Making A Bridge Too Far

by Simon Lewis

A Bridge Too Far, released in 1977, was the last epic WWII movie made in the Hollywood studio system. Its ambitious to recreate the Allied plan Operation Market-Garden in September 1944. The plan was a disaster for the Allies, with the battle for the Arnhem bridge vicious as the British First Airborne held out against overwhelming odds. Producer Joseph E. Levine packed his cast with top stars Anthony Hopkins, Robert Redford, Sean Connery, James Caan, Michael Caine, Elliott Gould, Dirk Bogarde, and Laurence Olivier and shot on location in and around Arnhem. Making ‘ A Bridge Too Far’ answers WWII buffs’ questions about the production. Author Simon Lewis interviewed many in the cast and crew and uncovered a story about bringing WWII to life in 1976 Holland with vintage tanks and aircraft, legions of stunt men and paratroopers, all led by director Sir Richard Attenborough. Making ‘ A Bridge Too Far’ will prove a delight for armchair generals and lovers of old Hollywood. Fun Dutch survivors of the war had no patience for actors dressed as German soldiers; Dirk Bogarde was a British war veteran who had participated in Market-Garden and bore the mental scars to prove it.

384 pages, Hardcover

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, enjoyable read for me. The Movie A Bridge too Far is one of my favorite movies, so when I heard about this book, I picked it up immediately. Lewis does a great job guiding the reader through the process of making the film - the story behind Cornelius Ryan's book, the adaptation of that book to a screenplay, the story behind the financing, casting decisions, challenges of shooting the movie, stunt work, training to create a more accurate feel, negotiations with the local Dutch governments for film locations, distribution - it was great to see the story about the creation of this film, but there are also great insights into the filmmaking process - the challenges, the creativity, the artistry, and the compromises.
Part of what makes the movie are the movie heavyweights and actors involved - Joseph Levine, Richard Attenborough, Bogarde, Caan, Cain, Connery, Hackman, Hopkins, O'Neal, Redford, Schell, Ullmann, Olivier. Lewis does a great job bringing them to life, adding context, and bringing forward many great stories. He also highlights the key role of people involved in production, 2nd and 3rd units, and stunts. There are many great stories in here - Attenborough negotiating to be able to direct his dream movie about Gandhi, Ryan O'Neil and spacecakes, Hackman feeling his was outacted in a scene...
I appreciated that Lewis discussed a number of the challenges of the moviemaking process - veterans objecting to portrayals, a renegade Dutch tank driver, keeping the C-47s operational, working with weather, relations with the locals.
This book provides insight into in my view a great movie and provides insights more broadly into moviemaking and this era of the movies.

[Malcolm Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to go on a battlefield tour to Arnhem about 35 years ago when a senior officer was with us,so we we got information first hand.
This is an excellent book charting the making of the film.You can feel the pressure felt by Attenborough.
In the end the film was very long and although a success at the box office in the UK was not that popular in America.This was probably one of the last large scale films about a WW2 battle.