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IMDbPro

Bridge to Terabithia

  • TV Movie
  • 1985
  • Not Rated
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
805
YOUR RATING
Bridge to Terabithia (1985)
DramaFamily

When Leslie Burke moves in next door to Jess Aarons, Jess finds a friend in Leslie. Over time, they discover a secret place in the forest across a fallen pine tree, and over a creek, they ca... Read allWhen Leslie Burke moves in next door to Jess Aarons, Jess finds a friend in Leslie. Over time, they discover a secret place in the forest across a fallen pine tree, and over a creek, they call Terabithia, a place where memories are sacred.When Leslie Burke moves in next door to Jess Aarons, Jess finds a friend in Leslie. Over time, they discover a secret place in the forest across a fallen pine tree, and over a creek, they call Terabithia, a place where memories are sacred.

  • Director
    • Eric Till
  • Writers
    • Katherine Paterson
    • Nancy Sackett
  • Stars
    • Annette O'Toole
    • Julian Coutts
    • Julie Beaulieu
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    805
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Eric Till
    • Writers
      • Katherine Paterson
      • Nancy Sackett
    • Stars
      • Annette O'Toole
      • Julian Coutts
      • Julie Beaulieu
    • 13User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast19

    Edit
    Annette O'Toole
    Annette O'Toole
    • Miss Edmunds
    Julian Coutts
    • Jesse Aarons
    Julie Beaulieu
    • Leslie Burke
    Gloria Carlin
    • Mrs. Aarons
    Tom Heaton
    Tom Heaton
    • Mr. Aarons
    Jennifer Matichuk
    • May Belle
    Peter Dvorsky
    Peter Dvorsky
    • Mr. Burke
    Darlene Bradley
    • Mrs. Burke
    Sharon Alexander
    Sharon Alexander
    • Brenda Aarons
    • (as Sharon Holownia)
    Tyler Popp
    • Gary Fulcher
    Bridget Ryan
    • Janice Avery
    Asaph Fipke
    • Earl
    Paul McGaffey
    • Mr. Turner
    Cathy Wenschlag
    • Puppy Girl
    Anthony Mandler
    Anthony Mandler
    • Puppy Boy
    Josephine Stebbings
    • Girl No.1
    Jennifer Rozenhart
    • Girl No.2
    Michael Bittner
    • Boy No.1
    • Director
      • Eric Till
    • Writers
      • Katherine Paterson
      • Nancy Sackett
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    5.9805
    1
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    10

    Featured reviews

    6SnoopyStyle

    inferior except in one important way

    Leslie Burke is the new girl in school. She moves to the farm next to Jess Aarons and soon becomes his best friend. Her parents are city folks trying to reassess their values. Miss Edmunds (Annette O'Toole) is their teacher.

    This is the Canadian TV movie predecessor to the Hollywood big budget movie in 2007. The kids seem to be mostly amateurs. I wouldn't be surprised if they simply grabbed a bunch of child performers out of the local theaters. The only big name is O'Toole who has a supporting role. This is inferior in every way to the 2007 film except for one important aspect. It is the important aspect which caused some controversy when it came out. Parents were shocked by the twist and complained about scarring their little kids. The 2007 film was sold as a magical fun kiddie journey so complaining about the shocking twist is not unwarranted. That's not happening in this movie. The low budget darker production is setting up the expectation of the PBS viewers. The twist is unforeseeable but the audience is more willing to accept the kiddies learning an adult lesson when it's done this way.
    palandor_alt

    Great movie from my childhood

    I remember watching it as a child of 8 yrs old and it brought a tear to my eye. What a great movie. The acting was wonderful for that time, and I consider it to still be good. The movie was short, but to an 8 yr old, it was just about right. See it if you have the chance. Let your kids watch it if you will.
    7richardkrausejr

    Remembering the Impact of the Story as a Child

    I'm posting in regards to the memory of viewing "Bridge to Terabithia" (1985) when it was released.

    I'm 31 years old now, but I remember reading and viewing the film and felt that it was a great story. I have asked other people if they have ever read or watched the film. None of who I had asked ever even heard of the title. I felt disappointed in that because I think the story had a great connecting bond between the two characters and the kingdom they had was similar what I had as a kid growing up in the mid-west. We (as a child in grade school) had to read and watch the film. At the time the film wasn't all that "bad" in acting from what I remember. Twenty years later I was looking up the film to see if I could find it. To my surprise I see that Hollywood is in development for a remake in 2006 which I feel is a very good thing. Kids of today don't really know good story anymore and I hope that some kids that view the remake will help them appreciate the story in todays time.

    I would just like to tell the kids out there that this story impacted me when I was in grade school and hope that it touches them in the same way.
    Kirpianuscus

    more than beautiful

    the flavor of book. this is the basic virtue of a film about refuges and friendship and solitude and need to be yourself. a simple and nuanced performance from each actor. the air of an age who reminds the atmosphere, the sparkles, dreams and expectations of the universe of the viewer at the same age. the sensitivity reflected in a story who gives nothing new. but it reminds essential truths. and, sure, the young actors. each of them - perfect choice for his role. short - a touching and lovely and useful adaptation. and this is more than a good point. it is a start point for reflect about the precious hours of an unique age.
    newslogger44

    The bridge was a tree...

    Despite criticisms by other commenters, this made-for-TV version is more realistic for the simple reason that because the actors have less film experience and act less precociously than in later versions, they seem more like REAL kids of their age group.

    We all know that too many "teen" films and TV series are cast with obvious 20-somethings (such as 90210) which stretches the suspension of disbelief to the maximum and which may even create distorted, unattainable role models for growing adolescents.

    Incidentally, one commenter said that there was no actual "bridge" to Terabithia shown in the film, when in fact it was represented by a that had fallen over the gully--the tree shown in the closing scene over which the little sister was helped to cross by her brother.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      David Paterson, who was the real-life inspiration for the character of Jess Aarons, the son of Katherine Paterson (author of the original book), and producer and screenwriter for the remake Bridge to Terabithia (2007), referred to this version as being "like the crazy cousin that nobody talks about" and went on to say that "no one on our side was either involved with it or happy with the final product".
    • Goofs
      Though one user pointed out that no bridge is ever seen or mentioned, the fallen pine tree over the creek serves as the titular "bridge" that the children cross to get to the shed (or "castle") they have built in the woods, where their imaginary world of Terabithia also takes place.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Jesse Oliver Aarons, Jr.: On your mark. Get set. Go!

    • Alternate versions
      The two DVD releases represent an original and an alternate version of this feature. The 2003 release by Bonneville Worldwide Entertainment has a total running time of 57:31 (including 02:21 of production clips) and is the original version broadcast on the PBS series "Wonderworks", including the Wonderworks opening and closing production clips. The 2007 release by Allumination Filmworks has a total running time of 50:03 (including 00:30 of production clips) and was probably shortened for release on commercial television in an hour long time slot. Both DVDs list a running time of "approximately 60 minutes". The Allumination version was created by cutting 05:51 out of the Bonneville feature; the longest cut (02:42) begins in the "Twinkie" scene when Jess promises May Belle that he will get even with Janice Avery for eating May Belle's Twinkie, continuing through Leslie and Jess forging a letter to Janice from Willard Hughes, through Jess putting the letter in Janice's desk, through Jess seeing puppies being given away for free, through Leslie telling Jess that Janice is in the bathroom crying, and stopping just before Leslie tells Jess why Janice is crying. The shortest of the 13 cuts is 4 seconds. Noticeable cuts include: (after May Belle tells Jess she followed him and Leslie) Jess threatening May Belle ("I catch you following me and your life ain't worth nothin'." and "I'll tell Billie Jean Edwards you still wet your bed."); after Jess enters Miss Edmunds' red sports car and Miss Edmunds says "I'm so glad your mom let you come today", Jess' response, "Oh! I forgot to call ... oh, never mind"; Jess and Miss Edmunds looking at abstract paintings in the art museum; (while Jess is at the museum with Miss Edmunds) Bill telling Leslie they could go to town for dinner and a show in the evening; (after Mr. Aarons catches Jess in his arms) the exchange [Jess] "I hate her. I hate her. I wish I'd never seen her in my whole life." [Mr. Aarons] It's not your fault. [Jess] "It's all my fault. I was supposed to meet her and I didn't. It wouldn't have happened, Leslie would still be ... [Mr. Aarons] "Hey, Jess -- you can't blame yourself. It's not your fault. [Jess] But I hurt so bad inside, Daddy." [Mr. Aarons] "I know -- I hurt too."; (later) [Jess] "I didn't mean that about hating her." [Mr. Aarons] "I know you didn't, Son."; and (after May Belle says "Boys ain't supposed to cry, are they Mommy?") [Mrs. Aarons] "Shut up, both of you, and get out now. [to Jess] Don't you pay any attention to them, just finish eating."
    • Connections
      Featured in The Cartoon Hero: Elseworlds Month Part 1 (NC: Old vs. New) (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Circle
      Written by Harry Chapin

      Performed by Annette O'Toole, Julian Coutts, and Julie Beaulieu

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 4, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Міст у Терабітію
    • Filming locations
      • Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Wonderworks
      • Twenty Minute Productions
      • Allarcom Limited
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color

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