A Bridge Too Far Quotes

Brig. Gen. James Gavin What's the best way to take a bridge?

Maj. Julian Cook Both ends at once.

Gavin I'm sending two companies across the river by boat. I need a man with very special qualities to lead.

Cook Go on, sir.

Gavin He's got to be tough enough to do it and he's got to be experienced enough to do it. Plus one more thing. He's got to be dumb enough to do it... Start getting ready.

U.S. captain What was all that about, Major?

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

Maj. Julian Cook I have just been informed that our Nine O'clock arrival has been postponed until ten, so you can all have an extra hour of fun and relaxation.

U.S. lieutenant Major, we got any more information on those boats?

Cook I have been 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 is wide and the current is strong and if there is any more cheery information that comes along I'll just be too happy to pass it along. In the meantime just think of this as on the job training.

Capt. Glass My problem is, I'm not totally crazy about the prospect of dying.

SSgt. Eddie Dohun So don't die. Drinking that garbage isn't gonna keep you alive, is it?

Glass What is?

Dohun What is? Well, not gettin shot.

Glass What can guarantee that?

Dohun Nothing, for sure.

Glass You will.

Dohun I will what?

Glass You tell me, Eddie. You tell me I won't die.

Dohun Alright, you won't die.

Glass No, no. Guarantee me. I want you to guarantee me I won't die.

Dohun I guarantee you.

Lt. Gen. Frederick "Boy" Browning Hello, Roy. How are you?

Maj. Gen. Roy Urquhart I'm not sure that I'll know for a while. But I'm sorry about the way it turned out.

Browning You did all you could.

Urquhart Yes, but did everyone else?

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

Urquhart I took ten thousand men into Arnhem. I've come out with less than two. I don't feel much like sleeping.

Browning Quite. I've just been on to Monty. He's very proud and pleased.

Urquhart Pleased?

Browning Of course. He thinks Market Garden was 90% successful.

Urquhart But what do you think?

Browning Well, as you know, I always felt we tried to go a bridge too far.

Generalfeldmarschall Walther Model Why should they do that? There is nothing valuable here. ... Me! I am valuable here. They have all come just to capture me. Get my driver and car.

Aide Yes, Herr Marshal!

Model Evacuate my headquarters!

Aide Yes, sir!

Model And don't forget my cigars!

Maj. Harry Carlyle Rather interesting development, sir. That's far enough! We can hear you from there!

SS Panzer Officer My general says there is no point in continuing this fighting! He is willing to discuss a surrender!

Lt. Col. John Frost Tell him to go to hell.

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

SS Panzer Officer What?

Maj. Harry Carlyle We'd like to, but we can't accept your surrender! Was there anything else?

Frost Right.

SS Panzer Officer Mein Herr General.... And now?

Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich Flatten Arnhem.

Capt. Arie D. "Harry" Bestebreurtje Why the emergency meeting?

Brig. Gen. James Gavin Just keeping me abreast of the little changes.

Bestebreurtje How big are the little changes?

Gavin I'll answer with typical British understatement: gigantic. For example, they can't get us all in at once. Too many men, too much equipment, not enough planes. It's gonna take three days to get the men into Arnhem, Poles and the British.

Bestebreurtje Well, what about us?

Gavin We'll be all right. Aside from the fact that we're parachuting in daylight, we have nothing to worry about.

Bestebreurtje Daylight? Has it ever been tried before?

Gavin Not in a major drop.

Bestebreurtje You think there might be a reason for that?

Gavin Let's hope not.

Bestebreurtje What do you think?

Gavin It'll be all right. It's a no-moon period anyway. We have to go in daylight. It doesn't matter. Just so they get us over the target area. Half a mile away, three quarters of a mile, I'll settle for that–

Bestebreurtje I don't want to hear anything else. Is there anything else?

Gavin Well, you're my Dutch adviser, Harry.

Bestebreurtje I forgot to tell you something?

Gavin Only that the Germans first tried to take Nijmegen bridge themselves back in 1940 and got slaughtered.

Brig. Gen. James Gavin Well that's it then. We're pulling them out. It was ].

Lt. Col. J.O.E. Vandeleur It was the single road getting to Nijmegen.

Lt. Gen. Brian Horrocks No, it was after Nijmegen.

Lt. Gen. Frederick "Boy" Browning And the fog, in England.

Maj. Gen. Stanislaw Sosabowski Doesn't matter what it was. One man says to another, "I know what let's do today, let's play the war game."... everybody dies.

Lt. Gen. Frederick Browning Only the weather can stop us now.

Maj. Gen. Stanislaw Sosabowski Weather! Christus! General Browning, what of the Germans? Don't you think that if we know Arnhem is so critical to their safety that they might know it too?

Browning Now, look here. The few troops in the area are second-class. They're not frontline caliber, not at all, do you understand? I think you ought to have a little more faith in Montgomery's intelligence reports, you know. He's done pretty well for us in last three or four years.

Sosabowski I will tell you the extent of my faith. I am thinking of asking for a letter from you stating that I was forced to act under your orders in case my men are massacred.

Browning I see... I do see. Do you wish such a letter?

Sosabowski No... No, of course not. In the case of massacre, what difference will it make?

SSgt. Eddie Dohun Colonel, if you don't look at him right now, he's going to die.

U.S. medical colonel He's dead now.

Dohun It would mean a lot to me, sir, if you'd check him out.

U.S. medical colonel Come on, Sergeant! For Chrissakes get him out of here!

Dohun Would you look at him please, sir. Right now. Or I'll blow your fuckin head off. Right now.

U.S. medical colonel I can give him a quick examination if you like.

Dohun Thank you very much, sir.

Gen. Karl Ludwig Not possible.

Dr. Jan Spaander If you would just say yes, it would be very possible.

Gen. Ludwig Forgive me, but there is a battle. And we are in the process of winning it.

Dr. Spaander Winning or losing is not a 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.

Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich General Ludwig. Your request will be met. The ceasefire will begin at three o'clock.

Dr. Spaander Ceasefire at three. I would like to thank you.

British officer Would you like to thank him, please?

Dr. Spaander I just did.

Bittrich Please, you can go.

Lt. Col. John Frost Hello, Harry.

Maj. Harry Carlyle Hello. Johnny.

Frost You know, Harry; I always wanted to ask you, but didn't because I knew you so very much wanted me to and I didn't want to give you the satisfaction; but why the hell do you always carry that bloody umbrella?

Carlyle Memory.

Frost What?

Carlyle Bad...memory. Never could remember the password. Knew no Jerry would carry one. Had to prove...I was an Englishman.

U.S. medical colonel Sergeant Dohun pulled a gun on me and threatened to kill me unless I did precisely what he ordered...I want you to put him under arrest.

Lt. Rafferty Yes sir.

U.S. medical colonel I want you to keep him there; I want you to keep him there, for at least ten seconds.

Rafferty I'm not all that sure I understand, Colonel.

U.S. medical colonel Count to ten, Lieutenant, fast.

Rafferty One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Like that, sir?

U.S. medical colonel Thank you, Lieutenant.

Lt. Gen. Brian Horrocks Gentlemen, this is a story that you shall tell your grandchildren, and mightily bored they'll be. 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 101st, here, around ], the American 82nd, here, south of Nijmegen, and our own 1st Airborne boys, and a Polish brigade, here, at ], 64 miles behind enemy lines. 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. 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 under the command of Colonel Vandeleur, will take the lead.

Lt. Col. J.O.E. Vandeleur Christ, not us again.

Horrocks What do you say to that, Joe?

Vandeleur Uh, delighted, sir. Truly delighted.

Horrocks Now, I've selected you to lead us not only because of your extraordinary fighting ability, but also because - in the unlikely event that the Germans ever get you, they will assume from your attire that they've captured a wretched peasant, and immediately send you on your way.

Horrocks 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 1st 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'd 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 XXX Corps, we my friends, are the cavalry, on the way to the rescue.

Cpl. Hancock Sir.

Maj. Gen. Roy Urquhart 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 are completely broken down. Do you really believe any of that can be helped by a cup of tea?

Cpl. Hancock Couldn't hurt, sir.