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The Bridge (1959)

Die Brücke (original title)
Not Rated | | Drama, War | 1 May 1961 (USA)
The Bridge Poster
In 1945, Germany is being overrun, and nobody is left to fight but teenagers.

Director:

Bernhard Wicki

Writers:

Manfred Gregor (novel), Michael Mansfeld | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Folker Bohnet, Fritz Wepper, Michael Hinz | See full cast & crew »
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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 15 wins. See more awards »

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Cast

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

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

bridge | boy soldier | american soldier | american abroad | military training | See All (48) »

Taglines:

They look for love in a world of violence!

Genres:

Drama | War

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German | English

Release Date:

1 May 1961 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Bridge See more »

Filming Locations:

Cham, Bavaria, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fono Film See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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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. See more »

Goofs

The wheels can clearly been seen under the "tank" body. See more »

Alternate Versions

An English dubbed version was released in the USA in 1963. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Der Junge mit der Panzerfaust: Michael Hinz über Bernhard Wickis 'Die Brücke' (2017) See more »

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User Reviews

 
A true anti-war movie with little sidelines, plain & clear ...
20 December 2005 | by berolina – See all my reviews

Once you got used to the fact that this movie is b&w (which I think does create the movie atmosphere the more 'authentic'), you get a good insight in the German state of mind towards the end of WWII. The elders get the sense that "the cause" is lost (nobody in his right mind after Stalingrad believed in the >Endsieg< - definitely the least the Nazis themselves!), the teens however are stuck with their NS idealism, marred by the fact that first love, sex and self expression are difficult to handle during these times of change ... Well, I love the movie since I first saw it in Germany as a teenager,it is also very apparent to me that Steven Spielberg has seen this movie - it definitely influenced his 'Private Ryan' epic, which is surely a better "graphical" war movie, however typically for the US mentality today and yesterday: war is still good if your a patriotic guy on the good side ...

well just get it, watch it!
28 of 32 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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