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Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
1 November 1990 (Germany)
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Tagline:
Divided by time and tradition. United by love and hope. The story of an unforgettable family.
Plot:
It's about a five member family. The father is a conservative and traditional person who directs the family...
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Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 4 wins
&
2 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Paul Newman: 1925 - 2008
(From IMDb News. 27 September 2008, 8:49 AM, PDT)
Producer Ismail Merchant Dies at 68
(From IMDb News. 25 May 2005)
(From IMDb News. 27 September 2008, 8:49 AM, PDT)
Producer Ismail Merchant Dies at 68
(From IMDb News. 25 May 2005)
User Comments:
Read the books
more (21 total)
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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
126 min
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Singapore:PG |
Iceland:L |
Argentina:13 |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-8 |
USA:PG-13 |
Germany:6 (f) |
Australia:PG
Company:
Fun Stuff
Goofs:
Continuity: The glass of beer on the tablecloth moves from being completely on the white part to resting on the border depending on the camera angle.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Atomic Brain (#6.18)" (1993)
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Soundtrack:
Blues in the Night
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This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (21 total)
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This film is based on two utterly unique novels by Evan S. Connell called 'Mrs. Bridge' and a companion novel published some years later, 'Mr. Bridge'. In 'Mrs. Bridge' Connell presents events in the title character's life and marriage, always from her heartbreakingly naive perspective, yet managing to convey the true nature of the events at the same time. This brilliant technique results in a portrait that is as much comic as it is pathetic. In 'Mr. Bridge' the author presents the same marriage, this time from Mr. Bridge's perspective, a much less comic, though no less tormented character.
The film fails to find an equivalent technique to present the parallel perspectives of the novel, those of the two main characters as well as an omnicient, often ironic narrator.
Nevertheless, I think the film could have succeeded more than it does if it were not for the misconceived role of Mrs. Bridge. First of all Joanne Woodward is too old for the part by twenty years or more and appears more like the children's grandmother than their mother. Secondly, she, and the author and director, create a highly emotional, always-on-the-verge-of-tears character that totally misses the central theme of the novel which is that Mrs. Bridge is completely out of touch with her emotional self. Her unhappiness lies deep beneath the surface of her everyday life. She copes by either doing as she is told by her husband, or by resorting to platitudes or the values of her middle class upbringing. In one of the first scenes of the film, Mrs. Bridge bursts into tears in her husband's presence and expresses insights about their marriage that are completely beyond the capability of the character in the novel. This robs the film of any chance of catching the ironic tone of the novels.
Paul Newman is perfect as Mr. Bridge, but again without the interior perspective, much of the essence of the novel is lost. The other actors are all fine, especially Blythe Danner. The scene in which Danner tries to explain to Mrs. Bridge the depth of her unhappiness and Mrs. Bridge can only respond with bromides and offers of tea gives a hint of what the film could have been.
The film is certainly a noble failure and worth seeing. But if you want a completely brilliant reading experience, get the novels.