The Boy and the Bridge

Thanks for all the excellent reviews of this film. I remember seeing this film as a 10 year old. It is very much in the vein of " The Red Balloon", another film of childhood and innocence. I think it is high time it was released on video. A lost cinematic gem! I was really impressed by the documentary feel of the film, and the London locations. I lived in Manchester as a child and once saw a part of the film "Hell Is A City" being filmed. That film also had real locations, and sadly most of those locations have disappeared in the last half century. Films such as "The Boy And The Bridge" are real social and historic documents and should be more widely available. Another film in a similar vein would be Carol Reeds " A Kid For Two Farthings"

I saw this film aged 11 (now 62). I do not remember a lot of the film, as I went to see it on the strength of the seagull's appearance (Sammy).

I knew the seagull and its owner, who was a woman who took in all manner of injured and lost animals, and who lived nearby in East London.

I used to be amused by Sammy playing the piano (not in tune), but he danced up and down on the piano keys. As far as I know Sammy was the only "star" amongst her menagerie of animals. Sammy lived well into the 1970s.

I saw 'The Boy and The Bridge'when it first came out in the cinema ( I was 14) and it coincided with my first crush on a girl at school. I planned to ask her to go and see it with me, but it never came round again and I always wondered about it as it moved me at that time.I can remember looking in the cinema listings expecting to see those magic words 'the boy and the Bridge' So I could take the plunge. I sometimes think I dreamt it all up. I surfed a couple of years ago for it on the net with no luck - until now. Thanks for the memory jog on the storey line from another comment,I could barely remember anything except the bridge and the seagul. I also remember the boy walking through the cobbled streets of the eastend with that wonderful and unique background music,I think it was played on one of the old east end homemade sort of xylaphone things. I wonder who the musician was and whether its still around - a lovely melody and very apt for the setting of the film.I seem also to remember the boy stealing an apple from a street barrow.

I remember seeing this film when it was first released. I also, like tombancroft2 have never met anyone who remembers seeing this excellent film. It is pointless for me to go through the storyline, as this has been superbly covered by tombancroft2. I was twelve years old when I saw it at my local cinema, I enjoyed it so much, my Mother bought me a small "Mamod" steam engine, {similiar to the model the boy has}.

I remember the clip where the boy thinks he is going to get crushed by the massive {600 tons } counterbalance weight,also the one showing the large steam engines working. I recently saw a television documentary about Tower Bridge showing the steam engine preserved, but not in working order.

The film has been shown on television, but I cannot remember when. I would also like to know if this film was made available, as i would purchase it straightaway.

Obviously my score is going to be affected by the fact my mum took me to see it at about age 6, but for a kid who grew up in the East End not 2 miles from where all the action was filmed, it was all fantastically romantic and absorbing.

My abiding memory is of the boy sleeping in the tower, away from all adults, independent and living the dream.

(Completely far-fetched of course as the place has always been locked down like Fort Knox, but still.)

Would love to see it again, I may ask the BFI if I can see it in one of their viewing rooms (you can, apparently, ask to do this).