Across the Bridge (1957)

Gripping story with well-crafted characters

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

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.

****SPOILERS**** Hidden gem of a movie with Rod Steiger as unscrupulous heel and multi million dollar embezzler, of his own brokerage firm, Carl Schaffner who after stealing someone's identity, by getting him drunk and throwing him off a moving train, tries to escape justice. It's then that Schaffner finds that the person who's identity he stole is on the lamb murderer Mr. Cooper, Alan Gifford,who's wanted by the Mexican police. With the choice of staying in Mexico to prevent himself from being arrested in the US for grand larceny Schaffner, after proving that he isn't in fact Mr. Cooper, faces a catch-22 situation.: Spend the rest of his life in total poverty without access to the millions he has stashed away in Mexico; Or going back in the US to spend 5 to 10 years behind bars and then be free to live off his vast amount of his hidden, in numbered bank accounts, ill gotten gains.As it turned out it was the badly injured Cooper who was later killed in a police shoot-out in his motel room on the US side of the border and then had his stranded and owner-less pet dog Dolores become attach to Schaffner whom he at first wanted no part of. It was Dolores' dog like loyalty to Schaffner who despite all the mental abuse she took from him that in the end won him over to her side. A the time the movie was about to end Schaffner forgot about freedom or money but only wanted to be together with his new found friend or dog Dolores. So much so to when the authorities in both the US and Mexico used the pooch by tying her up on the bridge yards on the USA side of the border in order to get him to go get her and expose himself to arrest! ***SPOILERS**** Tear and gut crunching final with a by now not at all caring about himself Schaffner risking his both freedom as well as life to get the only friend he has in the world Dolores back with, for him, disastrous results. The final scene with Schaffner while trying to get Dolores back to the Mexcian side of the bridge was almost too painful to watch. He in fact risked and lost his life for a dog he at first wanted no part of. But later found out that Dolores was by far more important to him then his freedom as well as money and the only one in the world, with everyone who ended up jumping ship on him, who ever really cared about him.

Like some others here I had seen this movie once many years ago, I was very young and came upon it at least 30 minutes into the film. Over the years I forgot the title of it, but never the plot and Rod Steiger and of course Dolores. I never saw it TV again. I would ask people about it describing the plot but no one seem to remember it.It wasn't until I was looking over Steiger's filmography that I found out the title. I bought the DVD and watched last night and memories of years and years came back over me.The music the photography, the hopelessness. So beautiful, so sad.If you have not seen it yet, please do so. One of the most forgotten movies and one of the best performances Rod Steiger ever gave.

A truly memorable, but curiously forgotten film (not on video or DVD) that deals with an absorbing theme -- how to disappear using an assumed identity. A rare example, I think, of the film version's being just vastly superior to its orginal source (a slight, if taut short story by Graham Greene).The plot is brilliantly simple (a la Hitchock). Carl Schaffner is travelling on a train. He's trying to escape from something dreadful and threatening (not specified) and is terrified. In desperation he decides to bump off a fellow passenger, assume his identity and take his documents. He intends to leave the train at the other end, get through the official formalities and disappear safely from whatever is chasing him. He goes to a lot of trouble to darken his moustache, get the clothes right etc. The train reaches its destination. Passengers alight. He gets off, strolls down the plaform. It all seems to be going like clockwork.Then the guard shouts at him: "Hey! Don't forget your dog!"It seems his victim had a dog and boarded it in the guard's van. The rest of the film fascinatingly details the developing relationship between Carl and his newfound canine companion while he continues to attempt to survive and escape detection. It is highly original and gripping throughout. It has thrills and pathos. Superb acting by Rod Steiger as Carl and a really professional actor as Gloria, the dog. Very evocative black and white photography and rich, sympathetic direction. I saw this as a student in 1957 and never forgot it. I have seen it once on TV. It MUST come out on DVD!