A Bridge Too Far

[greg.hays]

I have to admit I had not really a clue about the battle of Arnhem prior to reading A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan. This book tells the story in all it's folly from the standpoint of everyone from the Dutch civillians caught in the middle all the way up to the British and American strategists. Really a moving account of one of the most dramatic battles of the War.......a must read if you haven't already.

[behblc]

A Bridge Too Far.

I read a Bridge too far several years ago ,it is a good read , hard to put down.
Also see the 2 Vol history by After The Battle - its outstanding.
Martin Middlebrooks " The Airborne battle" is also very good - MM never wrote a bad book.

[Chet Sowersby]

Greg,
If you liked "A Bridge too Far" be sure to check out Ryan's other two books. Of the triology my favorite is "The Last Battle".

Chet

[Seigfried]

Greg,
Of the triology my favorite is "The Last Battle".

Chet

I agree - many accounts in 'The Last Battle' are numbered and can be located with the aid of the map atthe front so that you can see exactly where events happened - my copy was essential on my berlin trip.

[Daniele C]

i have the dvd movie of it if anyone else seen it?i liked it

[Seigfried]

i have the dvd movie of it if anyone else seen it?i liked it

Who made it and when did it come out ?

[Daniele C]

its an old movie about 74 with robert redford if im not wrong,if u go to any dvd shop u ll find it no probs as i got mine in ireland

im talkin about A BRIDGE TOO FAR

[Seigfried]

its an old movie about 74 with robert redford if im not wrong,if u go to any dvd shop u ll find it no probs as i got mine in ireland

im talkin about A BRIDGE TOO FAR

I just realised! I thought you meant a film called 'The Last Battle'! I've seen 'A Bridge...' 100's of times!

[Daniele C]

ah that s cool

[ramon]

its an old movie about 74 with robert redford if im not wrong,if u go to any dvd shop u ll find it no probs as i got mine in ireland

im talkin about A BRIDGE TOO FAR

A Bridge Too Far, a film too long.

[Seigfried]

A Bridge Too Far, a film too long.

Does your television have an on/off switch?

[ramon]

Does your television have an on/off switch?

Ouch, thal'll leave a mark...

Other than a look askance at your intolerance for opinions differing from your fawning appreciation, criticism concerning the length of this movie is a legitimate film related comment.

Johnnie, get a grip.

Ramon

[Peter_Suciu]

Ramon--
I agree that the movie does have some issues with pacing too. It isn't so much that it is long, it just that it has some issue with the flow of the story. This is always a problem with historical events as opposed to fiction, but the film also probably needed a better climax. After the battle at Nijmegen the film continues on for another half hour but sort of just deflates.

Great film overall, but I see your point about it being a little too long. Look at this way... if it was made today they'd have to finish the film with Operation Varsity so that the "heroes" could have a victory in the end!

And lelez, it came out in 1977. One of the most expensive movies produced by MGM. It was a hit when released internationally but a small American film blew it out of the water that year.

[Bobwirtz]

Cornelius Ryan was a great author. It's ashamed that we lost him in 1975.

The most interesting thing about the movie to me is the fact that they used everybody's real name and parts, except Heinz Harmel, played by Hardy Kruger. For the movie they changed his name. And there was no character playing Walter Harzer, an SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer who ended up in command of the 9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen", which was the division (what was left of it after the Normandy campaign) that stayed in Arnhem and fought the British paratroopers. Heinz Harmel took the sister division, "Frundsberg" to Nijmegen to counter the Americans. It seems in the movie they combined these two men into one and gave him a different name; however, all of the other historic personalities were portrayed with their correct names! Such is Hollywood! Also the US Colonel depicted by Elliot Gould (M*A*S*H, the movie) was ficticious and the bridge didn't blow up in his face.

Bob

[Peter_Suciu]

Cornelius Ryan was a great author. It's ashamed that we lost him in 1975.

I believe you mean "it is a shame" of course!

It is a pity he didn't see the movie version of his book. I think he would have been impressed. I read that he felt that "The Longest Day" was quite well done.