James Bridges (February 3, 1936 — June 6, 1993) was an American screenwriter and film director. Bridges was born in Paris, Arkansas. He got his start as a writer for Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and one of his episodes, “An Unlocked Window”, earned him a 1966 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Episode in a TV Series.
Bridges went on to write and direct a number of notable films, including The Baby Maker, The Paper Chase, September 30, 1955, The China Syndrome, Urban Cowboy, Perfect, and Bright Lights, Big City. Bridges was a mentor to actress Debra Winger.
From 1958 to 1993, his life partner was actor Jack Larson, best known for his portrayal of Jimmy Olsen in the TV series Adventures of Superman.
Bridges died in Los Angeles, California of cancer. The James Bridges Theater at University of California, Los Angeles was named in his honor in November 1999. Bridges was a faculty member there early in his career. —Wikipedia
As tightly wound a thriller as there is. Bridges best work and some spectacular acting by Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, and especially Jack Lemmon.
The final shot takes what what would have been a decently constructed thriller and gives it a rather profound conclusion.
should be taken more seriously. fonda and lemmon have a way of slipping into their roles so well that what could’ve been melodramatic or absurdly sensationalist becomes believable, and even a bit moving. flawed but incredible.
A new Reverse Shot symposium, a PopMatters guide to the essentials and a handful of reads on the New Hollywood of the 70s.
