A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

France, 1961, 117 minutes, Black and white.
Raf Vallone, Maureen Stapleton, Carol Lawrence, Jean Sorel.
Directed by Sidney Lumet.

A View from the Bridge is the play by Arthur Miller. It is a very serious study of Americanism via migrants and the American dream of migrants as they try to progress in the land of their choice. However, the film is also reminiscent of Greek tragedy as the central character, Eddie, is infatuated with his niece and refuses to face this. His jealousy when one of the migrants falls in love with her knows no bounds and is extraordinarily self-destructive, despite the warnings of his wife and a chorus portrayed by a lawyer. Raf Vallone is very effective in the central role as is Maureen Stapleton as his wife. It is an interesting adaptation from the stage. Sidney Lumet, who adapted so many plays for the screen from The Fugitive Kind to Long Day's Journey Into Night to The Seagull and Equus.

1. The success of this film as a human document? Expectations of an Arthur Miller play, his personal themes, American themes?

2. The reputation of Sidney Lumet and his adaptation of plays to the screen? His particular insights into Miller's characters, environment and themes?

3. The quality of the adaptation from stage to screen? Dialogue, sequences, contrived stagey scenes? Opening out part of the play to the wharf environment? Apartments? Offices, the streets?

4. The photography, music, atmosphere of the New York locations - realism, symbolic locations for the play? The atmosphere?

5. The significance of the title? Indication of themes? The themes of migrants, illegal migrants, poverty, work, social classes, human relationships, family, sexuality and obsession, death and fate?

6. The initial portrayal of the docks and the creation of atmosphere, the men at work, accidents, Eddy and his presence? A portrayal of a way of life giving a tone for the people and their problems?

7. Eddy presented as in control? His skill at his work, his status among the men? His welcome to Marco and Rudolfo? His going home, relationship with Beatrice, his supervising of Cathy's upbringing and education? A migrant patriarch of the family? Expected ways of behaviour with the Italian background, the adaptation to America, head of the household?

8. The introduction of Marco and Rudolfo? Explanations of their background, family relationships, poverty and dreams of success in America? The background of illegal migrants, the attitude of the law, risks? Their arrival, waiting, entering the home? Beatrice and her joy? Audience sympathy for them and their stay in America?

9. The potential for success at the beginning of the film? For hope, human bonds? Indications that all would not succeed, especially in the character of Eddy and his relationship with Cathy?

10. Eddy as a character, his strengths, personality? An Everyman figure? A potential for strength and good? His relationship with Beatrice - the bedroom scene and her reproach about the quality of their marriage? His supervision of Cathy and being over solicitous about her? His self-deception in this regard? His moral standards, conventions, his using these to measure himself and his self-deception?

11. The character of Beatrice, the American woman, middle age, love for Eddy, help for Cathy, her relations? The detail of her life in the apartment -meals, rooms?

12. The contrast with Cathy and the next generation? Italian reactions about her education, going out etc.? Her place in the family? The provocation to Eddy? Why did she not see this, Beatrice seeing it? The potential for conflict?

13. The character of Rudolfo? As a type, young, blond appearance? Eddy and his despising him - the homosexual overtones? The bonds with Cathy? The naive humour of his singing? His American dreams? The importance of the outings, the bonds with Cathy? The irony and tensions of the dancing sequences at home? The provocation to Eddy? Fight and insults? The significance of the boxing sequence and the violent hitting out? The significance of the kiss and what it revealed about Eddy, the fears for Rudolfo. Cathy and her humiliation?

14. The contrast with Rudolfo and Marco at work? Migrants settling in? The making of money, the making of a home? Marco as quiet and settling in? His hopes? The contrast of Rudolfo and Marco. with Eddy?

15. How well did the film build up the tensions, the atmosphere for betrayal? Was it inevitable that Eddy would betray? The talk about hostility towards people who did betray? The irony of Eddy's talking about it so naively?

16. How well did the film build up Eddy's obsession, his manner, his way with Cathy, the violence, the sensuality? The importance of his consulting the lawyer and the lawyer acting as chorus for what was going on? The overtones of Greek tragedy - the hero, sinfulness, fate? The impossibility of moving out?

17. The build-up of clashes and the illustration of motivation? Comment on the way each of the main characters was drawn into this family conflict and obsession? The repercussion of the obsession on each of them?

18. The importance of the visit to the lawyer, the build up to the betrayal and the phone call? The atmosphere in the house, Rudolfo moving upstairs, Cathy's presence? The police and the raid? Marco and his hostility and humiliation of Eddy?

19. The aftermath in the prison, Marco and his vindictive resentment? His being released on bail and his promise but his hatred prevailing? The contrast with Rudolfo and the possibility of a future and marrying Cathy? The contrast for the two men?

20. The build up to the going to the wedding? Cathy, Beatrice and her joy, her hopes? Eddy and his refusal and Beatrice's deciding to stay away?

21. The transition to the street scene and the fight? Marco and his hostility? The patterning of the people in the street during the fight? The tracking,, circling camera? Where did audience sympathies lie? For Marco. for Eddy and what he had brought on himself? The humiliation and the decision to end his life? In realistic terms, symbolic and tragic?

22. A presentation of America,, an aspect of its way of life, migrant backgrounds.. tragedy? The battering of the American dream? The pessimism of the bleak outlook on life?