Across the Bridge

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Across the Bridge

1957

1h 43m

Crime

Drama

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4 Reviews

83%

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50+ Ratings

Englishman Carl Schaffner (Rod Steiger) is in New York on business when he learns that Scotland Yard is investigating a $3 million embezzlement job he pulled off in Europe. He hops a train headed for Mexico, on which he drugs another passenger, Paul Scarff (Bill Nagy), and throws him off the train. Although Schaffner initially intends to assume the victim's identity, he learns that Scarff is wanted for murder in Mexico, triggering a complicated series of identity switches as the law closes in.

Paul Mayersberg

Sight & Sound

It is a superb film and a master lesson in the vaguely criminal craft of film adaptation.

Jul 26, 2018

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Pat Padua

Washington City Paper

Steiger finds humanity in what could have been a ridiculous role, and he finds a formidable co-lead in Dolores—his victim’s dog, whom Carl spends most of the movie trying to shoo away.

Oct 14, 2024

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Film Culture Staff

Film Culture

A chase thriller with a promising first part and a weak denouement. Graham Greene's atmosphere and moral torment is captured at moments, but the film's main asset is Rod Steiger's strong character performance.

Jun 7, 2022

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

An overlooked black-and-white thriller that's based on a Graham Greene novel.

Rated: B+

Sep 26, 2008

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Martin B

Rod Stieger as expected was terrific. Having him push the dog away making him especially dislikeable and all the more compelling when the dog helps save him from a scorpion bite and the dog gaining favor with a really bad guy. Great twists and turns, impossible to predict the ending but the ending was disappointing. You do all that work to come up with a great script with good actors including the dog and he gets run over in the end by accident.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/10/24

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Audience Member

The greatest 01 hour: and 43 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

Strange movie as there is no clear character to view with sympathy, but the combination of themes of deceit, crime, corruption, social outcast, police tactics, make for a fine drama and role for Rod Steiger to shine in.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Suspense. Drags a bit in the middle and you have to look past the Mexicans with British accents, but makes up for it with an amazing setup and an ending that really pays off. Steiger is brilliant.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

[url="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/across_the_bridge/dvd.php?select=1"][img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/coverv/79/220779.jpg[/img][/url] Little-known gem is right. Fine movie about a crooked European businessman who flees to Mexico to escape Scotland Yard. A story about selfishness, corruption, and a dog. Rod Steiger considered this his best acting role.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

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Ken Annakin

Director

Rod Steiger

Carl Schaffner

David Knight

Johnny

Marla Landi

Mary

Bernard Lee

Chief Inspector Hadden

Eric Pohlmann

Police Sergeant

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Synopsis

Englishman Carl Schaffner (Rod Steiger) is in New York on business when he learns that Scotland Yard is investigating a $3 million embezzlement job he pulled off in Europe. He hops a train headed for Mexico, on which he drugs another passenger, Paul Scarff (Bill Nagy), and throws him off the train. Although Schaffner initially intends to assume the victim's identity, he learns that Scarff is wanted for murder in Mexico, triggering a complicated series of identity switches as the law closes in.

Director: Ken Annakin
Producer: John Stafford
Screenwriter: Guy Elmes, Denis Freeman
Production Co: Independent Film Producers (Ifp)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Feb 24, 2004
Runtime: 1h 43m