Dubbed "a film too long" by critical wags and accused of inaccuracy upon its 1977 release, Sir Richard Attenborough's epic exploration of military failure deserves a kinder reassessment.
Recounting how a wildly ambitious Allied battle plan fell apart thanks to poor luck, poor equipment and poor, poor planning, it anchors the confusing, multi-tiered story with shrewdly cast stars: Dirk Bogarde, Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Caine, Robert Redford... The list goes on. So does the film, but a lacklustre third act can't obliterate the excellent action sequences, impressive scale and sincerely felt, war-is-madness message.
DVD Extras:
This two-discer sees Dickie deliver a fans-only interview, while a cut-together commentary from crewmembers and screenwriter William Goldman is somewhat dry. More engaging is an on-screen trivia track and Heroes From The Sky, an illuminating 45-minute documentary. A moving featurette, meanwhile, includes real-life veterans recalling the disaster.
