Gaff1981

15th Oct 2005

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

Trivia: The film-makers spared no expense in securing exact military equipment used during the war, borrowing from museums, veterans' organizations and private collections. One tank was even removed from a war memorial and made to run again. Despite all these efforts they still had too few, so had to create fibreglass replicas.

Gaff1981

15th Oct 2005

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

Trivia: Recreating the Horsa gliders was more complicated than expected. There were none left in existence and no schematics. After locating a few photos and other references, the production designers managed to create 12 gliders - at a cost of $35,000 each.

Gaff1981

15th Oct 2005

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

Trivia: Dirk Bogarde actually served during the real battle at Arnhem. He was personally chosen by Field Marshal Montgomery to work in intelligence.

Gaff1981

15th Oct 2005

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

Trivia: During the filming of scenes which see Anthony Hopkins running across the battleground, the real Lt.Col. John Frost complained of the way he was being portrayed, saying, "You wouldn't run the crossfire. You'd show the enemy contempt for danger by crossing the road slowly." Hopkins tried this approach, but as soon as gunfire started his instinct was to run.

Gaff1981

24th Aug 2005

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

24th Aug 2005

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

Trivia: The character of umbrella wielding Major Harry Carlyle was inspired by real life Major Allison Digby Tatham-Warter, who said that he 'carried the umbrella because he could never remember the password, and it would be quite obvious to anyone that the bloody fool carrying the umbrella could only be an Englishman'. Unlike Carlyle in the film, Major Tatham-Warter survived the battle and was captured by the Germans. He escaped, and in the weeks that followed, aided by Dutch Resistance, helped hundreds of other soldiers in similar situations to be evacuated to safety.

Gaff1981

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