DVDs: Connery Sean

Based on a Rudyard Kipling story, it is full of exotic locates, adventure, and such warm humour, under the master John Houston's direction. Houston had this in mind originally for Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart (not to knock them, but total miscasting), then later was going to do it with Butch and Sundance (Paul Newman and Robert Redford in typically Hollywood style of going for names rather than perfect actors for the roles). Fortunately, Newman had the insight to pass on it and suggested going with the pairing that was absolute perfect as Danny and Peachy.

Caine had showed as Bromhead in Zulu, that he had the proper mien for a man in a red coat and pith helmet, and we know Connery can do anything given the crack. Since both are personal friends off screen, their on screen charisma comes is amplified by the fact the two men who actually like each other, giving good foundation in which to bring Danny and Peachy alive.

Danny and Peachy decide they have had enough with soldering for the British Empire and think it a marvellous idea to go forth into the world and find a forgotten corner and create their own,
and the most forgotten place they can find on the map is Kafiristan. There they plan to become rich as kings. It is a super adventure getting there, but after the reach the small country, the lark turns into something more, with Danny taking being King Quite serious.

Look for a cameo of Mrs. Caine playing the woman to wed Connery.
It just does not get any better than this, with fine fine acting, writing and directing. Just have a hankie near for the ending.

Alter Film mit Weltklasseniveau      5 von 5 Punkten
Gute Besetzung mit Charme und Charakter, klasse Storry.
"Neuzeitmärchen" mit Witz und Abendteuer.
Eine der warscheinlich besten Rollen Sean
Connery's. ***Geheimtip***

As usual Hercule is in earshot of many private conversations that will be used later to his sleuthing advantage once processed by his little gray cells. On the train Hercule (Albert Finney) is approached by an American business man who tries to heir him for protection. Hercule turns him down and the next morning he is dead.

This movie has every that make Agatha Christie movies great. Everyone is a suspect. Everybody could have done it. Only Hercule Poirot can figure this out. Naturally Hercule Poirot must sort through the red herrings to extract the truth. This time he comes up with two different answers. You need to add this one to your collection.

While Patton was in the south, pushing through France on the backside of the old Maginot line, Montgomery hit upon an idea to seize a series of bridges across the various rivers that made up the geography of the Low Countries, all the way up to Arnhem, one of the northern-most major bridges across the Rhine, a bridge outside of German territory, but a good jumping-off point for invading northern Germany. His plan won approval, and in one of the largest military operations of the war, a major push was developed to secure the bridges. This had the largest airborne component of any battle in the war, as troops were airlifted and dropped into position around each bridge, charged to hold the bridges until ground forces pushed northward linking up logistic and defensive lines toward each spot.

Operation Market-Garden was actually two operations -Market was the airborne component; Garden was the ground component. It was meant to take the Germans by surprise (which it did) and exploit their disorganisation (which was, sadly for the Allies, not as severe as intelligence predicted). The Allies were stopped short of their primary military objectives (securing an 80-mile corridor of bridges) by some 25-30 miles. Hence the name of the film, derived from the book by Cornelius Ryan, `A Bridge Too Far'.

- Film -
Cornelius Ryan's book was adapted for the screen by writer William Goldman and director Richard Attenborough, a leading director of British cinema, noted for such diverse films as Gandhi (for which he won an Oscar), A Chorus Line, Cry Freedom, and Shadowlands. Attenborough was nominated for a BAFTA directing award for `A Bridge Too Far' in 1978. Attenborough is also well-known in front of the camera, too.

Attenborough brought together a monumental cast for this epic film, worthy of Cecil B. DeMille in scope and size. At just under three hours in length, it is as unrelenting as the combat scenes it depicts. While not matching the graphic realism of films such as `Saving Private Ryan', it nonetheless does a good job at combining a look at grand strategies (from formation to failure), tactical maneuvers, and individual combat situations. The high command in Britain, hoping to capitalise on the continuing disorder in Germany arising from their adjustment to fighting a losing war on two fronts (three, in fact, if one includes Italy), saw the opportunity to strike. Through a series of misfires and misunderstandings, they end up fighting not local police forces (the Netherlands had been spared intense battleground warfare for most of the war, and thus was thought to not contain any real combat-strength troops) but crack Panzer division placed there, essentially on a rest stop before being deployed in more critical areas.

The planning and preparations are realistic, from a look at the intelligence gathering and analysis (these were the days before satellite imagery), the gathering together of equipment and personnel, the execution of the operations, and the demoralising realisation that Operation Market-Garden is not going well. One of the most outstanding scenes involves General Stanislaw Sosabowski (played by Gene Hackman) discussing the operation with his superiors - Sosabowski, a general of the Polish forces in exile in England, distrusts the operation, for good reason, but acquiesces to support the plan. His uneasiness is palpable.

The cinematography is terrific, considering it was done largely without `trick' shots - no helicopter shots, no CGI graphics, no slow motion or composite tricks. The airborne drops are breathtaking, giving the thrill and the danger a realistic tone. The film does not depict glider landings (some of the most dangerous types of drops, and presumably because of this danger, omitted from the filming). The desperation of the men who land without their equipment (or miss the airdrops later due to failed communications) is easily felt - the sense of the waste of war is driven home when one soldier sprints to get some desperately needed supplies that have fallen just outside of the secure zone - being shot by a sniper, the sense of futility is underscored by the breeze blowing soldiers' caps (which was the contents of the supplies for which the soldier paid with his life) drifting away.

The acting is stunning in many instances, but for the most part it is the usual good job rather than outstanding that one might hope for from such an elite group of actors. The music is memorable and appropriate. One drawback is that the editing of the film makes it a bit confusing to keep the various storylines going, particularly if one has studied the sequence of events in World War II history, which, while followed as a pattern, is not adhered to with rigour in the filming.

- Conclusions -
Operation Market-Garden was conceived as a plan to get the troops `home for Christmas', hoping to secure a passage into Germany prior to the winter, to force them into surrender. As history would have it, there were major battles to fight before the war would finish the following summer. This film captures a significant campaign in good format, showing the operational and human aspects in a high relief.

nur ein Starensemble ?      5 von 5 Punkten
"Die Brücke von Arnheim", ein Gedränge heutiger Stars macht diesen Film allein deswegen schon sehenswert, aber auch die Geschehnisse der Kämpfe um die Brücke werden sehr gut wiedergegeben ! Dieser Film gewinnt an Aussagekraft auch durch den außergewöhnlich guten Soundtrack, der es schafft, mit triumphal lauten sowie verlustreich leisen Klängen die Bilder hervorragend zu unterstützen ! Dieses Zusammenspiel und auch das Zeigen von Einzelschicksalen der Soldaten beider Seiten macht den Film zu einem Meisterwerk !

Immerhin zwei Oscars (Spezialeffekte und Kamera) erhielt diese Großproduktion - gegen den im selben Jahr angelaufenen "Lawrence von Arabien" war man in dieser Hinsicht chancenlos - was freilich die Qualität dieses großartigen Films nicht schmälert. Kann man Krieg überhaupt filmisch äquadat umsetzen, oder zumindest versuchen? Krieg ist immer ein heikles Thema zur filmischen Umsetzung, oft genug sind Regiesseure und Drehbuchautoren daran gescheitert. Das Grauen des Krieges verlangt keine kraftstrotzenden Helden, keine bombastische Musik, keine effektvollen slow motion-Ausnahmen, und am allerwenigsten wehende amerikanische Flaggen. Allzuoft haben sich Hollywood'sche Großproduktionen, zuletzt Michel Bay's unsägliches "Pearl Harbour" einer ausschließlich amerikanischen Betrachtung des zweiten Weltkrieges bedient, hart an der Geschichtsfälschung vorbeischrammend.
Bei "Der längste Tag" von "Unterhaltung" zu sprechen wäre somit verfehlt, die Soldaten sind keine Helden, die stimmige und dennoch realistische (sofern man diesen "Realismus" überhaupt transportieren kann) Inszenierung trägt dieser Erkenntnis Rechnung. Selten wurden die zerstörerische Trauer des Krieges eindrucksvoller eingefangen, ohne aufgesetzten Pathos.

Die Restauration des Films ist 20th Fox gut gelungen, das Bild ist scharf und kontraststark, die Bonus DVD bietet einen historischen Rückblick auf den "D-Day".
Ein hervorragendes Produkt, in jeder Hinsicht.

 Weitere Kundenmeinungen

Based on a Rudyard Kipling story, it is full of exotic locates, adventure, and such warm humour, under the master John Houston's direction. Houston had this in mind originally for Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart (not to knock them, but total miscasting), then later was going to do it with Butch and Sundance (Paul Newman and Robert Redford in typically Hollywood style of going for names rather than perfect actors for the roles). Fortunately, Newman had the insight to pass on it and suggested going with the pairing that was absolute perfect as Danny and Peachy.

Caine had showed as Bromhead in Zulu, that he had the proper mien for a man in a red coat and pith helmet, and we know Connery can do anything given the crack. Since both are personal friends off screen, their on screen charisma comes is amplified by the fact the two men who actually like each other, giving good foundation in which to bring Danny and Peachy alive.

Danny and Peachy decide they have had enough with soldering for the British Empire and think it a marvellous idea to go forth into the world and find a forgotten corner and create their own,
and the most forgotten place they can find on the map is Kafiristan. There they plan to become rich as kings. It is a super adventure getting there, but after the reach the small country, the lark turns into something more, with Danny taking being King Quite serious.

Look for a cameo of Mrs. Caine playing the woman to wed Connery.
It just does not get any better than this, with fine fine acting, writing and directing. Just have a hankie near for the ending.

Alter Film mit Weltklasseniveau      5 von 5 Punkten
Gute Besetzung mit Charme und Charakter, klasse Storry.
"Neuzeitmärchen" mit Witz und Abendteuer.
Eine der warscheinlich besten Rollen Sean
Connery's. ***Geheimtip***