Great movie, complex tale

Rating: Null/10 (24 August 2004)

Watched it recently on video after a gap of at least 10 years and remains one of my favourite war movies, with a star-studded cast, stirring musical score and enthralling, yet tragic, storyline. Only downside is it's complexity. Read Ryan's books and you'll find out more about this critical Allied defeat in WWII. It covers facts vital to the result of the mission that the film left out, such as the Allies' failure to capture the Belgian channel ports that would have eased Market Garden's re-supply problem and the critical mistake of not dropping the paras at Arnhem in one full drop, resulting in the loss of surprise. The book also clarifies the casting of Ryan O'Neal. General Gavin, who he portrayed, was in his late 30s at Arnhem - so Attenbrough was spot with O'Neal. I also felt General Browning, played by Bogarde, was unfairly depicted as the villain. After all, he warned Montgomery, his immediate superior, that going for Arnhem Bridge was a 'Bridge too far'.