Across the Bridge **** (1957, Rod Steiger, David Knight, Marla Landi, Bernard Lee, Noel Willman, Eric Pohlmann) – Classic Movie Review 9424

Director Ken Annakin’s 1957 black and white thriller Across the Bridge stars Rod Steiger, who came to Britain to play Carl Schaffner, a scared swindler running from the London law ( Noel Willman as Chief of Police, Bernard Lee as Chief Inspector, Eric Pohlmann as Police Sergeant) and the FBI for embezzlement.

Schaffner swaps identities with his double, a stranger, and goes off to Mexico, where he finds he is now a wanted assassin and folk hero.

Annakin’s really rather goodish suspense thriller is adapted from a Graham Greene story. A forceful, mannered, ingratiating method acting performance by Steiger and brisk, capable, taut acting from Willman, Lee and Pohlmann add zest to one of the better British films of the day.

Also in the cast are David Knight, Marla Landi, Bill Nagy, Alan Gifford, Faith Brook, Philip Rose, Ingeborg Wells [Ingeborg von Kusserow], Marianne Deeming, Stanley Maxted, Mark Baker, and Jack Lester.

Across the Bridge is directed by Ken Annakin, runs 103 minutes, is made by Independent Film Producers (IFP) and The Rank Organisation, is released by Rank, is written by Guy Elmes and Denis Freeman, based on a story by Graham Greene, is shot in black and white by Reginald Wyer, is produced by John Stafford, and is scored by James Bernard.

It is shot at Shepperton, Studios (interiors), Shepperton, Middlesex, England, and on location in Spain (exteriors), doubling for Mexico.

Steiger insisted on two weeks of rehearsal to nail his character. It was one of his favourites of his performances, though most proud of The Pawnbroker (1964). The English actors, particularly Bernard Lee, disliked Steiger’s method acting, but Annakin thought the animosity between the two actors fitted their characters.

Annakin regarded it as his finest film.

The dog Dolores was found in a dogs’ home in Liverpool. Its trainer gained so much publicity he was able to set up the Dolores Dog Home.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9424

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