Across the Bridge

1957 "In the Tradition of the Finest British Chiller Thrillers"
7.2| 1h43m| NR| en
Details

In Mexico, a financier on the run poses as a man he just murdered, only to find out that the man was also a murderer.

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Reviews

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Aiden Melton The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...
Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
themadmovieman This is a really interesting, dark and thrilling film all packed into one. It may not have the look of the most fast-paced film, but it really delivers and becomes hugely exciting towards the end, and whilst it may not necessarily seem so bleak on the face of things either, it becomes very depressing and heavy-going at some points, however it's got such a fascinating story that you can't help but be totally engrossed.Basically, the plot is full of the most unpredictable twists and turns you could ever imagine. What starts off as a relatively simple story suddenly transforms into an extremely complex tale of state borders, identity confusion and a whole host of other stuff that would normally be pretty tough to follow, however this film's excellent screenplay delivers all of that in such a way that it's still a simple enough watch to be pretty entertaining.However, there's nothing more exciting in this film than the way that it pulls your mind from one side to the other on a constant basis due to its numerous twists, because it eventually makes you realise that it's just too unpredictable to predict, and that sense of anticipation that you get before each twist comes is hugely exhilarating.Also, this film manages to be very heavy and bleak at points whilst still maintaining its excitement. The identity theft element to it is very sad, however what becomes most bleak is the final act, which is more a question of survival rather than anything else, and it really requires a lot to get to grips with.Finally, the most interesting thing about this film was its central character, the German-born British billionaire, played fantastically by Rod Steiger. On the face of things, he's a terrible person, but the strangest thing about this film is that this villain really grows on you as it develops, and he turns into some sort of an anti- hero, who you end supporting towards the end, rather than hope for his arrest as you do earlier on, which I found really fascinating.
Martin Bradley Of all the films made from the novels and stories of Graham Greene, "Across the Bridge" is probably the least known and least appreciated which is a pity as it's actually very good, (it's much, much better than John Ford's "The Fugitive", his feeble attempt to film "The Power and the Glory"). Of course, with a better director than Ken Annakin and a better supporting cast it might have been perfect. As it is, it's entirely reliant on its plot, which is gripping, and a sterling performance from Rod Steiger, to hold our interest.He's Carl Schaffner, a crooked businessman who, in an attempt to escape justice, assumes the identity of the man he thinks he's killed and who just happens to be a murderer. It's a plot not dissimilar to that of Antonioni's later "The Passenger" and if this film is never in that class, neither does it deserve to be overlooked. Worth seeking out.
howardmorley Bernard Lee made an acting profession playing various detectives, predominately as the first "M" in the Sean Connery era of James Bond from 1962.Before this he specialised in playing various policemen like in the subject film made in 1957.He is frustrated by the non-existent extradition treaty between Mexico, the U.S. & the U.K. in his attempts to bring to justice a latter day Robert Maxwell type crooked financier, played by Rod Steiger.A previous reviewer suspected it was filmed on location in Spain to obtain a Mexican type atmosphere and this worked well.There were a few British type actors pretending to be Mexican like Eric Pohlmann and the actor who played the chief of Mexican police whom I have seen in more typical British plots.However the star of the film for my money was the dog actor who played "Dolores".She had a few expressive close ups with her doggy eyes which were very effective.When Rod Steiger initially rebuffed her, I was concerned that the R.S.P.C.A. would have to intervene.Nowadays when animals appear in films the producers invariably state in the credits "No animals were injured during the making of this film".The plot has already been effectively commented on by other users.Quite enjoyable I awarded it 7/10.
J. M. Verville I was impressed with the originality of the film and story, and the effectiveness of the portrayal. Rod Steiger does a tremendous job of performing in this film, from start to finish, showing us a dramatic performance in a very interesting story. Ken Annakin is very adept at controlling your emotions, with ease making you feel estranged from the main character when he feels, and at other times making you feel extremely intimate. The symbolism used is also impressive with the use of the dog representing what he traditionally does (loyalty, fidelity). With the extensive use of symbolism and vivid, personal capturing of the downfall of a business tycoon, we have our emotions beautifully twisted and find ourselves with one of the better endings that one can have to a film. Although at times throughout the film I sometimes felt lost and that it dragged on, overall it was still a good film that I would recommend to anyone. A very worthwhile film from Ken Annakin.