The Bridge (1959)
"Die Brücke" (original title)

In 1945, Germany is being overrun, and nobody is left to fight but teenagers.

Director:

Bernhard Wicki

Writers:

Manfred Gregor (novel), Michael Mansfeld,

Stars:

Folker Bohnet, Fritz Wepper, Michael Hinz

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 15 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Folker Bohnet	...	Hans Scholten
Fritz Wepper	...	Albert Mutz
Michael Hinz	...	Walter Forst
Frank Glaubrecht	...	Jurgen Borchert
Karl Michael Balzer	...	Karl Horber
Volker Lechtenbrink	...	Klaus Hager
Günther Hoffmann	...	Sigi Bernhard
Cordula Trantow	...	Franziska
Wolfgang Stumpf	...	Stern
Günter Pfitzmann	...	Heilmann
Heinz Spitzner	...	Fröhlich
Siegfried Schürenberg	...	Lt. Colonel
Ruth Hausmeister	...	Mrs. Mutz
Eva Vaitl	...	Mrs. Borchert
Edith Schultze-Westrum	...	Mother Bernhard

Storyline

A group of German boys is ordered to protect a small bridge in their home village during the waning months of the second world war. Truckloads of defeated, cynical Wehrmacht soldiers flee the approaching American troops, but the boys, full of enthusiasm for the "blood and honor" Nazi ideology, stay to defend the useless bridge.

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Plot Keywords:

bridge | nazi | steel helmet | world war two | unintentional kill | 

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Taglines:

They look for love in a world of violence!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German English

Release Date:

1 May 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bridge

Filming Locations:

Cham, Bavaria, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fono Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

None of the tanks shown in the movie are real. Since the German army still did not have any tanks in 1959, Bernhard Wicki had to have wooden models constructed, they were then placed on top of a truck chassis. The wheels can clearly been seen under the "tank" body.

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Goofs

The action takes place within a couple of days in the late spring of 1945 as the US forces were moving through Bavaria. However, the trees clearly show their late Autumn remaining foliage, instead of spring buds and new leaves.

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Connections

Edited into Bernhard Victor Christoph Carl von Bülow genannt Loriot (2008)

User Reviews

One of the most Powerful Movies I've seen..is it available on video?

I saw this film at Umass for my German film class in 1990-- this was easily the best of the films that I saw throughout that semester - and the plate was full - Metropolis, Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Blue Angel, M - all fantastic films but this one was the best. Very riveting and fantastic performances from the teens. Saw "The Thin Red Line" two weeks ago and was sorely disappointed - this is one of the best war movies of all time - too bad nobody over here in the States has ever seen it but me and maybe 20 others. They have to settle with Hollywood crap. A 10 out of 10.