Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990)

Set during World War II, an upper-class family begins to fall apart due to the conservative nature of the patriarch and the progressive values of his children.

Director:

James Ivory

Writers:

Evan S. Connell (novels), Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Saundra McClain

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations.

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

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | character names as title | reference to franklin d. roosevelt | watering a plant | abusive husband | 

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Taglines:

Divided by time and tradition. United by love and hope. The story of an unforgettable family.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Newman and Woodward were a couple in real life as well, married from February 2, 1958 until Newman's death in September 2008.

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Goofs

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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Quotes

India Bridge: [as a tornado rages outside the room they are in] Walter, don't you think we might be better off downstairs in the basement?
Walter Bridge: India, for twenty years I've been telling you when something will happen and when it will not happen. Now, have I ever, on some significant occasion been proved wrong?

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Crazy Credits

Shakespearean Tutor to Mr. Newman - Senator Bob Dole

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Teen-Age Crime Wave (1994)

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Soundtracks

Holiday for Strings
Written by David Rose
WB Music Corp.
Performed by David Rose and His Orchestra
Courtesy of RCA Records

User Reviews

A richly detailed movie which just misses the mark

I first saw this movie when released in 1990 and just watched it again, partly out of curiosity as to whether i would feel differently about it. I don't. I still see it as a movie with all the right things going for it but just missing the mark.

The acting, writing, cinematography, etc. are all exemplary. It is, i believe, the movie's episodic structure which ultimately makes it seem rather uneventful when, in reality, the story is made up of many quite important events. An episodic structure, can work just fine, of course, but, as with most successful stories, it still needs to have a certain "build" to it in order to really satisfy. If that "build" IS here in this movie, it is so muted as to be incoherent to most viewers. Not that Mr and Mrs Bridge is not worth viewing! In fact, its thematics are well worth discussing. In my eyes, the parents represent an older, more traditional way of life on the verge of irreversible change, as personified by their children (though one or two of them eventually settle back into the groove). The country club/tornado sequence seems especially significant in light of such a reading, that a "storm" is on its way and they had better take cover. That Mr Bridge should remain steadfast in its occurence speaks volumes about his character. There are myriads of wonderful little character traits, etc., in this movie worth pondering, by the way.

While Mr Bridge is a fascinating persona, it is Mrs Bridge who, for me, remains central to the film. In fact, it might be THE major statement of the movie that this suburban woman has begun to awaken to how sheltered (stifled?) she and others like her have been. Though she does yearn for more--in a sense she really does want to be fully awakened--she never becomes more than vaguely enlightened. She realizes--even accepts with a great deal of comfort--how "lucky" they are to have lived such a privileged life. Though there have been many victims of female discontentedness (e.g. her friend Grace), she and many like her have adapted quite well to their mode of survival and comfortable living. It simply means sacrificing all of those crazy dreams that artistic types pursue, not to mention sacrificing passion--real passion--for life.

There are many significant instances to underscore Mrs Bridge's circumstance as a woman dependent on her man, but none better, perhaps, than the at the end of the movie as a pampered victim in a car: "hello? hello? is there anybody there?"...indeed!

Details

Official Sites:

Merchant Ivory Productions [United States]

Country:

UK USA Canada

Language:

English French

Release Date:

18 January 1991 (UK)

Also Known As:

Mr. & Mrs. Bridge

Filming Locations:

France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$57,959, 25 November 1990

Gross USA:

$7,698,010

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,698,010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineplex Odeon Films, Miramax, Merchant Ivory Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1