A Bridge Too Far

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– Bestebreurtj

A Bridge Too Far (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

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: [seriously] I guarantee you.

A Bridge Too Far (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

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: [briefly goes out, returns] Would you look at him please, sir. [brandishes .45 Pistol] Right now. Or I'll blow your fuckin' head off. [cocks the .45] Right now. U.S. medical colonel: I can give him a quick examination if you like. Dohun: Thank you very much, sir. U.S. medical colonel: [doing so, discovers that Glass is indeed still alive] I'll be the son of a...ORDERLY!

A Bridge Too Far (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

U.S. medical colonel: [To military policeman Lt. Rafferty] 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: [brief pause] 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: [dismisses him] Thank you, Lieutenant. [Rafferty salutes and leaves, confused] 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 enoug

A Bridge Too Far (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Maj. Harry Carlyle: Rather interesting development, sir. [to the German] 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: [confused] 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.... [dejectedly enters shotgun seat of General Bittrich's staff car] And now? Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich: [slowly] Flatten Arnhem.

A Bridge Too Far (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

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. [passes away]

A Bridge Too Far (film), CC BY-SA 4.0