A Bridge Too Far (1977)

In September 1944, the Allies launch an operation known as Operation Market Garden. The intent is to go behind German lines and seize several bridges in occupied Holland which would (hopefully) effectively end the war in Europe by Christmas. Instead, what transpires is a horrible blunder and disaster. Based on the non fiction book by Cornelius Ryan and directed by Richard Attenborough (GANDHI). At three hours, it's a long movie but necessary for the painstaking detailed description of the fatal flaws that caused a well intended plan to horribly unravel due to both incompetence and circumstance. Which is not to say the film couldn't have used some editing shears (the hymn singing sequence could have easily been excised). It's not the kind of film where the acting matters much although the impressive all star cast give decent performances, save two. Poor Gene Hackman is settled with an inadequate Polish accent and Elliott Gould does his acting with his cigar. The rest of the cast includes Robert Redford, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, James Caan, Laurence Olivier, Anthony Hopkins, Dirk Bogarde, Liv Ullmann, Ryan O'Neal, Maximilian Schell, Colin Farrell, Arthur Hill and Hardy Kruger.