Waterloo Bridge (1940)

Just an excellent movie.
We like world war 11 and love storys. This is one of the best. My husband and I both love it.

Taylor and Leigh at their best...all-time great tear-jerker...
Robert Taylor's favorite movie is also rumored to be one of Vivien's favorites--although at the time she was sorry that Laurence Olivier failed to get Taylor's role. (She was always seeking him as her screen partner!) But Taylor delivers the goods--great charm, presence and obviously respecting the choice assignment. As a matter of fact, he claimed afterwards that Roy was his favorite screen role.

Vivien Leigh as Myra is a revelation--here she is fresh from Scarlett O'Hara and able to inhabit another character's skin with ease, back in her oh-so-British mode and looking as young and beautiful as ever. It's a pleasure that two such charismatic stars are still being seen in this--their finest moments on screen in one of the greatest tear-jerkers of the '40s.

Special mention should be given to Lucille Watson for the way she plays the restaurant scene with Leigh at their first meeting--the mother-in-law getting the wrong impression from Leigh's reception. Nice performances by Sir C. Aubrey Smith, Virginia Field and Maria Ouspenskaya are major assets, as is the gorgeous B&W photography.

All of it is romantic, tender and charming--with an Anna Karenina-like ending after a surprising twist. For fans of Taylor and Leigh, it doesn't get any getter than this.

It's easy to see why this was Vivien Leigh's favorite role too--even if she didn't get Larry as her co-star. Probably one of the best tear-jerkers of the '40s, well worth watching.

WATERLOO BRIDGE 1940 FILM - WITH INCREDIBLE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN VIVIEN LEIGH AND ROBERT TAYLOR.
Waterloo Bridge (Made 1940) is set during World War I, it stars Vivien Leigh as Myra, who's profession at that time was a young ballerina in London, while looking for cover from another air raid she meets a soldier Roy Cronin (Robert Taylor) who's very carefree but also a romantic and is simply swept away by Myra's beauty. He sets about sweeping Myra off her feet gradually she realizes she in love for the first time ever. Myra is thrown out of her ballet company after it was discovered she was out after curfew, Roy then hears news he is soon to be called to the front line, wishing to be together Roy wastes no time in asking his uncle the Duke (C. Aubrey Smith) for permission to marry, unfortunately because of red tape during that time they are unable to wed. Roy goes to war but at a later date news reports back of his death, Myra is left in despair.

Myra attempts to ask for her old job back as a ballet dancer but is point blank refused to add to problems her friend Kitty (Virginia Field) is also fired for her outburst in support. Together they are left to make ends meet, Kitty finds work and helps Myra out at first but then Myra discovers Kitty is selling herself to pay the bills. Out of work, Myra eventually turns to the oldest profession to help out. By a haunted twist of fate the reports of Roy death were false he returns to Myra who sharply sets about to hide her past, but for how long can her secret remain hidden.

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy based on a play by Robert E. Sherwood screen play callaboration by S.N.Behrman, Hans Rameau and George Froeschel. The photography work on this film is beautifully done by Joseph Ruttenberg. It's also equalled with an incredible musical score created by Herbert Stothart (The Wizard of OZ is amongst his more famous film scores). This Film was nominated for its Black and White Cinematography and Original Musical Score. The cast line up is exceptional, Vivien Leigh, Robert Taylor, Lucile Watson, Virginia Field, Maria Ouspenskaya, C.Aubrey Smith and Janet Shaw. Outstanding performances by Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor for their realism in this Melodrama, laced with love, suspense, deception and prostitution, back dropped against WWI & II, and a hanky is needed at the ready for the ending. This is reported to be both Taylor's and Leigh's favourite film, and from Leigh's wonderful collection this is certainly mine. It's defiantly not to be missed.

A quick note to the studio, please, please, please can you release this wonderful old film to DVD on a grand scale, please could you clean it up so the photography simply shines through for a sharper picture. Discs for this film are hard to come by and currently at an expensive cost for poor quality. Please realize this film should not be overlooked, let's bring it up to date for many waiting fans to enjoy, make it possible for all.

A.Bowhill