The Bridges of Madison County (1995)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers (WGA):

Richard LaGravenese (screenplay)
Robert James Waller (novel)

Release Date:

2 June 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Photographer Robert Kincaid wanders into the life of housewife Francesca Johnson, for four days in the 1960s.

Plot Keywords:

Bridge | Love | Diary | Photographer | 1960s

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 20

10:00 AM

AMC

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Robert Kincaid
Meryl Streep	...	Francesca Johnson
Annie Corley	...	Carolyn Johnson
Victor Slezak	...	Michael Johnson
Jim Haynie	...	Richard Johnson
Sarah Kathryn Schmitt	...	Young Carolyn
Christopher Kroon	...	Young Michael
Phyllis Lyons	...	Betty
Debra Monk	...	Madge
Richard Lage	...	Lawyer Peterson
Michelle Benes	...	Lucy Redfield
Alison Wiegert	...	Child #1
Brandon Bobst	...	Child #2
Pearl Faessler	...	Wife
R.E. 'Stick' Faessler	...	Husband
Tania Mishler	...	Waitress #1
Billie McNabb	...	Waitress #2
Art Breese	...	Cashier
Lana Schwab	...	Saleswoman
Larry Loury	...	UPS Driver
James Rivers	...	James Rivers Band
Mark A. Brooks	...	James Rivers Band
Peter Cho	...	James Rivers Band
Eddie Dejean Sr.	...	James Rivers Band
Jason C. Brewer	...	James Rivers Band
Kyle Eastwood	...	James Rivers Band
George Orrison	...	Café Patron
Ken Billeter	...	Café Patron
Judy Trask	...	Café Patron
David Trask	...	Café Patron
Edna Dolson	...	Café Patron
Dennis McCool	...	Café Patron
Michael C. Pommier	...	Café Patron
Jana Corkrean	...	Café Patron
M. Jane Seymour	...	Café Patron
Karla Jo Soper	...	Café Patron

Directed by
Clint Eastwood

Writing credits (WGA)
Richard LaGravenese		(screenplay)
Robert James Waller		(novel)

Produced by
Clint Eastwood	....	producer
Kathleen Kennedy	....	producer
Michael Maurer	....	associate producer
Tom Rooker	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Lennie Niehaus

Cinematography by
Jack N. Green		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Joel Cox

Casting by
Ellen Chenoweth

Production Design by
Jeannine Claudia Oppewall		(as Jeannine Oppewall)

Art Direction by
William Arnold

Set Decoration by
Jay Hart

Costume Design by
Colleen Kelsall

Makeup Department
Michael Hancock	....	makeup artist (as Mike Hancock)
J. Roy Helland	....	hair stylist: Meryl Streep
J. Roy Helland	....	makeup artist: Meryl Streep
Carol A. O'Connell	....	hair stylist (as Carol O'Connell)

Production Management
Jim Behnke	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bill Bannerman	....	first assistant director
Robert Lorenz	....	second assistant director
Bill Bannerman	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Edward Aiona	....	property master
Charles Breen	....	assistant art director (as Charles W. Breen)
Edward England	....	construction coordinator
Tyler Osman	....	construction foreman
Ricky Riggs	....	stand-by painter
Michael Sexton	....	assistant property master
Robert Lucas	....	lead man (uncredited)
Christopher Woodworth	....	lead painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
George H. Anderson	....	dialogue editor (as George Anderson)
Bub Asman	....	supervising sound editor
Patrick Bietz	....	foley editor
Kevin Boyd	....	cable
Neil Burrow	....	foley editor
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer
Lucy Coldsnow-Smith	....	supervising dialogue editor
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound effects editor
Mike Dobie	....	sound effects editor
Les Fresholtz	....	re-recording mixer (as Les Freshholtz)
Richard Friedman	....	adr supervisor (as Dick Friedman)
Eric Gotthelf	....	foley mixer
Joseph A. Ippolito	....	dialogue editor (as Joey Ippolito)
Scott D. Jackson	....	foley supervisor
Constance A. Kazmer	....	dialogue editor
James J. Klinger	....	sound effects editor
Gary Krivacek	....	sound effects editor
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator (as Marvin Lewis)
Darrin Martin	....	assistant sound editor
John Morrisey	....	sound effects editor
Alan Robert Murray	....	supervising sound editor
Kim Nolan	....	assistant sound editor (as Kimberly Nolan)
Jayme S. Parker	....	dialogue editor (as Jayme Parker)
Vern Poore	....	re-recording mixer
Madeleine Swift	....	assistant sound editor
Greg Thompson	....	assistant sound editor
Butch Wolf	....	foley editor
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff Denes	....	special effects
John Frazier	....	special effects consultant
Joe Pancake	....	special effects
Frances Pennington	....	special effects (as Francis Pennington)
Steve Riley	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Pauline Arthur	....	stunts
Shelley Phillips	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Stephen S. Campanelli	....	Steadicam operator
Stephen S. Campanelli	....	camera operator
Colin J. Campbell	....	chief lighting technician
Bill Coe	....	first assistant camera (as William Coe)
Dick Deats	....	key grip (as Dicky Deats)
Jerry C. Deats	....	dolly grip
Frank R. Jimenez Jr.	....	rigging gaffer (as Frankie R. Jimenez Jr.)
Michael E. Matteson	....	best boy grip
Ken Regan	....	still photographer
Frank Scheidbach	....	assistant lighting technician
John Waldo	....	second assistant camera (as John A. Waldo)
Dean M. Simmon	....	film loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
James Axotis	....	extras casting
Gabriela Leff	....	casting assistant (as Gabby Leff)
Michelle Vanderpool-Kohrs	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Davenport	....	wardrobe supervisor
Kelly Lindquist	....	set costumer: men
Deedee Montesanto	....	set costumer: women

Editorial Department
Michael Cipriano	....	assistant film editor
Patrick Flannery	....	assistant film editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Bob Putynkowski	....	color timer
Don Roth	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer (as Bobby Fernandez)
Donald Harris	....	music editor
Bruce Ricker	....	music consultant
Peter Afterman	....	music supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Gene Biernot	....	transportation captain
Keith Dillin	....	transportation coordinator
Larry Stelling	....	picture car coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Marco Barla	....	unit publicist
Lisa A. Becker	....	production secretary
Adam Bernhard	....	production associate
Paul A. Calabria	....	animal trainer (as Paul Calabria)
B. Ted Deiker	....	production associate
Matt Freeman	....	assistant: Kathleen Kennedy
James W. Gavin	....	helicopter pilot
Ken Haber	....	location manager
Cate Hardman	....	script supervisor
Jeff Kloss	....	production accountant (as Jeffrey Kloss)
Linda Mason	....	craft service
Jason D. McGatlin	....	assistant production secretary (as Jason McGatlin)
Erich Moeller	....	production associate
Maggie Pierson	....	assistant: Meryl Streep
Ken Regan	....	technical consultant
David Romano	....	assistant production accountant
Melissa Rooker	....	assistant: Clint Eastwood
Kara Sjoblom	....	production associate
Roselyn Winward	....	assistant production accountant
Channing Work	....	production associate
Gillian Wynn	....	production associate
Kaylene Carlson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jenny Elsinger	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Tony Kerum	....	caterer (uncredited)
Stephen A. Marinaccio II	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Gerald F. Nichols	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents) (as Warner Bros.)
• Amblin Entertainment (producer) (as Amblin/Malpaso)
• Malpaso Productions (producer) (as Amblin/Malpaso)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1998) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)
• Warner Bros. (Spain)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Canada) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Warner Home Video (1996) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1996) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Avid Film Composer  edited on
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Citizens of Madison County, Iowa  the producers gratefully acknowledge the invaluable help and cooperation of: for their support and friendship during the production of this film
• Citizens of West Des Moines, Iowa  the producers gratefully acknowledge the invaluable help and cooperation of: for their support and friendship during the production of this film
• Citizens of Winterset, Iowa  the producers gratefully acknowledge the invaluable help and cooperation of: for their support and friendship during the production of this film
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• Iowa Film Commission  the producers gratefully acknowledge the invaluable help and cooperation of: for their support and friendship during the production of this film (as the Film Commission of Iowa)
• Malpaso Records  soundtrack on (as MALPASO Cassettes and CDs)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Tony's Food Service  caterer
• Vista Group  the producers gratefully acknowledge the invaluable help and cooperation of: for their support and friendship during the production of this film
• WB Music Corp.  copyright owner: all original music compositions
• Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.  copyright owner: all original music compositions

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for some sexuality and brief strong language.

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Philippines:R-18 | France:Unrated | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | USA:R (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Germany:12 (w) | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal) (certificate #33820) | Canada:PG (Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:R(A)

Filming Locations:

Adel, Iowa, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

In her autobiography Catherine Deneuve mentions how she traveled to London to audition for the lead role.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Propane tank on the side of a farmhouse features the 1990s logo of a gas company.

Quotes:

Francesca: But love won't obey our expectations. Its mystery is pure and absolute. What Robert and I had, could not continue if we were together. What Richard and I shared would vanish if we were apart. But how I wanted to share this. How would our lives have changed if I had? Could anyone else have seen the beauty of it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in James Lipton Takes on Three (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

I'll Close My Eyes

A mature, believable, and truly moving love story

I admire the likes of Woody Allen, Chaplin and Clint Eastwood (just to name a few), who possess(ed) the chops to write, direct AND act. They're complete artists, and I wish I could be like that (I'll be already too happy if I can ever achieve my life passion of writing and directing, though, since my acting would be less convincing than Owen Wilson playing Hamlet).

Even though Eastwood didn't write this (Richard LaGravenese did it beautifully, based on a novel by Robert James Waller), he does a good job in front of the camera while also directing this human encounter between a photographer (played by himself) and an Italian housewife (Meryl Streep, magnificent) in 1960s Iowa. Their four days together would change their lives forever.

The premise doesn't sound too original, but Eastwood wonderfully captures all the raw emotions between these people, who seem throughly genuine, alive, and passionate. Lennie Niehaus' beautiful music score helps enhance the romantic atmosphere, and the slow pace is never a bore since it's necessary to make you live those brief but special moments with them. From westerns to female boxers to jazz musicians to war dramas, Clint Eastwood knows how to tell a good story, and "The Bridges of Madison County" ranks among his best. 10/10.