A View from the Bridge

I just saw this excellent movie in a crappy DVD transfer, actually a DVD-R. It is also available on YouTube. As far as I can see it's the only version available in English at this time and there is no one in French although the movie was apparently shot also in French for the European market.

The setting of the Arthur Miller play in the docks may be surprising at first but it works, allowing parts of the story to take place in outdoors. One can recognize the director's legendary ability with the comedians. They look and sound so naturel that you could believe they have never played another role in their career. The dramatic tension reaches a peek in the third part of the movie. I was riveted to my TV set despite, again, the lousy quality of the support.

This comes from a particularly satisfying period in the career of Sidney Lumet. Based upon one of the masterpieces of American theatre, the exteriors are filmed in his beloved New York whilst the interiors are shot in France. It is a Franco-Italian production and having the three leading male protagonists speaking in broken English contributes immeasurably to the films authenticity.

It is pretty faithful to the original apart from the ending and in changing the role of the lawyer Alfieri from that of Greek chorus to the voice of reason. Longshoreman Eddie Carbone has no time for reason as he is ruled by the heart and not the head. Like so many tragic characters he is basically a decent man whose fatal flaw, in this case, his improper love for his teenage niece, destroys him.

Carbone here is played by ex-footballer Raf Vallone who belongs to that rare breed: a hunk who can act. He has given some strong portrayals in his time, notably in Dassin's 'Phaedra', but this powerhouse performance has it all and he is fully deserving of his David di Donatello award.

One of playwright Arthur Miller's favoured devices is to have what appears to be a happy domestic scene shattered by a catalyst which in this piece is the arrival of two of Mrs. Carbone's cousins from Italy. They are illegal immigrants but Eddie agrees to put them up and get them jobs on the docks. Tensions mount however as Carbone's beloved niece falls for one of them.......

The immigrants Marco and Rodolpho are played superbly by Raymond Pellegrin and Jean Sorel. This is, to my knowledge, Pellegrin's strongest role and Sorel of course was always underrated because of his impossibly good looks. Another performance to treasure is that of Carol Lawrence as the niece. An all round actress/singer/dancer she was denied the chance of reprising on screen her award winning stage role as Maria in 'West Side Story' and although on paper a wee bit too old for the part of Catherine, gives a magnificent performance. Sadly, this is her only film. As Mrs. Carbone we have the accomplished Maureen Stapleton, who combines strength and vulnerability. Mention must also be made of Morris Charnovsky as Alfieri. An excellent actor whose film career was scuppered after being 'named' by Elia Kazan to the HUAC.

Historically there is a strong connection between Kazan's 'On the Waterfront' and Miller's play, for those who care to look it up. Whereas in Kazan's film to inform is an act of heroism, here it is merely an act of betrayal.

Lumet's legendary skill with actors, Norman Rosten's screenplay, Michel Kelber's gritty cinematography and the beautifully understated score of Maurice Le Roux have given us a raw, stark, passionate, searing and visceral film which also seems to have served the playwright well. Let us hope Mr. Miller approved.

I saw this when it was first released, but I've never seen it since, not even on Turner or AMC. I'd love to know why it sank out of sight. Perhaps because Raf Vallone was virtually unknown in the USA? (Maybe if it had starred Van Heflin, who originated the lead role on Broadway.) I am glad to see a new production of it is underway. With Miller's recent death, maybe it will attract the attention it deserves as Miller's homage to Greek tragedy adapted to the lives of "ordinary" working people and to modern stagecraft. After more than 40 years, I finally saw a stage production last night, by the University of Oregon Theater Arts Dept. For a college production it was more than adequate, despite the awful acoustics of their theater. The young actor who played Eddie Carbone was quite good. But it whetted my appetite for a professional production. It's available in VHS on Amazon, but I don't want to buy it, just watch it.

Sparks fly when dock worker Eddie Carbone (Raf Vallone) rejects his loyal wife (Maureen Stapleton) while he desires their neice (Carol Lawrence) who is in love with an illegal immigrant (Jean Sorel). Filmed near the waterfront in Brooklyn, New York director Sydney Lumet captures the turmoil of a family torn apart from a story by Arthur Miller. All the players are excellent especially Mr. Vallone and Miss Stapleton. Unfortunately this film is no where to be found.Apparently it was also dubbed in French.

Eddie Carbone (Raf Vallone) a dockworker on the Brooklyn Navy yard accepts his wife's two cousins into his home so they may work and earn enough to return to Sicily prosperous. However when the younger brother Rodolpho (Jean Sorel) gets cozy with Eddie's beloved niece sparks fly and tragedy ensues.

Having never seen the original Miller play on which this is based I cannot compare this 1962 film adaptation by Sidney Lumet but from the film alone I can say it is quite an achievement. The low budget is obvious and many a time one feels as if they are watching an old television movie. But at the same time it adds another layer to the raw atmosphere of the piece. This is the Brooklyn of the 1950s where many struggle for a meager wage and are bound to the docks. Only culture and their traditions keep them alive and this film captures it all.

The cheap look also puts more emphasis on the actors to give their best and boy do they deliver, I could not account for 1 bad performance in this film with the leads routinely strong, particularly Vallone adding an authentic Italian touch, to the extras dotted with many true blue New York blue collar actors like Frank Campanella and Vincent Gardenia.

Being from an Italian family I can say this film captures many of the eccentricities and machinations of an Italian household from the dominant masculinity to family talks and fruit at the end of the meal. Lumet captures the cramped atmosphere so reminisced and glorified in many homes but here turned cold and repugnant due to the material of the piece. The film brilliantly draws the contrast between the old world Italian immigrant mindset of making and saving to go home (as expressed in the brother Marco in his strictly workman's cloths) and that of the younger, new immigrants who come to America to look for opportunity and pleasures not found at home (as expressed in Jean Sorrel with his bolo tie and Texas shirt). The film deals with old world adapting to new world in a larger passion play of lust and betrayal with emotions so sustained that shift to become so open and raw one is left gasping.

Just goes to show what can be accomplished with good actors and a fine director, another under regarded jewel in Sidney Lumet's crown.