SIX BRIDGES TO CROSS
US, 1955, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Tony Curtis, George Nader, Julie Adams, Jay C. Flippen, Sal Mineo.
Directed by Joseph Pevney.
Six Bridges to Cross is a small gangster thriller from the mid 50s, directed by Joseph Pevney who was directing a number of similar features at Universal at this time. He later mover to television.
The film is a star vehicle for Tony Curtis who acquits himself well in the serious role of the Boston gangster. He has to age from a youth to a middled aged man. Curtis was about to change his career and move into more serious films with Sweet Smell of Success, The Defiant Ones, Spartacus.
George Nader also appears to advantage as the weary Boston cop. The supporting cast includes many of the regulars at Universal Studios.
The film was made in Boston and is based loosely on the Brinks' Robbery (also the subject of a telemovie and William Friedkin's The Brinks Job). Obviously a film of the 50s, but effective in its way.
(Sal Mineo is introduced in the film and portrays the young Curtis; there is a song by Henry Mancini sung by Sammy Davis Jnr.)
1.1nteresting gangster thriller? Study of the law? Loosely based on real events from the Depression and the early 40s?
2. Black and white photography, Universal Studios production? The cast? Musical score and title song?
3. The title and the focus on Boston? Life in Boston in the 30s and 40s? Slums? The police? The immigrants? Crime? The law?
4. The focus on Ed Gallagher and his work as a policeman: patrolling the blocks, the clash with the kid, the nervy shooting and visiting Gerry in hospital? His standing his ground and principles and being reinstated? His work in the neighbourhood? Gerry and the bond between them, his becoming a father figure? His getting information from Gerry, contacts with Gerry, disappointed with his behaviour - covering up for the rapist, his double dealings and robberies? His being in, prison for so many years? Wanting to join the military? The question of his nationality? Being released, man about town, Ed being best man at his wedding? Ed and Ellen and their support of Gerry? The final big job? Ed feeling betrayed? Talking straight to Gerry? The investigation, the arrests? His wanting to do a deal, getting the rapist so that Gerry could failure of the ploy? His relationship with the ion, the grand jury and the lawyers implications, the interrogations, behaviour? relenting?
5. The port, the transporting? The boss? The trial, Ed's testifying himself? The final talking to Gerry, Gerry's arrangement to meet, the shootout, his dying in Ed's arms? portrait of the gangs, seeing them as youngsters in Boston? The shooting? The information? Gerry in the neighbourhood, parents and family? Growing older, friendship with Ed, the rape attack and his going to prison? The robberies? Growing older, shrewder? Giving information to Ed? Tee big robbery? His pride, the gang? Not giving information? Imprisonment, the possibility of his being transported to Italy? His question of nationality, the background of military service? His marriage, family? His wife separating from him; telling him the truth? The agreement with Ed, explaining to members of the gang? The shootout and his death? The portrait of a small but shrewd gangster?
7. The picture of the gang members, around Boston, the depression, the war? Petty crime? Rape? Contacts with the police? Bigger crime, the big robbery and the two and a half million? Their reaction against Gerry?
8. The picture of the police, the chief, the investigation crime, accidental shootings? The pressure on the police? The possibilities of - corruption? Honesty and small incomes? Lawyers and grand jury’s, investigations?
9. A picture of American history? The perspective on gangsters in the past?
