A Bridge Too Far: Sean Connery in British Battledress and Denison Smock as Roy Urquhart
Vitals Sean Connery as Major General Roy Urquhart, courageous British Army officer Holland, Fall 1944 Film: A Bridge Too Far Release Date: June 15, 1977 Director: Richard Attenborough Costume Designer: Anthony Mendleson Background Operatio…
Sean Connery as Major General Roy Urquhart, courageous British Army officer
Holland, Fall 1944
Film:A Bridge Too Far Release Date: June 15, 1977 Director: Richard Attenborough Costume Designer: Anthony Mendleson
Background
Operation Market Garden commenced eighty years ago this week through late September 1944, a daring yet ultimately ill-fated Allied attempt to secure key bridges throughout the Netherlands and advance into Germany. This major World War II operation was immortalized in the star-studded 1977 war epic A Bridge Too Far, directed by Richard Attenborough and adapted by William Goldman from Cornelius Ryan's nonfiction volume of the same name.
Among the film's ensemble cast, Sean Connery's charisma commands the screen as Major General Roy Urquhart, the British officer tasked with leading the 1st Airborne Division ("Red Devils") during the operation. Despite Connery's star power, the real General Urquhart had no idea who Connery was, though his daughters were thrilled at the casting. Attenborough chose Connery not only for his acting chops but also for his striking resemblance to a younger Urquhart.
In a memorable scene before the airborne assault, Connery's Urquhart reveals to General Browning that he's never actually jumped out of a plane—an amusing confession for the man leading an airborne division. The moment becomes even more ironic as they spot asylum escapees laughing at them from the roadside, prompting Urquhart to quip, "Do you think they know something we don't?"
No comments:
Post a Comment