The Bridge (1959)

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 & 1 nomination.

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
Günter Hoffmann	...	Sigi Bernhard (as Günther Hoffmann)
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:

dying young | bridge | boy soldier | american soldier | american abroad | 

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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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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The end credits assert that the script relates true facts which happened on April 27 1945.

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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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Quotes

Mrs. Borchert: Next time you cut trees down in my wood, ask me first!
Mr. Forst: I won't do that. It's for victory, don't forget!

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Alternate Versions

An English dubbed version was released in the USA in 1963.

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Connections

Referenced in Les échos du cinéma: Episode #1.11 (1961)

User Reviews

I strongly recommend this film to anyone interested in the practice of childhood conditioning for political ends.

I only saw this movie once, many many years ago, but I never forgot it.I had no idea it was made in 1959 until a client referred me to this website to see if it was useful for work I do for fliers I create every year. I have searched for this movie in video stores for over twenty years and all they ever found in their databases were references to a movie similarly titled about drug smuggling. I gave up years ago. I now know it is still available (but where?). I served in the Marine Corps but was discharged a year before Vietnam. Thank God I did not have the opportunity to implement my training while overseas. I was older than these schoolchildren but just as conditioned and idealistic. Discharged in 1964, I slowly woke up and participated in the protests of the late '60s. Indoctrinated by the educational system of the '50s and John Wayne movies, I would have behaved and felt just like these manipulated young boys in "The Bridge". I strongly recommend this film to anyone interested in the practice of childhood conditioning for political ends. War is sometimes justified, but dying for an empty cause never is. I count this movie in the top 10 best anti-war movies ever made.

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