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Cross river traffic, a history of London's bridges will be published in September 2005 by Granta for more details of the book go here.
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Lambeth
Bridge: |
London bridges in film Perhaps unsurprisingly Tower Bridge and Westminster are the most heavily used bridges and Albert Bridge turns up in the fluffier output of the film industry. However there's only one bridge that gives it's name to a film, twice in fact, and this is Waterloo Bridge. The James Whale 1931 version was shot entirely in a back lot in Hollywood but the 1940 remake used actual locations. There is actually a third remake of the same story from 1956, called Gaby. Waterloo Bridge The
emotionally charged 1940 Waterloo Bridge was shot on location and stars
Vivian Leigh, as a young ballerina, falling for Robert Taylor, a Scottish
officer. They meet on Waterloo Bridge during an air raid in the first World War
(yes they did have them). She loses her position at the ballet school after
spending a last evening with Taylor before he heads to the front. When he is
reported missing presumed dead, her increasing poverty drives her into
prostitution. She's plying her trade at Waterloo station when she spots Taylor.
He thinks she's come for him and she can't bear to tell him the truth. Plans for
the wedding are back on but she cannot live with herself and throws herself off
the bridge. The film starts and finishes on Waterloo Bridge where Taylor in
World War Two has paused to reminisce. This adds to the interest of the film
because the viewer gets to see a mock up of the original bridge and the
temporary structure of the (then) under construction replacement. The final
scene is of Taylor tossing a lucky charm Leigh had given him into the waters.
The film (Waterloo Bridge) has everything; love, life, opportunity, despair and
hope, which pretty much sums up the bridge. If you want to help fill in the blanks with other bridge films or films that use a bridge please e-mail us at bridges@fandmpublications.co.uk
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