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List Price: $24.98 | | Label: New Line Home Video
Salesrank: 37989
Released: October 11, 2005 |
| Our Price: $3.14 |
| Used Price: $0.98 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Five people are killed in a freak accident when a lofty rope bridge collapses. A priest journeys to discover if there was a divine reason for this bloody disaster. Set in Lima, Peru, during the 18th century and based on the Thornton Wilder novel.
Description of The Bridge of San Luis Rey:
Mary McGuckian (This is the Sea) has produced a handsome, if curiously inert version of Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning novella. While the story presents a compelling inquiry into the nature of fate, this fourth adaptation, after a 1944 movie and 1958 tele-film, never quite overcomes some odd casting decisions. Set in Lima, Peru in the early-1700s, the story concerns the inquiry by Brother Juniper (Gabriel Byrne) into the deaths of five travelers who drowned when the bridge they were crossing collapsed. Was it divine intervention or random chance? As Juniper tells the Archbishop (Robert De Niro, making no effort to disguise his New York accent), while on trial for heresy, "Either we live by accident and die by accident or we live by plan and die by plan." Using his trial as a framing device, McGuckian flashes back to the circumstances that led the victims to their date with destiny. The primary players include the Viceroy (F. Murray Abraham), La Marquesa (Kathy Bates), the Abbess (Geraldine Chaplin), Uncle Pio (Harvey Keitel), La Perichole (Pilar López de Ayala), and twins Manuel and Esteban (Mark and Michael Polish of Northfork fame). So who fell? Unlike previous productions, the answer won't be revealed until the end, at which point Juniper will be forced to put his findings into a theological context--or suffer the cost. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
The Bridge of San Luis Rey Reviews:
Who is Mary McGuckian and can we thank her enough? 
2009-09-24 - (Well, she is the director of this wonderful film.)
I never thought to be able to see Thornton Wilder's novel realized adequately in my lifetime. That it has been done -- and very beautifully -- is a tribute not only to the many gifted artists who contrived it, but to the producers who paid for the attempt. Such men and women deserve medals.
The film is magnificent to look at, and the actors excellent. Some may be disenchanted by listening to these tremendously celebrated people in American POP art, with their so-famous American voices; voices which seem intrinsically wrong in an historical context, but all that can be resolved by listening to the film in Spanish.
Like the character in the story, Uncle Pio, I too am strongly attracted to women's beauty -- why bother otherwise with film -- and find to my delight that Pilar Lopez de Ayala who plays La Perichola is as beautiful as legend might wish, and in the same style as the magnificent Eva Green, whom she closely resembles.
Outside of that what need one say? The Bridge is magnificently costumed and was brilliantly mounted (in Spain) which evokes the vanished magnificence of old Lima. Interiors are astonishing, exteriors are wondrous. The story?
A man of sincere and orthodox faith attempts to use scientific methods to not only demonstrate the working of god's intent in a random, fatal accident involving many, but to justify his method. (Relapsed Roman Catholics may struggle not to fall to their knees and tear their hair. But...) The story is not facile, and though it is profound, it is not difficult. Rather, it is universal. It is a sublime story, and all I can do here, is encourage people to plunge into the experience, and then get out of the way, quickly, before making a fool of myself.
Book or movie? 
2008-11-27 - Although I appreciate the great stars that were cast in this movie and the tremenous work done with tradional clothing and scenery several centuries ago it did not impress me as much as the book. I read The Bridge of San Luis Rey in my freshman year in high school and I never forgot the power of it - so I just had to see the movie. The ending of the movie is really well done, but the mid section was a bit boring. I would recommend you read the book if you have already seen the movie. It is much more full of moral values, faith and fate of mankind.
Brings back old memories.
2008-05-19 - Saw this Movie when it first came out. I was very young but have not forgotten it.Have'nt been able to find it on T.V. so when I saw it here Had to buy it.Very interesting story & Liked the way it was put together. Don't usually like Flashbacks but this was so very well done.Of course most of the actors have become very well known thru the years.Some of my favorites.I highly recommend it.Is one of my very favorites.I've been trying to find some of the pictures I saw as a child. Have found some. Now have a different insight to them because of my age I guess.
Boring movie, dull questioning... 
2007-07-01 - The first boring movie I have ever seen Robert de Niro act in.
This movie has a star cast, but it never gets off the ground. It plods along till is comes to a whimpering end.
Probably because the novella it is based on, is actually (in spite of all the hype surrounding it) forgettable.
It seems the tale is told in order to do a post modernist sort of "unpacking" of events in order to arrive at some insight into either evil or the nature of randomness.
In other words, why did the bridge break and did those particular people fell to death. Did they deserve it, and so.
I was left with the puzzle why is this question only asked when a bridge collapse? I mean, why did the chicken die crossing the road?
The whole dull attempt at unraveling, however, is invalidated by the fact that never is the question asked why did the bridge ACTUALLY collapse - was it well maintained? Did a rope snap? Was it a new rope, etc.
Hell, maybe the man in charge of checking the rope was drunk?
Maybe the Lima people never actually did any maintenance on the bridge! Then it is of course not all that metaphysical...
Don't watch this movie. Rather go to sleep. Or read Dostoevsky.
Be careful with whom you associate! It could cost your life! 
2007-02-11 - Five people plummet to their graves crossing a suspension bridge in 18th century Peru.WHY did THESE PARTICULAR PEOPLE die is the question? Father Juniper(Gabriel Byrne) has been commissioned by the Spanish Inquisition to determine just that.One thing is certain and only one thing:the five victims all had association with the actress La Perichole.
Based from the Thornton Wilder novel of the same name,Mary McGuckian's screenplay minutely examines the facts in the lives of these five victims.This film IS an inquest, and McGuckian's thorough retelling of Wilder's book is accurately brought to the screen with an intelligent portrayal by an all-star International ensemble of the most well known A-list actors in the world.Special mention,though,has to go to Kathy Bates as the Marquesa.She is a wonder!It is also great to see F.Murray Abraham playing a Salieri-like role that grabbed him his Oscar in AMADEUS.
For SOUNDTRACK LOVERS,the score written and conducted by Lalo Schifrin and The Philharmonia Orchestra is among the best film scores---very LA MANCHA!
Beautifully filmed in Madrid with gorgeous period costumes to boot,THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY is a masterful adaptation of a brilliant Pulitzer Prize winning novel rendered faithfully and rivetingly.
