Funny / A Bridge Too Far

• When, during a truce, the Germans ask Colonel Frost if he'd be willing to discuss terms for surrender. (The Germans have them completely surrounded at this point.) Frost's adjutant refuses by telling them that he doesn't have any facilities to accept their surrender. Funnily still, the adjutant ad libbed this since Frost just responded to the surrender request with "Tell him to go to hell." (This particular scene modified slightly from how it actually happened. The real life incident involved Captain Eric Mackay)
• Also the scene in Field Marshal Model's HQ.
  Adjutant: British paratroopers have landed three kilometers from here!
  Model: Why should they do that? There's nothing important here... Me! I'm important! They must all be coming just to capture me! Call my chauffeur and car!
  Adjutant: Yes, sir!
  Model: Evacuate my headquarters!
  Adjutant: Yes, sir!
  Model: And don't forget my cigars!
  Adjutant: Yes, sir!
  • In real life, Model did confuse the landing forces for commandos out to capture him.
• It's a little dark, but the scene in which a German officer offers the now captured Colonel Frost some chocolate...only to reveal that it's chocolate from the Allied supply drops the Germans have been intercepting. The look Frost gives him absolutely sells it.
• The English church service that is interrupted by the transport planes taking off.
• The German generals are pondering their overall strategy now that the Allies have landed in France and they are in retreat. The Allied axis of advance has halted as the Germans (correctly) deduce that they are outrunning their supplies. They must decide whether the Allies will begin funneling their limited logistical support to Montgomery in the north or Patton in the south... which they do for all of ten seconds before deciding Patton is the obvious choice. They joke that not even Eisenhower is stupid enough to give Montgomery control of a major operation like that and then, as an afterthought, decide they need their SS armor refitted and in top form for Patton's eventual push, and offhandedly decide that a good place for them to rest up would be Arnhem.
• In the original book, the paratroopers are being briefed on their destination, the Dutch town of Grave. There's a long pause, then someone asks "Yes, but where are we going?"
• As Vandeleur gets ready to start the operation, General Horrocks asks if he'll be able to manage it. Vandeleur replies "I've got nothing else planned for this afternoon."
• After the Son Bridge is destroyed, Colonel Stout tells his radioman to request Bailey equipment from the British.
  "I'll meet them in Eindhoven when they get there! Tell those schmucks to do this right and have their Bailey stuff at the front of their column, right? And be sure to say 'please!'"
• Stout and Vandeleur's banter....
  Stout: (looking at the celebration going on around them) Wild, huh?
  Vandeleur: Have you ever been liberated before?
  Stout: I got divorced twice! Does that count?
  Vandeleur: Yes!
  • And immediately after that....
  Stout: Do you have some of that Bailey crap on ya?
  Vandeleur: When you refer to "Bailey crap," I take it you mean that glorious, precision-made, British-built bridge which is the envy of the civilized world?
  Stout: Yeah, that!
• When Dr. Spaander approaches Kate ter Horst for help, Colonel Weaver is explaining the situation by speaking very slowly. Once Dr. Spaander says that Kate speaks surprisingly good English, he starts talking normally.
• When the river assault at Nijmegen is delayed again, Major Cook gathers his men to make an important announcement: he's decided that he's going to make the crossing by standing on the prow of his boat, like George Washington.

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