WATERLOO BRIDGE
US, 1931, Black and white.
Mae Clarke, Douglass Montgomery (as Kent Douglass), Doris Lloyd, Frederick Kerr, Bette Davis.
Directed by James Whale.
Waterloo Bridge is a brief version of the popular story of World War I, the good time girl trying to make good, the encounter with the American servicemen on Waterloo Bridge, the consequences for her, the consequences were him and his falling in love with her.
Mae Clarke is the girl (the actress who had the grapefruit pushed in her face by James Cagney in Public Enemy). Douglass Montgomery, presented here as Kent Douglass, is the young man. There is a supporting role, early in her career, for Bette Davis.
The film was remade in 1940 with Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor and that is the version that most people remember. This version was directed by James Whale, the British director of Journey’s End, who came to Hollywood and was famous for making, amongst other films, Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein as well as the 1936 version of Showboat. Aspects of his life were dramatised in Bill Condon’s film, Gods and Monsters, with Ian McKellen? playing Whale.
1. An interesting film? From the early 1930s? The early use of sound? The techniques? The acting style and the moving towards a naturalistic performance?
2. The work of James Whale, British, theatre, his second film, settling in Hollywood? The adaptation of the play?
3. The screenplay based on a play, the language, London during World War I? The adaptation and opening out the play?
4. The film and its moral world, pre-code?
5. The introduction to Myra, the plane, the music, the chorus, the audiences, the season coming to an end? The dressing rooms, the aftermath? What were the girls to do?
6. The theatre scene, Chu Chin Chow, the patrons, theatre during the war?
7. The atmosphere of the war, the soldiers, active service, in France, the return, leave deaths? The zeppelins and the air raids on London? The shelters?
8. The two girls, their life, plans, prostitution, their flats, sharing, friendship?
9. Waterloo Bridge, the old lady with the potatoes, the accident, the police helping, Myra helping, her unwillingness to go to the shelter? The glimpses of people sheltering and life and the shelter?
10. Roy, on leave, helping, the attraction, going to the shelter? Going to the flat? His interest in Myra, his age and experience, his serving in the wall?
11. Myra, her response to Roy, befriending him, the talk, courtesy, the drink, the fish and chips?
12. Myra going out of night, on Waterloo Bridge, the client, the military? Her late return?
13. Roy, the excitement, the earl the visit, finding Myra out? Talking to her friend?
14. Taking Myra out, the drive, the countryside, his growing attraction? Going home, his stepfather and his doddery behaviour but welcoming Myra? The
mother, at table, the frank talk with Myra and advising her to break off the relationship? The sister, nice and welcoming? Her leaving?
15. The departure, Roy and his being upset, the visit, the landlady and her talk, his thinking her nice, providing the money for the rent? The truth about Myra? It's not mattering?
16. His going back to the war, Myra on Waterloo Bridge, her death? The blend of a tough story with love and pathos?
