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Drama

The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1944): Cast & Plot

The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1944) movie poster

The Bridge of San Luis Rey is a 1944 drama directed by Rowland V. Lee, starring Donald Woods as Brother Juniper, Michael Mark and Akim Tamiroff. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes.

The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1944) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 47m (107 min)
Director
Rowland V. Lee
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Bridge of San Luis Rey About?

The premise of The Bridge of San Luis Rey without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A rope bridge spanning a deep gorge in the Peruvian Andes collapses, sending five strangers plummeting to their deaths. A local priest, haunted by the tragedy, embarks on an intimate investigation of each victim’s life, uncovering hidden histories and unexpected ties. The film’s beautiful, bewitching atmosphere underscores the mystery.

The Bridge of San Luis Rey Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • rope bridge
  • gorge
  • andes
  • bridge
  • chasm
  • priest
  • twin brother
  • stage
  • rehearsal
  • recital
  • matte painting
  • marriage proposal
+38 more
  • maestro
  • loneliness
  • hanging
  • glass painting
  • fencing
  • female companion
  • falling to death
  • dueling pistol
  • dancing
  • bust
  • banquet
  • attempted suicide
  • arrest
  • aristocracy
  • acting teacher
  • 18th century
  • catholic priest
  • mother superior
  • abbess
  • nun
  • suicide attempt
  • viceroy
  • twin
  • theatrical producer
  • singer
  • ship
  • sailor
  • romantic rivalry
  • escape from prison
  • voice over narration
  • pardon
  • palace
  • nobility
  • lima peru
  • letter writing
  • insult
  • flashback
  • falling from height
Cast & crew

The Bridge of San Luis Rey Cast & Characters

Donald Woods leads the cast as Brother Juniper, with Michael Mark as Traveler to Lima (uncredited) and Akim Tamiroff as Uncle Pio. Directed by Rowland V. Lee; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Bridge of San Luis Rey

· 16 more
Plot

The Bridge of San Luis Rey Plot Summary

What happens in The Bridge of San Luis Rey from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the year 1774, a hundred-year-old bridge leading to the chapel of San Luis Rey in Peru plunges into the chasm it spans, killing the five people who are crossing it. Brother Juniper Donald Woods is one of the chapel monks, whose faith is shaken by this tragic event. He travels to Lima to seek answers about why these particular souls were chosen to die in such a brutal way.

In Lima, Brother Juniper [Donald Woods] talks to a well-known local theatre figure called Uncle Pio [Akim Tamiroff], and asks him about a famous actress, Micaela Villegas [Lynn Bari]. Pio then begins recounting the story of his encounter with Micaela and the chain of events that led up to the fateful accident.

Full summary

The whole story of The Bridge of San Luis Rey, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Bridge of San Luis Rey?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
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  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
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  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor portrays Brother Juniper in the film?

Seen The Bridge of San Luis Rey?

FAQ

The Bridge of San Luis Rey FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Bridge of San Luis Rey, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Bridge of San Luis Rey?

The Bridge of San Luis Rey runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).

When was The Bridge of San Luis Rey released?

The Bridge of San Luis Rey was released on February 11, 1944.

Who directed The Bridge of San Luis Rey?

The Bridge of San Luis Rey was directed by Rowland V. Lee.

More films by Rowland V. Lee

Who is in the cast of The Bridge of San Luis Rey?

The Bridge of San Luis Rey stars Donald Woods as Brother Juniper, Michael Mark as Traveler to Lima (uncredited) and Akim Tamiroff as Uncle Pio, among 20 credited actors.

Does The Bridge of San Luis Rey have a post-credit scene?

No. The Bridge of San Luis Rey has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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