Across the Bridge (1957)

Corporate executive Carl Schaffner is a German-born British industrialist in New York on business. After he gets word that Scotland Yard is investigating a $3,000,000 embezzlement he has ... See full summary »

Director:

Ken Annakin

Writers:

Graham Greene (story), Guy Elmes (screenplay),

Stars:

Rod Steiger, David Knight, Noel Willman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rod Steiger	...	Carl Schaffner
David Knight	...	Johnny
Noel Willman	...	Chief of Police
Marla Landi	...	Mary
Dolores	...	Dolores
Bernard Lee	...	Chief Inspector Hadden
Eric Pohlmann	...	Police Sergeant
Alan Gifford	...	Cooper
Ingeborg von Kusserow	...	Mrs. Scarff (as Ingeborg Wells)
Bill Nagy	...	Paul Scarff
Faith Brook	...	Kay
Marianne Deeming	...	Anna
Stanley Maxted	...	Milton
Mark Baker	...	Baggage Man
Jack Lester	...	Sam

Storyline

Corporate executive Carl Schaffner is a German-born British industrialist in New York on business. After he gets word that Scotland Yard is investigating a $3,000,000 embezzlement he has committed, the imperious, mean-spirited Schaffner thinks he has sufficient time to take an inconspicuous train to Mexico where he can escape extradition. He miscalculates, and his crime has become headline news before he can cross the border. He drugs and switches identities with fellow train passenger Paul Scarff, who looks like him and has a Mexican passport. He throws him off the train but later discovers that Scarff is wanted in Mexico as a political assassin. Schaffner must double back and track down Scarff to get his original passport back. He allows himself to be taken to Mexico as Scarff, where he declares his true identity to local police because as Schaffner he is not wanted there. The local police chief and Scotland Yard inspector Hadden conspire to keep him trapped in the Mexican border ...

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Plot Keywords:

train | mexico | escape | police | passport | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

6 September 1957 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Die Brücke der Vergeltung

Filming Locations:

Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rank Organisation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rod Steiger insisted on two weeks of rehearsal so that he could fully get to grips with the nature of his character.

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Goofs

Though set in the U.S. at this point, a sign on the wall in the store/gas station/motel (can't remember which) says No Cheques, British spelling, rather than Checks, American spelling.

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Connections

Referenced in Kick of Death (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Smooth Sequence"
(uncredited)
Music by Trevor Duncan
Published by Boosey & Hawkes

User Reviews

Masterfully Done

I was impressed with the originality of the film and story, and the effectiveness of the portrayal. Rod Steiger does a tremendous job of performing in this film, from start to finish, showing us a dramatic performance in a very interesting story. Ken Annakin is very adept at controlling your emotions, with ease making you feel estranged from the main character when he feels, and at other times making you feel extremely intimate.

The symbolism used is also impressive with the use of the dog representing what he traditionally does (loyalty, fidelity). With the extensive use of symbolism and vivid, personal capturing of the downfall of a business tycoon, we have our emotions beautifully twisted and find ourselves with one of the better endings that one can have to a film.

Although at times throughout the film I sometimes felt lost and that it dragged on, overall it was still a good film that I would recommend to anyone. A very worthwhile film from Ken Annakin.