A faithful rendition of a disastrous Allied military operation in Holland in WWII..

Rating: 7/10 (28 December 2004)

I appreciated the stellar cast but it did have a disadvantage : the many actors did not have the opportunity to display their thespian abilities. But it was just as well as too much acting would have detracted from the more interesting historical details which really account for the strength of the film.
Wolfgang Preiss who portrayed Field Marshall Gen. Von Runstedt was the most effective actor in the movie. He conveyed the persona of a confident, practical and honest military commander and not without a keen sense of humor. Maximillian Schell also did well as the compassionate Lt. Gen. Bittrich, surprising considering that he was an SS Panzer man. Hardy Kruger as Maj. Gen. Ludwig seemed morose but that was hardly his fault as he had few speaking parts. I don't know what it is about his face but he doesn't strike me as German. He looks more like an American baseball player. By the way, for those who are confused why Maj. Gen. Ludwig (Hardy Kruger)took orders from Lt. Gen. Bittrich (Maximillian Schell), it must be explained that within the rank of generals, a lieutenant outranks a major.
Gene Hackman was terrible with that unlikely Polish accent. Ryan O'Neal, Robert Redford and Eliot Gould were so-so, ho-hum. Dirk Bogarde as a British martinet and "Col. Blimp" was a lot of fun but the role did not really fit his handsome looks. We must thank Sir Laurence Olivier for deigning to take the role of what could only be called an "extra." But I suppose most of the big name actors who signed on to this movie did so because they appreciated its historical value and they knew that it would remain an important movie for all time.
I must complain about the puny armored vehicles used by the Panzer unit commanded by Lt. Gen. Bittrich : No authentic looking Tiger and the later model Panther tanks.
What I liked most was the musical theme composed and conducted by John Addison who was a veteran of Market Garden having been a soldier with the XXX Corps (British) under Gen. Horrocks. We don't even know if it has a title or is it simply just the "A Bridge Too Far Theme."