MovieChat Forums > The Green Promise (1949) Discussion > You can find this on Archive.org w/bridg...

You can find this on Archive.org w/bridge scene


I believe this is a fairly 'whole' version including the 'infamous bridge' scene that breaks as Natalie is walking across. It appears that her feet and half her body hit the water as she pulls herself up. I haven't researched the legend as far as her breaking her wrist goes, because it doesn't appear that she broke her wrist during this stunt. It's possible she broke it after she made it across the bridge when she slipped in the mud.

I do believe the bridge scene would have given her a life long fear of the water and, if it were me... a life long fear and mistrust of directors.

The legend would have you believe that Natalie was told it was safe to cross and that the director intended for the bridge to collapse after she crosses and that it 'accidentally' gave way. Having this in the back of my mind as I watched the scene I don't believe a word of it. I believe the director did it in one take and totally planned for the bridge to break when and where it did to make for a more dramatic scene; which it certainly is. IF the director hadn't planned for the bridge to go down until have Natalie crossed... indeed, if this was an accident, we should see evidence of editing where the set people would have run to Natalie's rescue. It appeared to be all in one take. A dramatic 'trick' by the director.

What they put little Natalie through during the storm scenes with the bridge and the pounding rain, 'lightening' and mud, not to mention her struggling to carry the two little lams that were bigger than she... well, she should have gotten an Academy nod or at least 'Stuntman' cred on her bio.

reply