All language subtitles for A Bridge Too Far

(woman) It's hard to remember now,
but Europe was like this in 1944.

The Second World War was in its fifth
year and still going Hitler's way.

German troops controlled most of Europe.

D-day changed all that.

D-day: June 6, 1944,
when the Allied forces...

...under their commander
General Eisenhower...

...landed on the
northern coast of France.

By July they were able to begin their own
offensive. By August Paris was liberated.

Everywhere the Germans retreated.

But with the Allied
victories came problems.

Supplies still had to be driven
from Normandy, over 400 miles away...

...and became dangerously short.

The Allied advance
began to come to a halt.

Another problem facing
Eisenhower was this:

...his two most famous generals,
Patton who was in the south...

...and Montgomery in the north,
disliked each other intensely.

Their long-standing rivalry
had never been more fierce.

There simply were not enough
supplies for both armies.

Each wanted to be the
one to defeat the Germans.

Each wanted to beat the other to Berlin.

In September, 1944, Montgomery
devised a new and spectacular plan...

...given the codename Market Garden.

Eisenhower, under great
pressure from his superiors...

...finally sided with Montgomery...

...and Operation Market
Garden became a reality.

The plan, like so many plans
in so many wars before it...

...was meant to end the
fighting by Christmas...

...and bring the boys back home.

(horse neighs)

ARNHEM. HOLLAND. SEPTEMBER 1944

(rattling)

(wind chimes tinkle)

(men shouting outside)

(truck engines)

(Dutch) What is that noise?

- Can I look out?
- No, they might shoot us.

The Germans have collapsed.

Then the war is over?

Soon.

But what is that noise?

Panic.

GERMAN WESTERN FRONT. ARMY H.Q.

(German) You may begin.

May I first be permitted to say,
and I think I speak for all of us...

...how pleased we are, Field
Marshal Von Rundstedt...

...that you have been reappointed
commander of our forces in the West.

Speeches are for victory celebrations.

Let's get to the point. Air power?

Air power, Field Marshal?

Briefly, please.

- Air power is minimal.
- Ammunition?

Also minimal.

Tanks... Troops... Replacements?

- Minimal.
- Morale?

Nonexistent.

What do you think we should do?

End the war, you fools.

- Why in the world are you laughing?
- Excuse us.

We have such confidence in you.

Everyone knows you have
never lost a battle.

I'm still young. Give me time.

The first thing we must do...

...is to turn this rabble
into something like an army.

Anything at all on when
they plan to invade Holland?

They seem to have paused in Belgium.

Most likely supply problems.

Otherwise we can't imagine why.

I think it's because we're retreating...

...faster than they can advance.

(laughter)

(Dutch) How many
vehicles in the past hour?

Fifty-four.

And for the same hour yesterday?

Ninety-eight.

Last week your mother and I
could have captured Holland alone.

Already the panic has stopped.

It isn't over yet and those
idiots don't realise it.

- War takes time.
- Listen to the expert.

I was nine when they got here.

Next month I'll be 14. I
ought to know something.

Father, the Allies will come?

But when?

GENERAL BROWNING'S H. Q... ENGLAND

I've just got back to
England from Brussels...

...where I had a meeting this
morning with Field Marshal Montgomery.

There was an earlier one with General
Eisenhower. They both feel, as I do...

...that when the field
marshal's plan has succeeded...

...we should be able to end the war
by Christmas... in less than 100 days.

Actually, the plan's really very simple.

We're going to fly 35,000 men 300
miles and drop them behind enemy lines.

It'll be the largest airborne
operation ever mounted.

Quite frankly, this kind of
thing's never been attempted before.

- Where's this all gonna take place?
- Holland.

- And when?
- I'm coming to that now.

Right.

Ground forces: 30 corps
commanded by General Horrocks.

20,000 vehicles. And this, as you
know, is the German front line.

We're going to lay a
carpet, as it were...

...of airborne troops, over
which 30th corps can pass.

We shall seize the bridges -
it's all a question of bridges -

...with thunderclap surprise, and
hold them until they can be secured.

Now, first of all, General
Maxwell Taylor: Eindhoven.

You take and hold the
bridges there with 101 st.

General Gavin, with your 82nd...

...you get Nijmegen. You
take and hold the bridges.

And, Roy, you get the prize: Arnhem.

Arnhem Bridge.

- And you hold it.
- For how long?

Well, Monty assures me that 30
corps will do the 63 miles in, er...

...two days.

- (Gavin) 63 miles in two days.
- (Taylor) They'll handle that.

Oh, I'm sorry. General Sosabowski.

You go with your Polish brigade
with Roy Urquhart. I'm so sorry.

Roy...

...when you've secured your bridge
and 30th corps have got across it...

...we can turn east right into the
industrial heart of Germany-the Ruhr.

Once we control their factories, there's
not much they can do. That is the plan.

- And we go next Sunday.
- Seven days?

Why not? The sooner we go, the
better. We've got them on the run.

Is something troubling
you, General Sosabowski?

- I've said nothing.
- Precisely. Your silences are thunderous.

(sighs)

General Browning, I... I am a Pole...

...considered by some to be smart.

If that is so, it makes me a
member of a true minority group.

Minority groups are more
comfortable in silence.

Really? I should have thought the
opposite was true. But you do disapprove.

I am thrilled that your great field
marshal has devised such a plan.

I promise you I will be
properly ecstatic if it works.

- When it works.
- Of course. When it works.

Thank you.

Well, now let's get down to the details.
First thing, we shall have to have a...

(German) From which direction will
their attack come, and who will command?

Montgomery or Patton?

- Model, what do you think?
- Patton.

He is their best.

Patton will lead the assault.

I would prefer Montgomery...

...but even Eisenhower
isn't that stupid.

Bittrich's panzer
troops need some rest...

...if they're to stop Patton.

We should pull them back somewhere safe.

Safe, quiet, out of the way. But where?

Arnhem?

Arnhem.

U.S. 82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION H.
Q... ENGLAND I'll be in touch

Thank you.

- Why the emergency meeting?
- Keeping me abreast of the little changes.

- How big are the little changes?
- With British understatement: gigantic.

They can't get us all in. Too many men,
too much equipment, not enough planes.

It's going to take three days to get the men into Arnhem
- Poles and the British.

- How about us?
- Except for parachuting in daylight...

...we have nothing to worry about.
- Daylight?

- Has it ever been tried before?
- Not in a major drop.

- You think there's a reason for that?
- Let's hope not.

- What do you think? - It's
a no-moon period anyway.

We have to go in daylight. Just so
they get us over the target area.

- Half a mile away. I'll settle for that.
- I don't wanna hear anything else.

- Is there anything else?
- Well, you're my Dutch advisor, Harry.

I forgot to tell you something?

Only that the Germans first tried to
take Nijmegen Bridge themselves in 1940...

...and got slaughtered.

(Dutch) Go back!

Go back!

Do as I say!

But my friend lives down the road.

It's my birthday and
she has a present for me.

Please let me through.

All right. Be quick.

(Dutch) Are you sure about the colours?

I'm sure, Father. Believe me.

Model?

A field marshal in Arnhem? Why?

The British will have an explanation.

Did you pass on the
message about the tanks?

Of course. But Model is
something more important.

You're a good boy and a wonderful spy.

Now go and help your mother with supper.

Sir!

- Yes, Fuller?
- We've got some information on tanks.

Dutch underground reports from Arnhem.

- Established their strength?
- No, but...

- Have they been identified?
- Not by us, sir.

- So it's the same rumours as before.
- I believe these rumours, sir.

Why? The general consensus
is that our opposition...

...will consist entirely
of Hitler youths or old men.

I don't really know why, sir. Perhaps
because no one in intelligence does.

I just want to be sure our airborne carpet
consists of live troops, not dead ones.

I know everybody thinks
I'm... overanxious, sir.

But I would like to order
another low-level reconnaissance.

If-if-if that's all
right with you, sir.

Very well.

All right, Wilson.

Very well.

- Fuller, Fuller.
- Yeah. Sir.

I wouldn't be too concerned
about what people think of you.

You happen to be somewhat brighter than
most of us. It tends to make us nervous.

We'll do our utmost to meet
your tactical requirements.

But, please, keep in mind the one
factor which is crippling all our plans.

It may seem improbable to you, but we are
desperately short of transport aircraft.

- I am aware of that.
- I'm surprised that nobody told Monty...

...when he dreamed up this operation.

I need drop zones as close as possible
to the bridge. This area is no use at all.

can't have my chaps
landing on top of chimneys.

Now, this looks inviting
here. What's the terrain like?

Sorry, sir. Our reports indicate that this
terrain is too soft for glider landings.

The nose digs in on touchdown, the thing
goes arse over tip... total write-off.

All right. What about there?

No, afraid not, sir. After the
drop when we bank for our return...

...we run into a whole lot of flak and
rubbish from this Jerry airfield at Deelen.

Presumably you're intending
to let us land somewhere.

Ooh, yes. Hopefully, sir.

But, as I was saying, we cannot afford to
lose a single aircraft. That is the problem.

My problem is I don't
just need drop zones.

I need drop zones I can hold and defend.

The rest of my division
arrives with a second drop...

...and General
Sosabowski's with a third.

I understand, sir. But we really
think we've found the right place.

It's large enough for your needs, it's
flat and firm, and also easily defended.

- Where the hell is it?
- It's not actually on this photograph.

It should be... excuse me, sir.

It would be, er, about here, I think.

- That could be ten miles from the bridge.
- Just under eight, actually.

If you'd like to have a look at this.

You see, the terrain
is, er, easy to traverse.

All our information
substantiates that, er...

Yes, sir?

Just making sure whose side you're on.

Now, a drop zone eight
miles from Arnhem Bridge...

...might be thought to present problems.
- My God. He can't mean it.

I'm afraid he does. He
must know what he's doing.

That's more than I know. Why should
he have the corner on the market?

...cannot under any stretch of the
imagination be considered ideal.

The gliders will bring in a
reconnaissance squadron of Jeeps...

...fitted with twin
Vickers machine guns.

Now, the instant we land, they will
race ahead to the bridge and hold it...

...until the other battalions arrive on foot.
- They'll be able to secure both ends?

- Most certainly.
- Good. You all know where I shall be.

My headquarters will be
in the centre with 82nd.

Remember we're all totally interlocked.
This is a bottom-to-top operation.

101 st pass 30 corps on to 82nd.

82nd pass them on to British Airborne.

If any one group fails, it's
total failure for us all.

All we need now are
three days of clear skies.

Thank you, gentlemen, very much.

Only the weather can stop us now.

Weather! Chrystus!

General Browning, what of the Germans?
Don't you think that since we know...

...that Arnhem is so crucial to their
safety, they might know that too?

The few troops in the
area are... second class.

They're not frontline calibre.
Not at all. Do you understand?

Have more faith in Montgomery's
intelligence reports.

He's done pretty well for
us in the last few years.

I will tell you the extent of my faith.

I'm thinking of asking for a letter stating
that I was forced to act on your orders...

...in case my men are massacred.

I see.

Yes, I... I do see.

Do you wish such a letter?

No.

- No, of course not.
- In the case of massacre...

...what difference would it make?

- You mean you don't believe me, sir?
- Clearly not.

All right, boys. NAAFI's
up. Take your break.

- God Almighty!
- Sorry about that, sir. But what, then?

The radios aren't strong enough to carry
from the drop zone to Arnhem Bridge.

- You don't have any cigarettes, do you?
- No.

They're perfectly OK. I've used
them God knows how many times.

You've told me that God
knows how many times.

Well, I didn't have any
problems with them in the desert.

Yes, I know. You see,
colonel, what bothers me...

...what has me more
than a bit disturbed...

...is that Holland being half underwater
is soggier than most deserts you find.

Tends to have a lot more trees.

- Any biscuits?
- Your biscuits are in your tin, sir.

- Tell the general, if you're so certain.
- If I were, believe me, I would.

- What if they really don't work?
- What difference will it make?

The general will be on
the bridge by nightfall.

He won't have to make contact with
the bridge if he's on it, will he, sir?

Well... if anyone rocks the boat...

...it's not gonna be me.

The regular projector chap's at
lunch. I'll have it in a moment.

You're doing splendidly, Fuller.
Don't worry. I don't need lunch.

(mutters) Damn!

Nearly there, sir. It's really
worth your time, sir. Believe me.

- There.
- Mm.

Splendid view of the Dutch
countryside. No tanks.

Wait a moment, sir. It's a lot clearer
in the next picture. If I can just...

Now.

- Next.
- Yes, sir. I've had this one enlarged.

(clears throat)

(Browning whistles)

Yes. I... I shouldn't worry about them.

- But, sir, you see, they are tanks.
- I doubt if they're fully serviceable.

- Still got guns.
- So have we.

But, sir... if they
weren't serviceable...

...why would they try to conceal them?
- Normal routine, Fuller.

We keep getting reports from the Dutch.

I've read them! And so has
Field Marshal Montgomery.

Now, look here. There have
been thousands of photographs...

...from this sortie and all the others.
How many of them have shown tanks?

- Just these, sir.
- You seriously want us to cancel...

...the biggest operation
mounted since D-day...

...because of three photographs?

- No, sir.
- 16 consecutive drops...

...have been cancelled in the last
few months for one reason or another.

But this time the party's on. And
no one is going to call it off.

Is that fully understood?

Yes, sir.

GENERAL HORROCKS' XXX CORPS. H.Q.

LEOPOLDSBURG ON THE
BELGIAN-DUTCH BORDER

Thank you, Waddy.

Thank you, gentlemen!

(Horrocks) Do sit down,
gentlemen. Please sit down.

Look after these for me, will you?

(applause)

Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.

Gentlemen, this is a story that
you will tell your grandchildren.

- And mightily bored they'll be!
- (laughter)

The plan is called
Operation Market Garden.

Market is the airborne element and
Garden the ground forces-that's us.

Now, this is our position
on the Belgian border here.

Tomorrow three airborne divisions
will begin landing in Holland.

35,000 men taking off from 24 airfields in
troop-carrying planes or towed in gliders.

The American 101 st
here, around Eindhoven.

The American 82nd here,
south of Nijmegen...

...and our own 1 st Airborne boys
and a Polish brigade here at Arnhem...

...64 miles behind enemy lines.

(murmuring)

Now, their job is to take and hold...

...all the bridges in these three areas.

Our job is to punch a hole through
the German front line here...

...and then drive like
hell up this road...

...linking up with each
airborne division on the way up.

Speed... is the vital factor.

The plan is to reach Eindhoven
in two to three hours...

...and Arnhem in two to three days.

That, gentlemen, is the prize.

The bridge over the Rhine. The
last bridge between us and Germany.

Kickoff will be at 1435
hours tomorrow afternoon.

The Irish Guards and colonel
Vandeleur will take the lead.

- Christ. Not us again.
- What d'you say to that, Joe?

- Oh, delighted, sir. Truly delighted.
- (laughter)

I've selected you to lead us, not only due
to your extraordinary fighting ability...

...but also because, in the unlikely
event that the Germans ever get you...

...they will assume from your attire
that you're a wretched peasant...

...and immediately send you on your way.

Now, maintaining the speed of our
advance will no doubt be tough going...

...as it's a single highway.

But, no matter what, we must reach
those 1 st Airborne boys in 48 hours.

Now, gentlemen, I'm not
saying that this will be...

...the easiest party
that we've ever attended.

But I still wouldn't
miss it for the world.

I like to think of this as one
of those American Western films.

The paratroops lacking substantial
equipment, always short of food.

These are the besieged homesteaders.

The Germans, well, naturally,
they're the bad guys.

And 30 corps, we, my friends...

...are the cavalry on
the way to the rescue!

COLONEL FROST'S QUARTERS

BRITISH 1st AIRBORNE DIVISION. ENGLAND

(whistling)

Oh. Do you want me to
pack that as well, sir?

- No, thank you, Wicks. I'll carry it.
- Sir.

- You haven't forgotten my golf clubs?
- They'll be coming later in the staff car.

- What about...?
- (door slams)

Sorry, sir?

What about my dinner jacket?

Are you sure you'll
be needing that, sir?

Well, let's hope so.

U.S. 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION. ENGLAND
(Eddie) Why don't you quit that?

chock full of vitamins.

Here, Eddie. Have a little strength.

Hey, where'd you put that?

- Oh, dammit, Eddie. Give it back.
- Right.

There you are.

I wish you hadn't done that.

You see, my problem is I'm not totally
crazy about the prospect of dying.

So don't die.

- That garbage isn't gonna keep you alive.
- Well, what is?

What is? Well...

- Not gettin' shot.
- What can guarantee that?

Nothin'
- For sure.

You will.

- I will what?
- You tell me, Eddie.

You tell me I won't die.

- All right. You won't die.
- No, no. Guarantee me.

I want you to guarantee me I won't die.

I guarantee you.

come on.

Let's get some food in ya. Come on.

I wasn't kidding.

Hey, Eddie! Were you kidding?

Major Fuller.

My name is Sims. Mind a bit of company?

Of course not, sir.

Busy times.

You must be exhausted.

Are you? Exhausted?

Who isn't?

We've been getting reports
from a number of your friends.

They're worried about you. They
think perhaps you need a rest.

We all need rest. Why
are you saying this to me?

Is it because I rocked the boat?

I'm a doctor. I'm only
concerned with your health.

I think perhaps you ought
to take a bit of sick leave.

But why?

I'm... I'm not ill or anything.

I haven't done anything wrong.

No, of course not. You're
just a little tired.

Yes.

I am tired.

I think perhaps we might go.

can't it be stopped?

No.

I don't want to be left behind. Please.

It's out of my hands, laddie.

I didn't want to miss the party.

come on. Move it, buddy. That's the way.

- Come on! Move yourselves! Move!
- Get up there. Move on down.

Home, sweet home.

When you think we only had seven days to
get everything organised, it's quite a...

Bloody miracle. It took six
months to set up the D-day drop.

And that was only half as big as this.

- How d'you feel?
- Fine.

I'll feel even better
when we're in Holland.

A few months back when I was
appointed to this command...

...I told you I had never jumped
but thought I ought to give it a go.

- Well, you did me a big favour.
- Oh, really? What?

You said "Roy, you're far too old for
that kind of thing and much too large."

Did I? What was the favour?

Well, I didn't quite tell
you everything at the time.

- Oh?
- But I'm prone to airsickness.

Good gracious! What-every flight?

Well, we'll soon find out, won't we?

(congregation) # Who
would true valour see

# Let him come hither

# One here will constant be

- # come wind, come weather
- (roar of plane engines)

# There's no discouragement

# Shall make him once relent

# His first avow'd intent

# To be a pilgrim

Soon be home, Harry.

- Better than the desert, eh, sir?
- What was that?

Easier than walking, sir.

If you say so, Hancock.

(soldier) Yeah. Fine, sir.

The artillery should be able to clear
the way pretty well-your initial advance.

We'll move as soon as
their barrage has got going.

- Yes, that's absolutely fine. Fine.
- Follow behind it as close as we can.

But this isn't going to be the pushover
that everybody seems to think it is.

- No, I didn't think so.
- Morning, Alan! Your sleeping beauties...

...know there's a war on, do they?
- Absolutely!

Is it true that the Germans
have put more troops ahead of us?

Yes. They don't intend to just
let us walk in the front door.

Hello, Bob! Hope that's not
my funeral they're going to!

And I'm still worried about having
to throw everything up this road.

But there's no
alternative. Morning, Tom!

So I've decided to run
the road like a railway.

Nobody will be allowed to put any vehicle
on that road without my permission.

- Including me?
- Good luck, sir!

You too! Especially you, Joe.

Morning, Derek! Glad to see
somebody knows where we're going.

Time, Joe. That's the killer.

We can't afford to drop behind schedule.

So, for God's sake, keep
your tanks on the move.

(Vandeleur) Good God Almighty.

That's just the 101 st. The other
two groups are on the northern route.

H-hour in 90 minutes.

- I'd better be going, sir.
- Right you are, Joe.

Any last-minute changes, Bob?

If we run into difficulty, we call
in the air force with purple smoke.

- First class! And good luck, Joe!
- Thank you, sir.

- Do you think you'll be able to manage it?
- I've got nothing else planned for today.

(planes fly over)

Ta.

I told you you should have
had the bloody thing out.

(booming)

What the hell's that?

It's flak.

GENERAL BITTRICH'S H.Q.

SOUTH OF ARNHEM

(German) General Bittrich!

In here, Matthias.

(planes fly over)

Fantastic, isn't it?

Just once to have
such power in my hands.

- Red on!
- Red on.

(gasping)

(soldiers shouting orders)

If there's no more opposition than
this on the road, we shall be all right.

(soldiers shouting orders)

B company to me!

A company over there!

FIELD MARSHAL MODEL'S H.Q.
HARTENSTEIN HOTEL NEAR ARNHEM

(knocking)

(German) Excuse the interruption,
Field Marshal, but...

...British paratroopers have landed...

...three kilometres from here.

Why should they do that?

There is nothing important here.

Me! I am important.

They must all be coming
just to capture me.

call my chauffeur and car.

Evacuate the headquarters.

And don't forget my cigars.

Ow! Oh, God!

General, are you all right?

Yeah.

OK, you guys. Come on. Gather
your stuff and move, move, move!

- This is it, Jim.
- OK, sir.

You OK?

Right. Let's go.

(German) Then keep trying.

There must be someone there!

My apologies. I can get
no sense from anybody.

They say thousands of troops
are dropping over Holland.

- Yes, west of Arnhem.
- Right on top of Field Marshal Model.

I can't get through to his headquarters.

A strong force has
landed south of Nijmegen.

Nijmegen? They're after the bridge.

That doesn't matter.

Perhaps they've landed in
the Field Marshal's soup.

Yes, you'd like that,
wouldn't you? Now listen.

I'll take care of Arnhem.

You get to Nijmegen as fast as you can.

Take anything that'll move...

...every man that can
walk, and hold the bridge.

No. Field Marshal Model.

Nothing must cross it. Is that clear?

You must hold that bridge
under any circumstances.

- Understood?
- Clear.

- Ryan and Ross, come with me!
- Cover the right flank.

- How far away is headquarters?
- Half a mile. Maybe more.

(gunfire)

Brigadier Lathbury's just left, sir.
2nd Battalion are on the river road.

Good. Thank you, Baker. Any news
of Freddie Gough's Jeep squadron?

- It's unconfirmed...
- Bad luck...

...considering how few
gliders we lost on the way in.

A lot of the special
Jeeps failed to arrive.

Those that did have been
badly shot up in an ambush.

So no one's going to get to Arnhem
Bridge except on foot. Splendid.

(woman cackles)

They must be from the lunatic asylum, sir.
It's located on the far side of the wood.

They escaped when it
was bombed this morning.

(cackling)

Do you think they know
something we don't?

All guns commence firing!

All right. Get moving. Get moving.

Driver advance.

(soldiers speaking German)

(screaming)

(screaming and shouting)

Message received. Thank you. Out.

Alle Mann wieder an die
Gesch�tze. Fertigladen!

Wir brauchen eine Trage!

Und Munition!

Es wird nur auf Befehl gefeuert!

Nicht feuern.

Abwarten!

Abwarten!

Feuer!

Start the purple!

Start the purple!

Take cover!

- Smoke loaded!
- Fire!

(shouting)

(shouting)

come on. Get the wounded down the line.

Get that wreck off the road.

Joe, how the hell...?

How the hell do they expect us to
keep to schedule on a road like this?

You don't know the worst.

- This bit we're on now...
- Yes?

It's the wide part.

Peter-general's coming in.

- How's it going now?
- Not too well, sir.

We haven't made contact with General
Browning, 30 corps or England.

- So no one knows we've arrived safely.
- Not as far as we know, sir.

- What about those VHF sets?
- It appears the sets have been delivered...

...with the wrong crystals.

- So they're quite useless?
- Yes, sir. I'm afraid they are.

Do Brigadier Lathbury and colonel
Frost know about the Jeep squadron?

Not as far as we know, sir. We're unable
to contact any units moving into Arnhem.

Not a very satisfactory
state of affairs, Steele.

- No, sir.
- We can't quite understand it, sir.

- It's perfectly good equipment.
- Then get it sorted out...

...before we have a bloody
disaster on our hands.

Sir.

Hancock, I've got lunatics
laughing at me from the woods...

...my original plan has been scuppered
now that the Jeeps haven't arrived...

...my communications have
completely broken down.

Do you really believe that any of
that can be helped by a cup of tea?

Wouldn't hurt, sir.

GENERAL BITTRICH'S FORMER H. Q...

NOW TAKEN OVER BY FIELD MARSHAL MODEL

(German) Forgive me for
returning, Field Marshal.

I must press for permission...

...if it becomes necessary...

...to blow up the bridges
at Arnhem and Nijmegen.

That is out of the question.

Never. Is that clear?

We need them for our counterattack.

counterattack? With what?

Paratroopers cannot fight long.
They are too lightly equipped.

Isolated they are lost.

I have spoken to Von Rundstedt.

All reinforcements come to us first.

Every hour we get stronger
and they grow weaker.

- But if we blow the bridges...
- They don't want the bridges.

Do you really think if
they wanted the bridges...

...they would have
landed 12 kilometres away?

It's ridiculous.

Thank you for the tea.

Our lightning-like assault on Arnhem
Bridge is certainly a smashing success.

I've an aversion to
apples. I'm so sorry.

I'm sure the Germans will be surprised.

- Are there many of you?
- Yes, there are thousands of us.

Thank you for coming.
Thank you! Thank you!

- This isn't a victory parade, you know.
- Come on, sir. Enjoy the moment.

I will enjoy the moment when we
reach the bridge and find it intact.

It will be. Things couldn't be
going better. Nothing's wrong.

Yes, I know. That's exactly
what is wrong, Harry. Yes.

U.S. 101st AIRBORNE AREA

THE SON BRIDGE

Jesus Christ!

Stay down!

Shit!

- There's still no contact, sir.
- Keep at it. I shall be back shortly.

Brigadier Lathbury
can't have gone that far.

I'm sure we'll have them fixed
by the time you get back, sir.

can you get a message down to
30th corps on that... dingus?

Yes, sir. We just got word
from the 82nd up ahead.

They captured the Grave Bridge intact!

Terrific(!) Except 30th corps ain't about
to reach the goddamn intact Grave Bridge...

...until the goddamn Son Bridge is
fixed! Tell our British cousins...

...to hustle up some Bailey stuff.
- Yes, sir.

I'll meet 'em in Eindhoven. Tell
those schmucks to do this right...

...and have their Bailey stuff at the front.
- Yes, sir.

- And be sure to say please.
- Yes, sir.

Joe! I make it just under
six miles to Eindhoven.

We won't make it tonight.
It'll be dark shortly.

Well, I hope to God the 101
st can hang on till tomorrow.

Giles, remember what the general said.

We're the cavalry. It would be bad
form to arrive in advance of schedule.

In the nick of time would do nicely!

(German) These plans should
have been left in England.

They're top secret.

And now we have all we need -

...units, defence plans, objectives...

...and the schedule for further drops.

I have prepared Nijmegen
Bridge for demolition...

...if I blow it up tonight.

This Operation Market Garden must fail.

Why do all my generals
want to destroy my bridges?

come, Ludwig. We'll have dinner.

Dinner?

But what about these plans?

These plans? They are false.

Just a trick. We were
supposed to find them.

White wine or red?

We're still getting nothing from
colonel Frost's battalion, sir.

Thank you, Cole.

- I hope Johnny's meeting less resistance.
- We've got to get to the bridge.

We're blocked ahead. There's more
resistance than we were led to expect.

I must see for myself how he's doing.
All right, Cole! What is their strength?

I can't estimate yet. Dutch underground
people were here trying to explain.

I'm just not sure how much they know.

(soldier shouting)

(soldiers shouting)

- What about Brown?
- They've both had it, sir.

Christ Almighty! They've got round behind
us! You should spend the night with us.

- Gerald, I've got to get back to HQ.
- Yes, but alive, sir.

If we can reach them, there
are some houses over there.

We can get ourselves organised and try
and find out what the hell's happening.

- Right.
- Sergeant Major.

ARNHEM

(soldier) come on, lads! Get a move on!

Something just occurred to me.
We're wearing the wrong camouflage.

It's all very well for the country, but
I doubt if it'll fool anyone in the towns.

(rings bell) come on, come on.

I'm awfully sorry, but I'm afraid we're
going to have to occupy your house.

All right, chaps.
We're in here. Come on.

- And Dick.
- Yes, sir?

Take your men and occupy that house.
Make sure you can cover the bridge.

Right, sir. Sergeant.

(radio operator) Hello, Dog
Charlie Fox. Hello, Dog Charlie Fox.

(smashing glass)

Rip down those curtains. Pile all this
furniture against the window. All right?

Hello, Dog Charlie Fox. We
have reached our objective.

What is your position? Over.

There's nothing, sir. I can't
contact Brigade at all, sir.

Tried the other battalions?

Any luck?

- Keep trying.
- Hello, Dog Charlie Fox.

- (Dutch) Order them out.
- Please, Mother.

- This is my house.
- Perhaps by tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

Yes, Mother.

Shall we have a go at
the far end now, sir?

Having a go is hardly
textbook terminology, Harry.

But you'll let us try, sir?

- Down! Down! Take cover!
- Cover fire! Quick!

Smoke!

Right! Come on, lads!

come on! Keep going!

(shouting)

(soldier) Pull back! Pull back!

(groaning)

- Are you all right?
- Yes, I'm fine.

We'll deal with them later.

When it gets dark.

- Made it so far, Doddsy, eh?
- Aye.

Hey, corp. You'd better
hit that slit first time.

Hey, corp. I said you'd better hit that
slit first time or we've bleedin'...

- I heard you, boyo.
- Oh, great.

After you, corp.

come on. Let's get on with it.

Now!

Now we're in trouble!
You bloody missed it!

You knocked my arm, you clumsy bastard!
Now we'll never get out of here!

We've hit an ammunition dump!
A bloody ammo dump! Shit!

(German) Fool's courage.

She says you are much too noisy.

She does realise there is
a war going on, doesn't she?

She has never liked noise.
She hates it. Hates it!

- Colonel Frost! They're coming, sir.
- Excuse me.

- Many of them?
- Can't tell, sir.

can only hear them at the moment.

(rumbling)

- Hold your fire!
- Hold your fire!

Feuer!

(Frost) command. Wait for the command.

Over there, Whitney!
Look after that man!

- Open fire! Fire!
- Fire!

Weiter!

(screaming)

(shouting)

Jesus!

(screaming)

Zur�ck, alle Mann! Zur�ck!

(Frost) cease firing!

(gunfire continues)

cease firing!

(gunfire stops)

Sorry, ma'am.

Whitney, try and rustle up
some more bandages, will you?

I'm going to check up with
Cornish. See you later.

Get him patched up, will you, doc?
I'm terribly sorry about all this.

- Wicks.
- Sir.

Right, off you go.

(gunfire)

(soldier) Get that
bloody stretcher inside!

Here we go.

Good morning, sir. Mr Cornish
is straight through there.

Hello, Dick. It's all right. Sit down.

- You all right?
- Fine, sir. It's only a flesh wound.

- How are things?
- Not too bad.

Good. Good. Well, what is
bad, I'm afraid, is this.

- Careful.
- We hold the north end of the bridge.

The Germans hold the south. But now
they probably control most of the town...

...including the church tower.
- You're saying we're surrounded.

Yes. Something like that.

- Er, now, what else?
- Sir.

I was a bit surprised to find
Bittrich's panzer troops here, sir.

Surely you didn't believe all
that nonsense they told us.

About the enemy being made up of...
what was it? Old men, children. Hm?

I'll have to risk it. Things
aren't getting any better.

- Sergeant, how is it?
- We can't clear the street, sir.

Enemy strength is increasing and
it's impossible to get to the bridge.

Thank you, Sergeant.

It's imperative that I get back to HQ
before the situation gets out of hand.

If it's all right with you, Cleminson
and I will come part of the way.

(dog barks)

End house! Bottom window, sir!

- Cleminson, get over here!
- Sir!

Hang on, Gerald.

In here.

(Urquhart) can't you move your legs?

- No.
- Must be spinal. Can you help us?

- How?
- Don't you know a doctor nearby?

We can take him to the hospital.

You go. He will be fine.

- Go, sir.
- You go.

Go up.

They're certainly at the back.
What's it like at the front?

We're surrounded, sir.

Yes. Quite.

I was rather expecting to see you again,
General Sosabowski. Do please sit down.

The Polish drop has been cancelled
again. I would like an explanation.

I expect the fog has a
certain amount to do with it.

There are aircraft flying
50 miles to the south.

Explain why my men cannot be
moved from here to there...

...and then fly to Arnhem.

That's a reasonable question.

I don't want to bother you with a
lot of meteorological mumbo jumbo...

...but the fact is, you see, whether
we like it or not, fog, it moves.

Of course it moves. Where?

Well, that's very difficult to say,
General. It's very slippery stuff, fog.

You think you've got it and then it
reverses itself and leaves you behind.

Won't you please sit down?

What I'm trying to say is even if
we move your troops the 50 miles...

...where just now the sun is shining...

...the chances are that by the time we
get there, the fog could have preceded us.

- So we simply have to wait.
- And do nothing.

I think that puts it rather well.

(# marching band)

EINDHOVEN. 48 MILES FROM ARNHEM

(crowd singing)

Hey, you! Are you Vandeleur?

- Yes.
- I'm Bobby Stout.

- How do you do?
- Hell of a day, huh? Look at 'em. Wild!

- Have you ever been liberated?
- Divorced twice. Does that count?

- Yes, that counts.
- That Bailey crap. You got it here?

When you refer to "Bailey crap"...

...I take it you mean that glorious
precision-made British-built bridge...

...the envy of the civilised world.
- Yeah.

The trucks are down there somewhere.

How you get them through
this crowd I don't know.

No problem. I got a side road pegged out
that'll avoid all this. American ingenuity.

- Oh, really?
- I was born in Yugoslavia...

...but what the hell?
- Yes.

U.S. 82nd H. Q... SOUTH OF NIJMEGEN

- Where the hell have you been?
- With Dutch friends at Nijmegen.

We can't take the bridge. The
Germans have moved in panzer troops.

- Don't they want us to get across(?)
- They've sealed off the whole area.

Here. You can see on this map.

Every street leading to the bridge
is blocked. Every house is occupied.

The Dutch underground people say
it's just impossible to break through.

They could be right.

Where's the captain?

Dead.

I didn't ask you how he was.
I asked you where he was.

(tank engine)

(Jeep engine running)

(switches off engine)

(tank engine rumbles)

(tank engine stops)

Sanit�ter da?

Vorne halten!

Haben Sie Feindber�hrung gehabt?

Nein. Wir haben noch niemanden gesehen.

Weiter Marsch!

(starts engine)

(shouting)

- Sir.
- Not now.

- I'd like you to look at my captain.
- I'm sorry. Put him down.

What in the name of hell do you...?

- You told me to put him down, sir.
- I'm in no mood for crapping around.

- If you don't look at him, he's gonna die.
- He's dead now.

- It'd mean a lot if you'd check him out.
- For Christ�s sake, get him outta here!

Would you look at him, please, sir?

Right now.

Or I'll blow your fucking head off.

Right now.

- I can give him a quick examination.
- Thank you very much, sir.

Son of a bitch.

Orderly!

Well, I got the bullet out of his skull.

- He's gonna live though, right?
- He's gonna have one hell of a headache.

You should turn me in now, sir.

- That was a court-martial
offence. - Yes, sir.

Hope to hell it was worth it.

- I guess only time will tell on that, sir.
- My response is strictly limited.

Regardless of my personal preference.
Like somebody cheating in school.

Once word gets out you can behave any
way you please, your discipline's gone.

So you're gonna have to be arrested.
Over and out. Lieutenant Rafferty.

- Yes, sir. Colonel.
- This is Sergeant... What's your name?

- Dohun. Eddie Dohun.
- Sergeant Dohun pulled a gun on me...

...and threatened to kill me
unless I did what he ordered.

I want you to put him under arrest.
I want you to keep him there.

I want you to keep him there
for at least 10 seconds.

- I'm not all that sure I understand.
- Count to 10, Lieutenant... fast.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10. Like that, sir?

- Thank you, Lieutenant.
- Colonel.

This is yours, I think.

It sure looks like mine.

You scared the shit out
of me, you stupid bastard.

- You did fine, if it makes you feel better.
- Goddamn right it does.

- Eddie.
- Sir?

You wouldn't really have
killed me, would you?

Thank you, sir.

Right! Let's haul a little ass! Go!

Go! Go!

Move it! Come on, soldier. You're
not building a sand castle. Move it!

(Stout) come on, boys! Use your muscles!

Heave!

come on! Heave!

Quickly!

(soldier) come on! Move yourselves!

We haven't got all day!

come on! Push!

(soldier) All together! Lift!

come on, soldier! Pound it! Pound
it! We've got a schedule to meet.

- (Stout) How much longer now?
- About another four hours, sir.

Shit!

(Stout) come on, boys!
We're not doing this for fun.

- Hey, soldier! Get over here!
- Yes, sir.

- And pull on this rope.
- Yes, sir.

(Stout) Didn't you ever
build a Bailey bridge?

- No, sir.
- Neither did I.

(Stout laughs)

(Stout) clear the way! Clear! Clear!

clear!

(shouting)

- Roll it, fellas!
- (soldier) Right, come on! All aboard!

Let's get moving again!

SON BRIDGE
- 39 MILES FROM ARNHEM

Thanks, fellas!

- What's wrong, sir?
- They're 36 hours behind schedule.

- Lieutenant!
- Sir!

We'll be turning you over to the 82nd
now. They're good soldiers, the 82nd.

Just be sure you keep your hand
on your wallet at all times.

(cheering)

GRAVE BRIDGE
- 22 MILES FROM ARNHEM

(tank engines)

They're here.

It's 30 corps! They're here, chaps!

You're late, you lazy
bastards! But we'll forgive you!

That was gracious of
me, don't you think?

Take cover! Bring up the Piat!

Make sure it's within range.

(shouting)

come on! Come on! You'll miss it!

Right, lads! Go, go, go!

(gunfire)

corporal! I need a
Jeep. Well done, laddie.

- We thought you were dead. They said...
- I assure you, it was an error.

HARTENSTEIN HOTEL NOW
BRITISH 1st AIRBORNE H.Q.

That was the general.

- (Urquhart) Good morning, gentlemen.
- Morning, sir.

carry on, thank you. Morning,
Baker. Morning, James.

- Morning, sir.
- Harry.

Apologies for my
enforced absence. Dennis.

- Sir.
- Gerald Lathbury's out of action.

I'd like you to take over the
brigade. How soon can you leave?

- Right away, sir.
- Keep pushing forward to the bridge.

- Did the rest of the division arrive safely?
- Yes, but we're in trouble.

It seems we've landed on top
of two SS panzer divisions.

Good God!

As you can imagine, it's hard to stop
tanks with rifles and machine guns.

- Show me.
- Well, you can see what we're up against.

Johnny Frost has managed
to get as far as the bridge.

But the Germans are driving to the river
and may have cut them off completely.

I see. Now the entire division is here,
we should be able to break through to him.

- Sir.
- It certainly gives us more of a chance.

Sosabowski's Polish
brigade is due at 12.

If it arrives. Yesterday's airlift
was late due to fog in England.

The gliders bringing the
equipment didn't arrive.

- Now give me the good news.
- I'm afraid there isn't any, sir.

We're more or less surrounded.

So far we're holding our own, but we're
short of food, medicine and ammunition.

- Aren't we getting our daily supply drop?
- The air force are flying in on schedule.

The trouble is, the Germans
have overrun the dropping zones.

- Don't our pilots know that?
- Afraid not, sir.

- In heaven's name, why?
- It's the radios, sir.

We still haven't been able to make
contact with anyone outside Arnhem.

(shouting)

Fools!

This way!

- We're here!
- Here!

Over here! Drop 'em over here!

What the hell are they doing?
They must be able to see us.

They can see us, but they're under
orders to ignore signals from the ground.

For all they know, we could be Germans.
They're giving it to the bloody Germans.

Charles.

Poor bastard.

Oh, well. Maybe tomorrow.

Here.

Where's he going? The bloody fool!

He'll never make it. Those
bleedin' snipers'll hit him.

come back!

come on, Ginger, mate. Come on!

He'll never lift it.

Bring it back, mate! Come on!

come on!

Run, laddie! Run!

(gunshot)

Oh, Jesus Christ!

NIJMEGEN BRIDGE

(woman) Taxi! Taxi!

(woman shouting)

(soldier) In here.

- (woman shouting)
- Did you get any of that?

I think she wants someone
to order her a taxi.

Taxi!

Taxi!

Taxi!

(gunfire)

KATE TER HORST'S HOUSE OUTSIDE ARNHEM

(man) Kate!

- Doctor.
- Good evening, Kate.

May I introduce Mrs Ter
Horst? colonel Weaver.

- Is, er, your husband not returned yet?
- He should have been here by now.

He must be having difficulties
coming through the German lines.

Well, in that case, we will
have to ask you for a decision.

colonel Weaver has a request to make.

Well, what we've done is we've
set up a defensive pocket...

...more or less thumb-shaped,
with the river as the base.

Mrs Ter Horst speaks
surprisingly good English.

Oh. Then you understand we're in quite
a strong position for holding out...

...until 30 corps reaches us.

But we have to make
certain arrangements.

The words come through. I don't know
if I follow the military strategy.

We have the main hospital, of course,
but it is full to bursting. Er...

Perhaps you understand that we have
great need of, er, additional space.

Our... house would seem suitable.

It's just for the slightly wounded.
We'll patch them up, send them back.

I feel it will need...
a little more than that.

- We're wasting time. Come.
- Thank you, Kate. Thank you.

I will see you, colonel.
I will come back.

Please sit. Come take this chair.

Here.

come over here.

(Kate) Sit.

Let me help you.

Oh, colonel. The major
wants you upstairs, sir.

OK. Thank you.

All right?

(soldier groans in pain)

Excuse me. Thank you.

Still in one piece, Dodds?

Good. All right, Potter?

That's far enough! We
can hear you from there!

Rather an interesting development, sir.

My general says there is no
point in continuing this fighting.

He is willing to discuss a surrender.

Tell him to go to hell.

We haven't the proper facilities
to take you all prisoner. Sorry.

- What?
- We'd like to...

...but we can't accept your surrender.

Was there anything else?

All right?

(German) And now?

Flatten Arnhem.

Kom. Kom ons helpen.
Leg haar daar maar neer.

Kom aan. Hier.

Kom. Kom hier. Kom hier.

- Druk 't been hard.
- Kom met die wagen helpen.

Harder drukken.

- (gunshot)
- Papa!

(gunfire)

- Any movement in Nijmegen?
- None.

- No way of blasting through?
- I'd lose all my men.

There's God knows how
many out there already.

- You mean it's over, sir?
- I didn't say that, did I?

We've paid for that bridge and we're
going to collect, but I need tank support.

Well, you've got it, Jimmy. The
Grenadier Guards will be happy to oblige.

- Is that all right, Alex?
- Absolutely.

It's not just tanks. I need boats.

If 30 corps were American,
we would have boats.

- Mike?
- I think we might have a few somewhere.

- Can you get them here by tonight?
- It won't be easy, sir.

We've got one road, 10-mile traffic jams
on it and Germans throwing shells at us.

- I don't know quite what we can do...
- Except try. You can do that, can't you?

Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.

Now, look here. About these boats...

What is your opinion?

The general's a bit scratchy
today, but it's nothing personal.

When we dropped on Sunday,
I think he cracked his spine.

- How many boats have we got, then?
- About six in each truck.

Where's Major cook, soldier?

- I think over there, sir.
- Thank you.

Julian, where the hell are you?

Here, sir.

We're going to take
Nijmegen Bridge tonight.

- What's the best way to take a bridge?
- Both ends at once.

I'm sending two companies
across the river by boat.

I need a man with very
special qualities to lead.

Go on, sir.

He's gotta be tough enough to do it and
he's gotta be experienced enough to do it.

Plus one more thing. He's
gotta be dumb enough to do it.

Start getting ready.

What was all that about, Major?

Well, someone's come up
with a real nightmare.

A real nightmare.

come on! Keep moving!

come on!

Keep moving!

We got word from the
Dutch resistance at Arnhem.

It's not going well for the British.
Their main force never reached the bridge.

Those that did are hanging on.

- And Urquhart?
- His back is to the river.

The Germans have trapped his men in
a pocket, and they're squeezing it.

How long can he hold?

Where are those goddamn boats?

Just keep it clear! Right!

They're no further than we thought.
Julian, we have a little change in plans.

We're to make the crossing in daylight.

- Daylight?
- Traffic's all screwed up.

By the time we're ready, it'll
be 0800. That's when we go.

Fine.

I'd like to wait and go tomorrow
night, but the British can't hold.

Better by daylight.

Much.

- Any news of the boats?
- No. We're switching... You want some?

No, thank you.

We're switching the start
till nine, to make sure.

You start laying smoke
just before we go.

Fine, fine.

They're gonna get creamed. Your smoke
screen's gonna be their only protection.

Don't worry. We'll cover you.

Please.

OK. Can I have your attention,
please? can I have your attention?

Our nine o'clock departure
has been postponed till ten.

So you can all have an extra
hour's fun and relaxation.

Major, we got any more
information on those boats?

We're reliably informed that they float.

Outside of that, we don't know squat.
Not how many, not how heavy, not how big.

We are sure that the river's wide
and that the current is strong.

As more cheery information comes my
way, I'll be happy to pass it along.

In the meantime, just think
of this as on-the-job training.

What's the matter? No sense of humour?

Goddamn it!

We go at noon.

- These lorries have priority, sir.
- Yes, I know, but...

(soldier) come on!
Clear it off the road!

You men are probably wondering
why I've called us here together.

I've reached a decision that
I'd like to share with you all.

I intend to go across like George
Washington. Standing on the prow.

You guys can do the rowing.

(truck engines)

That's it! Move 'em out!

(shouting)

- What the...?
- What did you expect? Destroyers?

come on! Put it together!

(shouting)

Feuer!

(German) What else can
you see besides smoke?

Nothing yet, but they are
going to try a river assault.

It will fail.

Of course it will fail, but...

...what do we do if it doesn't?

I ask your permission
to blow up the bridge.

Out of the question.

I understand, Field Marshal.

They will not cross the river
and we will blow no bridges.

Have all demolition
charges been checked?

Yes, sir. Everything is wired and ready.

captain Krafft is
standing by as ordered.

The bridge will not
fall into enemy hands.

As soon as the first British
tank starts to cross...

...l'll blow it sky-high.

- Let's get going!
- All right! Go! Go! Go!

When you get to the water,
go on! Don't wait! Go!

If you don't have an oar, use your
rifle butt! Anything! Row! Row!

(soldiers) One... two.

One... two.

The current's taking us
down! Stay to your right!

- Support fire ordered, sir.
- Thank you.

Row!

Get down!

Go! Go! Go! Go!

Go! Go!

Hail Mary, full of grace.

Hail Mary, full of grace. Hail Mary.

Hail Mary, full of grace. Hail Mary.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Hail Mary, full of grace.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Hail Mary, full of grace.

We're drifting! Pull to
your left! come on! Pull!

come on! Keep rowing!

Hail Mary, full of grace.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Hail Mary, full of grace.

Stay down!

come on, boys!

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Hail Mary, full of grace.

Thy will be done.

- Thy will be done.
- Hail Mary, full of grace.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

(Cook) come on! Let's go!

Snipers! Snipers!

Help me! Help me.

Help me!

Go up the side!

- Can we make it through the tunnel?
- No way, sir.

- Up the bank!
- With you, sir.

cover. Cover.

come on.

come on! Schnell! Schnell!

(gunfire)

Sergeant, take four across-draw fire.
Harry and I'll go up the side. You cover.

Go! Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!

- Go on.
- Come on! Let's go!

(German) Are you ready?

Yes, General.

Dammit!

(Ludwig) Jetzt.

Ich habe gesagt jetzt!

Nochmal! Nochmal!

(German) My God, they're only
18 kilometres from Arnhem.

Who can stop them now?

No one.

Oh, hell.

Any chance, Whitney?

- Not unless we're relieved soon, sir.
- Harry?

- Try and get him down to the cellar.
- Very good, sir.

It's working. I'm through
to HQ. Where's the colonel?

- Down below.
- Get him!

- Colonel Frost!
- What is it?

Up top!

Up top, sir!

- It's headquarters, sir. On the radio.
- Coming!

(Frost) Sunray on set.
Pass your message. Over.

- What's your situation, Johnny? Over.
- I hadn't expected the pleasure, sir.

We're holding out.

We need reinforcements and,
above all, ammunition. Over.

I'm not sure if it's a case of us
coming for you... or you coming for us.

- Well, we'll just wait for 30 corps, then.
- That would probably be best.

Very reassuring talking to you, sir.

I'm sorry, Johnny. Getting stuck on that
bloody bridge, four days on your own.

- Have you anything else for me?
- No, sir. I'll call when our friends arrive.

- Over.
- All right.

Good luck. Out.

- Sergeant Tomblin!
- Here, sir!

I'm coming over!

Sergeant Taylor!

I don't understand. Why aren't you
moving? What's the matter with you?

Those are British troops at Arnhem.

They're hurt-bad.

You're not gonna stop. Not now.

I'm sorry. We have our orders.

We busted our asses getting here. Half
my men are killed and you just stop...

...and... drink tea?!

We're now facing a different situation.

We can't lead with tanks. Jerry
will pick us off like sitting ducks.

Our infantry are still fighting in
Nijmegen. When they get here, we'll move on.

Must you do everything by the book?

Our orders are to wait for the infantry.

I'm sorry, but there it is.

Sir.

Sir, sir.

It's Major Carlyle, sir.

All right. I'm all right.

- Hello, Harry.
- Hello, Johnny.

Things not so good, huh?

(coughs)

I've been meaning to
ask you something...

...and I haven't because I know
you were so anxious that I should...

...and I wouldn't give
you the satisfaction.

But... why the hell do you
always carry that bloody umbrella?

- Memory.
- What?

Bad... memory.

Always forgot the password.

I knew no Jerry would ever carry one.

I... had... to prove...

...I was an Englishman.

Oh.

Harry?

(soldier) Get back! Back!
Back into the houses! Back!

Hello, 30 corps. Please hurry up.

Please.

Hello, 30 corps.

- Nothing, sir.
- Thank you, corporal.

It's no use in any event.
Take my boot off, Wicks.

(radio operator) Hello, 30 corps.

Oh, God!

(radio operator) 30
corps. Hello, 30 corps.

We're out of ammunition anyway.

Right, off you go, Wicks.
Join the rest of the lads.

- Get back to the main force.
- What about you, sir?

I'll be all right. We just
didn't make it this time, did we?

(radio operator) Hello,
30 corps. Hello, 30 corps.

Dog Charlie Fox calling
30 corps. come in, please.

Sagen Sie ihm, er soll es
ruhig nehmen. Es ist gut.

lhre eigenen Flugzeuge
haben es gestern abgeworfen.

My general says, "Please take it."

It's very good chocolate. Your
planes dropped it to us yesterday.

English.

(radio) Red on!

Red on.

(soldier) Action stations!

God bless Field Marshal Montgomery.

(gasping)

Chrystus!

(gasping and sobbing)

Slaap lekker.

Slaap lekker.

- Slaap lekker, liefje.
- Slaap lekker, Mamma.

(explosions)

(Dutch) Would five minutes be too much?

Just five minutes respite.

Dear God...

...grant these young men...

...die in peace and quiet.

I'm sorry, lads, but you're
going to have to move.

Please.

Take my hand.

(exhales)

We're a bit late with this one, mate.

"Surely he shall deliver thee
from the snare of the fowler...

...and from the noisome pestilence."

"He shall cover thee with his feathers,
and under his wings shalt thou trust:

...his truth shall be
thy shield and buckler."

There you go. Head back.

You'll be all right now, chum.

(Dutch) can it get worse?

Oh, yes, much worse.

ELST
- 5 MILES FROM ARNHEM

(shouting)

Bring up the bulldozer.
Bring up the bulldozer.

Stretcher-bearer!

Help me!

Stretcher!

(groaning)

Morphia! Taffy, I must have morphia!

Morphia's only for the
people who are really hurt.

I thought I was really hurt.

Well, you're wrong.

No, I asked him to come over,
but Dr Spaander does agree.

- We've got to do something.
- Yes. What? Good day, Doctor.

General Urquhart, we have no more
space and we have no more supplies.

And since a prisoner of war has
more chance than no chance at all...

...I have a mind to ask the Germans to
accept our wounded into their hospitals...

...if we could arrange evacuation.
Have I your permission to try?

certainly. If Weaver agrees.

But I hardly think the Germans
will. Those are our guns out there.

That's 30 corps. I don't think my
permission's going to be your problem.

I've come with a message
from General Urquhart.

- How you manage that?
- I swam the Rhine, sir.

I'm afraid the radios
are all up the spout.

The general asks if you'll
get your men across the river.

We've been holding out for six days now.

Any help at all would be
of considerable assistance.

- You'll swim back with reply?
- Yes, sir.

Well, we can't swim.

Not with equipment.

We have small rubber boats, that's all.

Rubber dinghies may be a
bit flimsy for the Rhine.

I agree. I agree.

Tell the general we're coming.

We're coming tonight.

Yes, sir.

Tylko dw�ch na jednego.

Cicho tam. Cisza. Cisza.

Stac. Stac.

Sznur.

Sznur.

Ciagnac sznur!

Sznur!

Wyciagac ich!

Szybko!

(gunfire)

Ciagnac!

(gunfire stops)

- Not possible.
- (Spaander) If you would just say yes...

...it would be very possible.
- Forgive me, but there is a battle.

And we are in the process of winning it.

Winning and losing is not our concern.

Living or dying is.

cease fire.

One hour... two.

Just to evacuate our wounded.

Afterwards you can kill
us as much as you want to.

General Ludwig.

Wir sollten ihnen den
Waffenstillstand geben.

- Denen?
- Ja.

- Wenn wir denen eine Stunde geben...
- Die holen Verst�rkung.

Ich kann...

lhrer Bitte wird entsprochen.

Der Waffenstillstand beginnt um drei.

cease-fire at three.
Ich bin Ihnen dankbar.

- Will you thank him, please?
- I just did.

(German) Please, you can go.

(flute music)

(flute music continues)

(distant explosions)

How short are we? A mile?

Why don't we just try to bash through?

For God's sake, it must be worth it.

They're trying to force
Urquhart away from the river.

Now, once they do that, once they've
got him surrounded, he'll be annihilated.

Not in Monty's plan at all.

Have we replaced the
boats we lost at Nijmegen?

Yes.

Well?

Well, then?

That's it, then. We're pulling them out.

It was Nijmegen.

It was the single road...
getting to Nijmegen.

No, it was after Nijmegen.

And the fog. In England.

Doesn't matter what it was.
When one man says to another...

..."I know what let's do today
- let's play the war game"...

...everybody dies.

"Withdraw."

Two days, they said.
We've been here nine.

One bloody mile
- you'd think they could accomplish that!

- Hancock, here are another two.
- Thank you.

- They're the last two I could find.
- Charles.

We've been given our marching orders.

If they discover we're
leaving they'll destroy us...

...so we must take every precaution. Now,
I've designed this like a collapsing bag.

Macdonald will man the wireless so that
the Germans have something to listen to.

The padres and medical staff have
volunteered to stay behind as well.

Now, the wounded who are too bad to
move will replace the men firing...

...so our defence will seem as before.

By the time the Germans find out what's
happening, we should be across the river.

- Pleasant journey.
- (all) Thank you, sir.

- All right, laddie.
- Thank you, sir.

(soldiers speaking German nearby)

(Hancock) I'm beginning to
believe we're going to make it.

I thought everyone
knew God was a Scotsman.

(soldier whispers) Keep it
orderly and keep it quiet.

(soldier) come on. Don't hang about.

GENERAL BROWNING'S H. Q... HOLLAND

(geese honking)

(geese honking)

General Browning'll be
down right away, sir.

He wondered if you perhaps
might like to change.

- Change?
- Your clothes, sir.

No, thanks.

(door opens)

Hello, Roy.

How are you?

I'm not sure that I'll know for a while.

But I'm sorry about
the way it worked out.

You did all you could.

Yes. But did everyone else?

They've got a bed for you
upstairs if you want it.

I took 10,000 men into Arnhem.
I've come out with less than two.

I don't feel much like sleeping.

Quite.

I've just been on to Monty.

He's very proud and pleased.

- Pleased?
- Of course.

He thinks Market Garden
was 90 per cent successful.

But what do you think?

As you know, I've always thought
that we tried to go a bridge too far.

Thanks, Taff.

(padre saying prayers in Latin)

(soldiers humming)

# Abide with me

# Abide with me

# Fast falls the eventide

# The darkness deepens

# Lord, with me abide

# When other helpers

# Fail and comforts flee

# Help of the helpless

# O, abide with me

# Hold thou thy cross

# Before my closing eyes

# Shine through the gloom

Kom, kinderen. Kom!