical. However, Montgomery must take the intensity major share of the fightingblame for the disaster, which is not shown in the motion picture. Although there are some minor inaccuracies about units The movie is historically accurate; however, many critics argue that this made the film less dramatic, entertaining, repetitive, and armamentsoverlong.

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