Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Paul Newman | ... | Walter Bridge | |
Saundra McClain | ... | Harriet | |
Joanne Woodward | ... | India Bridge | |
Margaret Welsh | ... | Carolyn Bridge | |
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John Bell | ... | Douglas Bridge - as a boy |
Kyra Sedgwick | ... | Ruth Bridge | |
Simon Callow | ... | Dr. Alex Sauer | |
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Remak Ramsay | ... | Virgil Barron |
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Addison Myers | ... | Man at Businessmen's Table |
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Roger Burget | ... | Man at Businessmen's Table |
Blythe Danner | ... | Grace Barron | |
Austin Pendleton | ... | Mr. Gadbury | |
Gale Garnett | ... | Mabel Ong | |
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Al Christy | ... | Judge |
Joe Tinoco | ... | Plaintiff |
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. Written by Kornel Osvart <kornelo@alphanet.hu>
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, in addition to the storied couple (in real life) playing Mr. and Mrs. Bridge--I thought the story line excellent. I actually grew up in Kansas City not long after the time period in the film and my family lived much as these people. The film's "slowness" represents that time---Paul Newman's close and steady pace, his awareness and lack of awareness of the world around him are intriguing. Joanne Woodward and Blythe Danner represent to very different types of women (of the time) but gives the viewer the sense that they are both trapped, one willingly and the other not so willingly. I weep for the Mother (Joanne Woodward) who wants to be close to her grown children but is too limited in her own world to really know how. The children are at fault in many cases, but it's sad nonetheless. The "wedged" car in the garage door opening sums up the Mother's inability to control her surroundings and the very fact that the husband was angry when he arrived home only underlines this fact. Thank God he seems to have loved her!