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| Special Features: |
Widescreen anamorphic format.
Chapter selection.
Theatrical trailer.
8-page booklet featuring trivia, production notes and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie.
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| Video Format: |
Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
[SS-DL]
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| Languages: |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
French (Dolby Digital 1.0)
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| Captions: |
English, French.
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| Sides: |
1-Disc Keep Case
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Following D-Day, British General Montgomery though up a plan to put an end to the war with Germany as quick as possible. In September 1944, Montgomery’s plan (approved by Eisenhower) was set in motion. Operation Market Garden involved an invasion of the Low Countries and drive the German’s back across their own borders. The key to the operation was parachuting behind the German’s front lines and securing seven critical bridges for an allied push. As the title of the film implies, the operation went "A Bridge to Far." Director Richard Attenborough’s epic WWII film was the brain-child of United Artist producer Joseph E. Levine. One of the most expensive films made at the time of its release, "A Bridge to Far" is an all-star, epic war movie that is somewhat misguided in that it tells the story of a defeat.
I saw "A Bridge to Far" in Biloxi Mississippi when it was first released. I was stationed there at Keesler Field. I didn’t like the movie. Yes it had a great cast, yes it had incredible battle sequences, yes it was beautifully photographed and directed, but it was missing something. What was missing was a message other than the folly of war, because as an anti-war film, it doesn’t work. An anti-war film would not be so glamorous. "A Bridge to Far" tells the story of an ill-conceived operation which costs tens of thousands of lives needlessly because of the ego of General Montgomery. Anyone who ever saw "Patton" knows what an ego-maniac he was.
I saw "A Bridge to Far" for the second time (24 years later) this week. While I liked it better than the first time I saw it, my overall take on the film is the same. Why hire every A-List male actor in the world to tell the story about the good-guys losing? Maybe, I’ve returned to the same hawkish viewpoint I held while in the military because of the event of September 11. The film is well made. Director Attenborough is no David Leane, but he does know how to produce epic films. The performances range from excellent to throw-away. The battle sequences will please the most picky war film connoisseurs.
The cast includes Sean Connery, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, Robert Redford, Laurence Olivier, Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Edward Fox, Elliot Gould, Ryan O’Neal, Michael Caine, Liv Ullman, Hardy Kruger, Maximillian Schell, Arthur Hill and a whole bunch more. The film is so big that it seems cold. I think Joseph E. Levene went "A Movie to Far."
MGM has been releasing some older films without a lot of extras. Fortunately they are priced to reflect the 'vanilla' quality of the product. This one such disk. The picture is good, the sound fair, the movie I have mixed feelings about.
Picture Quality: 7/10
I don't believe the picture was remastered for the transfer. Filming through gauze was big in the 70s for atmospher. It gave the films a hazy, romantic look. This movie has that effect in many scenes but I couldn't tell you why.
Sound Quality: 5/10
Poor sound track. The battle sounds have a tin-like quality. Ho-hum.
Menu: 6/10
Easy to navigate. Gets the job done. Not much to navigate through.
Extra Features: 3/10
The trailer is of poor picture and sound quality. The booklet of production notes is of some interest.
The Final Word:
If you like the movie, get the disk. I can't really recommend it as the movie is such a bummer. If I were to recommend "A Bridge to Far" it would be for James Caan's 4 minute cameo appearance.
Rusty White
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