Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990)

It's about a five member family. The father is a conservative and traditional person who directs the family. The mother is at home, she tries to hold together the family, while Mr. Bridge ... See full summary »

Director:

James Ivory

Writers:

Evan S. Connell (novels), Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Newman, Saundra McClain, Joanne Woodward

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Newman	...	Walter Bridge
Saundra McClain	...	Harriet
Joanne Woodward	...	India Bridge
Margaret Welsh	...	Carolyn Bridge
John Bell	...	Douglas Bridge - as a boy
Kyra Sedgwick	...	Ruth Bridge
Simon Callow	...	Dr. Alex Sauer
Remak Ramsay	...	Virgil Barron
Addison Myers	...	Man at Businessmen's Table
Roger Burget	...	Man at Businessmen's Table
Blythe Danner	...	Grace Barron
Austin Pendleton	...	Mr. Gadbury
Gale Garnett	...	Mabel Ong
Al Christy	...	Judge
Joe Tinoco	...	Plaintiff

Storyline

It's about a five member family. The father is a conservative and traditional person who directs the family. The mother is at home, she tries to hold together the family, while Mr. Bridge works as a lawyer. The children have just grown up, and the complications are derived from that they have a more modern view of life.

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Plot Keywords:

lawyer | conservative | lake louise | university of kansas | art museum | 

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Taglines:

Divided by time and tradition. United by love and hope. The story of an unforgettable family.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 1991 (UK)

Also Known As:

Cenas de uma Família

Filming Locations:

France

Box Office

Gross:

$7,698,010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineplex-Odeon Films, Miramax Films, Merchant Ivory Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Newman and Woodward were a couple in real life as well, married from February 2, 1958 until Newman's death in September 2008.

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Goofs

A ticking noise can be heard in the European hotel room, yet the second hand on the clock does not move.

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Crazy Credits

Shakespearean Tutor to Mr. Newman - Senator Bob Dole

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Connections

Featured in The 63rd Annual Academy Awards (1991)

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Soundtracks

"Les contes d'Hoffmann: Barcarolle"
(uncredited)
Music by Jacques Offenbach

User Reviews

A richly detailed movie which just misses the mark

I first saw this movie when released in 1990 and just watched it again, partly out of curiosity as to whether i would feel differently about it. I don't. I still see it as a movie with all the right things going for it but just missing the mark.

The acting, writing, cinematography, etc. are all exemplary. It is, i believe, the movie's episodic structure which ultimately makes it seem rather uneventful when, in reality, the story is made up of many quite important events. An episodic structure, can work just fine, of course, but, as with most successful stories, it still needs to have a certain "build" to it in order to really satisfy. If that "build" IS here in this movie, it is so muted as to be incoherent to most viewers. Not that Mr and Mrs Bridge is not worth viewing! In fact, its thematics are well worth discussing. In my eyes, the parents represent an older, more traditional way of life on the verge of irreversible change, as personified by their children (though one or two of them eventually settle back into the groove). The country club/tornado sequence seems especially significant in light of such a reading, that a "storm" is on its way and they had better take cover. That Mr Bridge should remain steadfast in its occurence speaks volumes about his character. There are myriads of wonderful little character traits, etc., in this movie worth pondering, by the way.

While Mr Bridge is a fascinating persona, it is Mrs Bridge who, for me, remains central to the film. In fact, it might be THE major statement of the movie that this suburban woman has begun to awaken to how sheltered (stifled?) she and others like her have been. Though she does yearn for more--in a sense she really does want to be fully awakened--she never becomes more than vaguely enlightened. She realizes--even accepts with a great deal of comfort--how "lucky" they are to have lived such a privileged life. Though there have been many victims of female discontentedness (e.g. her friend Grace), she and many like her have adapted quite well to their mode of survival and comfortable living. It simply means sacrificing all of those crazy dreams that artistic types pursue, not to mention sacrificing passion--real passion--for life.

There are many significant instances to underscore Mrs Bridge's circumstance as a woman dependent on her man, but none better, perhaps, than the at the end of the movie as a pampered victim in a car: "hello? hello? is there anybody there?"...indeed!