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Well, I haven't seen this movie since I was 7 years old but I have never forgotten it either. The first reviewer is right about this being one of those movies that seems almost forgotten... probably because the message is so downbeat... disturbing and very sad (But then somebody will remember it after 49+ years) This is one of those movies that couldn't have been done in color because it is so bleak. I am going to look for a copy of this movie and see it again before I can really review it... I thought "Old Yeller," was the world's best movie until I saw it again as an adult and it might be this way with Across the Bridge as well.

Like some others here I had seen this movie once many years ago, I was very young and came upon it at least 30 minutes into the film. Over the years I forgot the title of it, but never the plot and Rod Steiger and of course Dolores. I never saw it TV again. I would ask people about it describing the plot but no one seem to remember it.It wasn't until I was looking over Steiger's filmography that I found out the title. I bought the DVD and watched last night and memories of years and years came back over me.The music the photography, the hopelessness. So beautiful, so sad.If you have not seen it yet, please do so. One of the most forgotten movies and one of the best performances Rod Steiger ever gave.

Like other reviewers, I, too, have not seen this remarkable film in many, many years since . The fact that I still remember it demonstrates what a truly terrific film this is. How unfortunate that it seems to have been forgotten over the years. However, two days ago, on February 24, a DVD edition of the film was released in the U.S. and I'm now about to finally see this great film again after so many years. The loyalty that can develop between man and dog is surely put to the test by events that take place in this story which was originally written by Graham Greene. No one should pass up an opportunity to see this film which, unfortunately, has never been given the recognition it deserves.

Based upon a short story by genius Grahame Greene this film of Ken Annakin features a remarkably restrained performance by Rod Steiger as Schaffner, a loathsome businessman on the run. A chance meeting on a train to Mexico gives him an opportunity of switching identities but with unexpected consequences, to put it mildly! Annakin considered this his best work and judging by my knowledge of his other films he is right. Good performances by Noel Willman as an equally venal Mexican police chief and the always excellent Bernard Lee as the man from the Yard. Mention must also be made of the delectable Dolores, the dumb chum whose dogged devotion inadvertently brings about Schaffner's downfall. Although Steiger is not everyone's cup of tea this is certainly one of his most satisfying performances.

This is a really interesting, dark and thrilling film all packed into one. It may not have the look of the most fast-paced film, but it really delivers and becomes hugely exciting towards the end, and whilst it may not necessarily seem so bleak on the face of things either, it becomes very depressing and heavy-going at some points, however it's got such a fascinating story that you can't help but be totally engrossed.

Basically, the plot is full of the most unpredictable twists and turns you could ever imagine. What starts off as a relatively simple story suddenly transforms into an extremely complex tale of state borders, identity confusion and a whole host of other stuff that would normally be pretty tough to follow, however this film's excellent screenplay delivers all of that in such a way that it's still a simple enough watch to be pretty entertaining.

However, there's nothing more exciting in this film than the way that it pulls your mind from one side to the other on a constant basis due to its numerous twists, because it eventually makes you realise that it's just too unpredictable to predict, and that sense of anticipation that you get before each twist comes is hugely exhilarating.

Also, this film manages to be very heavy and bleak at points whilst still maintaining its excitement. The identity theft element to it is very sad, however what becomes most bleak is the final act, which is more a question of survival rather than anything else, and it really requires a lot to get to grips with.

Finally, the most interesting thing about this film was its central character, the German-born British billionaire, played fantastically by Rod Steiger. On the face of things, he's a terrible person, but the strangest thing about this film is that this villain really grows on you as it develops, and he turns into some sort of an anti- hero, who you end supporting towards the end, rather than hope for his arrest as you do earlier on, which I found really fascinating.