EpicHDSubtitles
Duration
170 minutes

Quick Summary

A fact‑based drama recreates the Second World War campaign to capture a series of strategically important bridges, portraying the Allied effort to secure these vital crossings. The film stars Dirk Bogarde, Robert Redford and Michael Caine in the cast as part of the ensemble.

About This Program

A Bridge Too Far is a programme presented in the form of a movie. It falls within the drama genre and centres on historical events. The production is built around a factual basis, drawing its narrative from real wartime operations. It is designed to bring historical military action to the screen in a format that mirrors conventional cinema, and the title reflects the ambitious nature of the mission portrayed. The storyline follows a Second World War operation aimed at seizing a chain of bridges that held strategic importance. By reconstructing the campaign, the drama depicts the efforts to capture these vital crossings, highlighting the military objectives that underpinned the mission. The focus remains on the logistical difficulty of coordinating multiple units to achieve the objective. The cast features several well‑known actors. Dirk Bogarde appears alongside Robert Redford, while Michael Caine also takes part in the production. Their involvement adds recognisable faces to the retelling of the wartime effort. Each performer contributes to the ensemble that portrays the collective effort of the forces involved. Overall, the programme offers a dramatised yet fact‑based portrayal of the bridge‑capture campaign. By focusing on the logistical and tactical challenges of securing the bridges, it provides a structured account of this particular World War II episode, presented through a cinematic lens. The narrative stays centred on the operational goal rather than on individual storylines, keeping the emphasis on the broader strategic picture.

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A Bridge Too Far broadcasts on BBC Four HD at 10:50pm, Thursday, 5 February 2026. (Subtitles)

Channel Numbers:
Freeview9Freeview24Freeview106Freeview108Sky HD636Sky116Sky143Virgin107Virgin108

Production Details

Year1977
Runtime175 mins
DirectorRichard Attenborough

Cast & Crew

DB
Dirk Bogardeas Lt Gen Frederick Browning
GH
Gene Hackmanas Maj Gen Sosabowski
MC
Michael Caineas Lt Col Joe Vandeleur
MS
Maximillian Schellas Lt Gen Bittrich
DE
Denholm Elliottas RAF Met Officer
LO
Laurence Olivieras Dr Spaander
SC
Sean Conneryas Maj Gen Robert Urquhart
EF
Edward Foxas Lt Gen Brian Horrocks
AH
Anthony Hopkinsas Lt Col John Frost
EG
Elliott Gouldas Col Bobby Stout
JC
James Caanas Staff Sgt Eddie Dohun
RO
Ryan O'Nealas Brigadier Gen Gavin
RR
Robert Redfordas Maj Julian Cook