Mr. & Mrs. Bridge
"Bold...Vigorous, witty and satirical!" -Vincent Canby, The New York Times
Screen favorites Paul Newman (Road To Perdition) and Joanne Woodward (Philadelphia) star as a well-off couple who raise their children in the comfort of country club society, only to find their control over the family's fate slipping away. Daughter Ruth (Kyra Sedgwick-Behind the Red Door) leaves for the artistic bohemia of New York, more conventional Carolyn marries the "wrong sort" of man, and brother Douglas (Robert Sean Leonard-Driven) joins the army. In an empty house, the Bridges' marriage shifts. Mr. Bridge grows more rigid. But Mrs. Bridge begins to wonder if her husband really loves her. Directed by James Ivory (A Room With A View, Howards End), Mr. & Mrs. Bridge offers a wryly emotional portrait of a marriage as it rides the tumultuous changes of 1930s and '40s America.
Member Reviews
Repression - Philip75
Slow, awkward pacing mars this tale of emotional repression. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward offer convincing performances, but the supporting cast fails to deliver anything more than syrupy drama. The film’s most egregious flaw, however, surfaces within the approach to storytelling. Through a series of brief vignettes, the audience quickly realizes that the world around the Bridge family is crumbling. Although the vignettes are clearly connected, they lack the fluidity to merge as a cohesive whole. Running throughout the film is the expectation that a great tragedy will strike the Bridge family, and perhaps it is with this expectation that the audience persists to the film’s finale. In the end, very little changes for the Bridge family. While it might have been their resistance to change that allowed their survival, the clumsy presentation of this fact resulted in a shallow conclusion.conservative America 1930's - frankenstein
Enjoyed this film, good acting by all . The movie depicts a successful middle class American family living in conservative Kansas in the 30's, but behind the veneer there is emotional turmoil with the children struggling with their ultra conservative upbringing and an overbearing Mr Bridge. Mrs Bridge is at the centre trying to preserve the family's image and prevent things from spinning out of control, leaving her emotionally scarred .American Portrait - legalwright
Although this film is entitled Mr.& Mrs.Bridge, it is really the story of Mrs.Bridge. Played by Joanne Woodward, Mrs. Bridge is a woman who's outer circumstances define her identity - she is a mother and housewife living in Kansas City during the 1930's and 40's. Mr.Bridge, played by Paul Newman, is the stereotypical male - emotionally distant, a workaholic and uncompromising in his moral rectitude.
We follow Mrs. Bridge's journey as she struggles to create an authentic voice for herself. Her children easily move beyond her as they grow into adulthood and this creates confusion and unhappiness for her. She is unable to help her friend who is mentally unstable and considers entering therapy herself until the idea is vetoed by her husband.
I am not sure of the relevance of this story today. There may be women who are still caught in the issue of creating a self identity but most of the women I know are well beyond the struggles of Mrs. Bridge. But the story is capably done and Woodward's performance is excellent. Three stars.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Repression - Philip75
Slow, awkward pacing mars this tale of emotional repression. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward offer convincing performances, but the supporting cast fails to deliver anything more than syrupy drama. The film’s most egregious flaw, however, surfaces within ...conservative America 1930's - frankenstein
Enjoyed this film, good acting by all . The movie depicts a successful middle class American family living in conservative Kansas in the 30's, but behind the veneer there is emotional turmoil with the children struggling with their ultra conservative upbringing ...American Portrait - legalwright
Although this film is entitled Mr.& Mrs.Bridge, it is really the story of Mrs.Bridge. Played by Joanne Woodward, Mrs. Bridge is a woman who's outer circumstances define her identity - she is a mother and housewife living in Kansas City during the 1930's and ...