The Bridges of Madison County (1995)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers (WGA):

Richard LaGravenese (screenplay)
Robert James Waller (novel)

Release Date:

2 June 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Photographer Robert Kincaid wanders into the life of housewife Francesca Johnson, for four days in the 1960s.

Plot Keywords:

Bridge | Love | Diary | Photographer | 1960s

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 20

10:00 AM

AMC

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Robert Kincaid
Meryl Streep	...	Francesca Johnson
Annie Corley	...	Carolyn Johnson
Victor Slezak	...	Michael Johnson
Jim Haynie	...	Richard Johnson
Sarah Kathryn Schmitt	...	Young Carolyn
Christopher Kroon	...	Young Michael
Phyllis Lyons	...	Betty
Debra Monk	...	Madge
Richard Lage	...	Lawyer Peterson
Michelle Benes	...	Lucy Redfield
Alison Wiegert	...	Child #1
Brandon Bobst	...	Child #2
Pearl Faessler	...	Wife
R.E. 'Stick' Faessler	...	Husband

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for some sexuality and brief strong language.

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Philippines:R-18 | France:Unrated | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | USA:R (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Germany:12 (w) | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal) (certificate #33820) | Canada:PG (Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:R(A)

Filming Locations:

Adel, Iowa, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

In her autobiography Catherine Deneuve mentions how she traveled to London to audition for the lead role.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Propane tank on the side of a farmhouse features the 1990s logo of a gas company.

Quotes:

Francesca: But love won't obey our expectations. Its mystery is pure and absolute. What Robert and I had, could not continue if we were together. What Richard and I shared would vanish if we were apart. But how I wanted to share this. How would our lives have changed if I had? Could anyone else have seen the beauty of it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in James Lipton Takes on Three (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

I'll Close My Eyes

Meryl from Bari

When the soul of a movie is reflected in an actor's eyes then you have a miracle, you have something that's going to last. Meryl Streep in "The Bridges Of Madison County" is such a miracle to me. I never thought for a moment that she, no matter how wonderful an actress she is, could fool me. Meryl Streep could never be Italian. Well, there I was, thinking and pre-judging like people I detest. I was so wrong. Not just because she fooled me, although there is no fooling involved here. She won me over. I forgot she was Meryl Streep, the actress, and I lived Francesca's story to the fullest because, I suppose, that's the mystery of great acting, I was confronted by her sheer undiluted truth. The truth in her eyes in every one of her gestures. The truth on her brow. Her thinking, transparent. Clint Eastwood does the right thing putting the entire film at her service and placing himself as the foil to liberate that powerful latent side of Francesca. I though it was ironic and I'm not sure if was meant to be that a wonderful woman like Francesca will sacrifice, what could arguably be call the love of her life, for those children. The grown children's mediocrity was kind of shocking to me. Will the revelation of their mother's secret, reveal a latent, greater side to their natures. I hope so. Francesca deserved extraordinary children. Try no to miss this little miracle.