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Despite the fact that the characters are based on historical models, they come out as standard-issue war-movie types. As a result, the film lacks the grandeur one sometimes finds in the literature of military history, where erroneous command decisions, flowing out of the psychological flaws of the generals, can take on a near-tragic force. It also lacks the common humanity of well-made war movies, in which one is invited to share the fates of a small unit whose interest is survival rather than the big historical picture. Aspiring to combine the two forms, A Bridge Too Far achieves distinction in neither.
One is left only with the memory of those splendid British players doing their eccentric bits: Dirk Bogarde edging his performance as a commanding officer with campy arrogance; Edward Fox catching just the right note of awkwardness as another general trying to be hail-fellow-well-met with his troops; Michael Caine as an Irish Guards officer being at once casual and ostentatious as he strikes heroic poses to in spire his men; Anthony Hopkins being stoical about occupying the most exposed position in the battle. That's all good stuff, but the rest of the film puts one in mind of the legendary English officer who, upon being asked to describe Dunkirk, replied: "My dear chap — the noise, the confusion!"