The Bridge of San Luis Rey

Overview

This first cinematic version of the classic book is a part-talkie, although the only surviving print is silent (housed in the George Eastman House, Rochester, NY). It is a straight-forward telling of the intermingled lives of a group of strangers doomed to die in a collapsing bridge accident. The Art Direction, paltry and unremarkable, surprisingly won an Oscar over the far more remarkable work nominated in THE IRON MASK. The special effect scene of the lovers plummeting with the bridge into the chasm is unforgettable and remarkably done.

Details

Status

Released

Release date

March 30, 1929

Original language

English

Spoken languages

English

Countries

United States of America

Production

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Cast

Michael Vavitch,Henry B. Walthall,Jane Winton,Lili Damita,Ernest Torrence,Raquel Torres,Emily Fitzroy,Duncan Renaldo,Don Alvarado

Director

Charles Brabin

Writer

Ruth Cummings,Alice D.G. Miller,Thornton Wilder,Marian Ainslee

Producer

Hunt Stromberg

Cinematography

Merritt B. Gerstad

Budget

Not recorded

Revenue

Not recorded

IMDb

tt0019722