The Girl on the Bridge

Wow. That's all i can say after seeing hugo haas's masterpiece. The images from this film will stay in my head for ages. I was tense at every one of the knife throwing scenes, and was amazed at how a film made 50 years ago can still stand up like it has today. I suggest all people to go to your local video store and rent it immediately.

That Hugo Haas had such a sweet quality.

Here he's a jeweler named David, a widower who lost his family during WW II. Walking one night, he stops a young woman, Clara (Beverly Michaels) on a bridge as she's contemplating suicide.

He tells her a little about himself and the next day, she and her baby Judy show up at his shop. She has a decent job, but the woman taking care of Judy was taken to prison. David offers to care for Judy in the shop while Clara works.

It's a great arrangement, but Clara's boss offers her a housekeeping position in his home where she can have the baby with her, and he is moving to San Diego. To keep her from leaving, David offers her the same job. Eventually they marry and are very happy.

Clara is a former showgirl, and the baby's father, Mario, a pianist, suddenly reappears in her life. He doesn't want to interfere with her marriage, but his cousin has different ideas.

Haas and Michaels are both wonderful, and one really gets caught up in their story. It's very touching and poignant.

Beverly Michaels (Carla) is the girl on the bridge of this film where she is befriended by kindly watch repairman Hugo Haas (David) at the beginning of the story. She has a baby but is a single mum as her pianist boyfriend Robert Dane (Mario) has taken off to tour another country. However, Dane returns with his gang of trouble-makers that includes John Close (Harry). Dane is not too pleased with the current set-up between Michaels and Haas and Close puts a plan into operation that goes wrong...Uh-oh, somebody is now dead.

This is an engaging film that has you supporting Haas, although there is a bit of a dodgy age difference between him and Michaels. It also explores the question of whether or not you should try to cover up a crime. Keeping things to yourself could give rise to Mr. Guilty paying you a long-term visit.

Hugo Haas must have wanted the Edward G. Robinson role very badly, because with a few script changes, this movie is very similar to Woman In The Window. Beverly Michaels is lovely to look at. This is one of those movies to watch when it's raining outside, and there's nothing worth watching on television.