The Girl on the Bridge (1951 film)

For the 1999 film, see Girl on the Bridge.

The Girl on the Bridge is a 1951 American film noir crime film cowritten and directed by Hugo Haas. It stars Haas, Beverly Michaels and Robert Dane.^[1] The film's sets were designed by the art director Vin Taylor.

The Girl on the Bridge
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Hugo Haas
Screenplay by	Hugo Haas Arnold Lippschitz (as Arnold Phillips)
Story by	Hugo Haas Arnold Lippschitz (as Arnold Phillips)
Produced by	Hugo Haas
Starring	Hugo Haas Beverly Michaels Robert Dane
Cinematography	Paul Ivano
Edited by	Merrill G. White (as Merrill White) Albert Shaff
Music by	Harold Byrns
Color process	Black and white
Production company	Hugo Hass Productions
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date	December 1951 (1951-12)
Running time	76 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

In an unnamed American town, David Toman, a middle-aged watchmaker, who lost his family in the Holocaust, sees Clara, a beautiful young blonde woman, on a bridge and dissuades her from committing suicide. She is a single mother struggling to look after her young baby. He asks her to become his housekeeper and she moves in with her baby. Soon, they marry and she becomes pregnant.

Mario, the father of her first baby, who deserted her while she was pregnant to him, returns, intending to ask for money, but then changes his mind rather than ruin her chance of a happy life. His underworld associates are more hard-hearted, and one of them, Olson, goes to David and asks for $5000, supposedly so their musical group can go to Mexico City and make a career there. David strikes him with a heavy candlestick, accidentally killing him. Panicking, David disposes of the body in the sea. Mario, who had been seen arguing with Olson, is charged with his murder.

David is wracked with guilt, but cannot bring himself to go to the authorities; if only Mario is acquitted, David thinks his troubles will be over. But when Mario is acquitted, David feels just as guilty, and kills himself. Mario returns again to Clara, this time seeking her forgiveness, and offers to marry her and be the father to both her children.

Cast

• Hugo Haas as David Toman
• Beverly Michaels as Clara Barker
• Robert Dane as Mario Venti
• John Close as Harry Olson (as Johnny Close)
• Anthony Jochim as Jonathan Cooper
• Judy Clark as Blonde Doll
• Darr Smith as Husband
• Maria Bibikov as Young Wife (as Maria Bibikoff)
• Dick Pinner as Prosecutor (as Richard Pinner)