On TV Tonight: Before Saving Private Ryan, there was this war movie

In September 1944, the Allied forces are thinking of ending the war as soon as possible. Designed by British General Montgomery, Operation Market Garden attempted an unprecedented bold move: parachuting several British and American airborne divisions behind German lines to capture several strategic bridges that would allow ground troops to cross the Rhine and march directly into Germany. The attack should make it possible to reach the Dutch city of Arnhem, located on the banks of the Rhine, behind the third bridge. But didn’t Montgomery set the bridge too far?

Told in Cornelius Ryan’s 1974 novel A Bridge Too Far, this story was brought to the screen three years later by British film director Richard Attenborough. With a budget of $25 million – a colossal amount at the time – the latter recreated the five days of the operation as faithfully as possible.

In addition to a prestigious cast – say Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Dirk Bogard, who actually served during the battle at Arnhem, James Caan or even Robert Redford – A Bridge Too Far benefits from real authenticity from the sets and props. Indeed, the vehicles, tools and uniforms are period.

In addition, the film is based on the testimonies of the real heroes of the operation, who work as technical advisers, which makes it possible to transcribe on the screen all the severity and violence of the clashes. We remember some memorable scenes, including the airplanes flying over the church, the bombing or the parachute scene.

Richard Attenborough’s A Bridge Too Far with Dirk Bogard, Sean Connery, Ryan O’Neill…

Tonight on Arte at 20:50.