During the1970s, Hollywood was steadily churning out one grippingwarmovie after another, with belovedclassics likeApocalypse Now, Patton,andThe Deer Hunterall making their unforgettable debuts during the decade. In 1977, decorated director Richard Attenborough helmed the sweeping epicA Bridge Too Far, enlisting some of the silver screen’s finest actors to headline the drama, including Michael Caine, Robert Redford, and Sean Connery (to name just a few).
Chronicling a failed Allied operation during World War II known as Operation Market Garden, the film garnered widespread praise from moviegoers and became a box office triumph, grossing over $50 million and becoming the sixth highest-grossing release of the year. Despite earning numerous accolades,A Bridge Too Fardivided critics due to its long runtime and muddled pacing, yet in the nearly fifty years since its release, it still remains a must-see war hit that features powerhouse performances by its stacked cast. Let’s take a closer look at the underrated gem.
Hollywood Heavyweights Unite for ‘A Bridge Too Far’
Based on the book of the same name by historian Cornelius Ryan,A Bridge Too Farrecounts the true events surrounding Operation Market Garden, a doomed Allied military operation that took place in September 1944 in the German-occupied Netherlands during which troops attempted to break through German lines in the towns of Eindhoven, Nijmegen, and Arnhem by taking control of a series of bridges. In the thrilling film,Hollywood legend Sean Conneryportrays British Major-General Roy Urquhart, who, along with American General James Gavin (Ryan O’Neal), set out to lead their paratrooper force and take the highway leading into Germany from the Netherlands.
Operation Market Garden was to be achieved through two sub-operations: by seizing nine bridges with Allied airborne forces and then by British land forces following suit on the ground below. Director Richard Attenborough enlisted the cinema’s brightest stars to help bring the harrowing historical event to life, with the big-name actors all agreeing to participate on a “favoured-nation” basis that nabbed them the same weekly fee of $250,000 per week. Both established and rising performers like Anthony Hopkins, Robert Redford, James Caan,and Gene Hackmanappeared as the determined Allied forces in the war epic.
A Bridge Too Farwas shot on location in the Netherlands in many of the real-life locations where the historical battle took place. Attenborough knew that the filming of the spectacular scene in which the American-led paratrooper attacks the Bridge at Nijmegen had to be shot perfectly due to time restraints and budget, so he utilized a whopping 19 cameras to capture the scene.The director’s dedication to accurately recreating the combat sequences helped make for an exhilarating experience for audiences, and both the real Generals Urquhart and Horrocks served as military advisers, which only added toits historical accuracy.
‘A Bridge Too Far’ Becomes an Underrated War Classic
A Bridge Too Farmade its premiere on July 20, 2025, and became a runaway hit with audiences, who were completely captivated by the film’s exciting action sequences, riveting storyline, and the many cameos and performances by Hollywood’s most dazzling superstars. Not only were the combat scenes rooted in reality (like when the Allied soldiers were forced to stealthily cross the river by a small boat while avoiding being detected by enemy troops), but the breathtaking cinematography and extravagant set pieces helped transport moviegoers back in time.
With box office earnings of $50.7 million against a $25 million budget,A Bridge Too Farbecame a certified knockoutdespite critics being torn between its borderline overly-ambitious storytelling and extremely long runtime (the film was a whopping 176 minutes). Though its length remained a major point of contention, the war drama nonetheless received four BAFTA Awards and was named Best Film by the Evening Standard British Film Awards, while helping further establish its illustrious cast as certified Hollywood heavyweights.
The Washington Post declared the film “an unusually conscientious and impressive war epic” that featured “a generally superior level of filmmaking intelligence and craftsmanship.” Many have gone on to claim thatA Bridge Too Farwas snubbed by the Academy Awards and American critics because it detailed the deadly inadequacies and shortcomings of the failed Allied campaign, as opposed to providing a more positive representation of American troops. Regardless of the initial blowback,A Bridge Too Faris a must-see for fans of theadrenaline-pumping genre, and viewers will love seeing some of the cinema’s greatest actors unite to fight for freedom and peace.
StreamA Bridge Too FaronPrime Video
A Bridge Too Far
