Six Bridges to Cross
Encyclopedia
Six Bridges to Cross or 6 Bridges to Cross is a 1955 American crime caper film directed by Joseph Pevney
of Universal Pictures
. The film starred Tony Curtis
, George Nader
, Julie Adams
, Jay C. Flippen
and Sal Mineo
on his screen debut. Six Bridges to Cross is based upon the famous 1950 Great Brink's Robbery of Boston, Massachusetts in which the thieves made off with roughly $2.5 million.
, based on Joseph F. Dinneen
's They Stole $25,000,000 - And Got Away with It. The film was shot on location in Boston. A young Clint Eastwood
auditioned for the film in May 1954 in his first real audition but was rejected by Pevney. The part of the young Florea was given to a 15 year old Sal Mineo. Mineo had also successfully auditioned for a part in The Private War of Major Benson
as a cadet colonel opposite Charlton Heston
. Sammy Davis, Jr.
was hired to sing the title track written by friend Jeff Chandler
, recording it on December 2, 1954. The overall score was composed by Frank Skinner and Herman Stein but they went uncredited in the film for their contributions.
Joseph Pevney
Joseph Pevney was an American film and television director.-Biography:Pevney was born on September 15, 1911 in New York City, New York.He made his debut in vaudeville as a boy soprano in 1924...
of Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. The film starred Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...
, George Nader
George Nader
George Nader was an American film and television actor of Lebanese descent. He appeared in a variety of films from 1950 through 1974, including Phone Call from a Stranger , Congo Crossing , and The Female Animal...
, Julie Adams
Julie Adams
Julie Adams is an American film and television actress, sometimes credited as Julia Adams or Betty Adams.-Life and career:...
, Jay C. Flippen
Jay C. Flippen
Jay C. Flippen is an American character actor who often played police officers or weary criminals in many films of the 1940s/'50s....
and Sal Mineo
Sal Mineo
Salvatore "Sal" Mineo, Jr. , was an American film and theatre actor, best known for his performance as John "Plato" Crawford opposite James Dean in the film Rebel Without a Cause...
on his screen debut. Six Bridges to Cross is based upon the famous 1950 Great Brink's Robbery of Boston, Massachusetts in which the thieves made off with roughly $2.5 million.
Plot
Jerry Florea (Tony Curtis) is planning a heist. The story begins with the events which led a young Florea (Sal Mineo) to become a crook. One day he is shot during a robbery and as a result an ameniable policeman and his wife take him under their wing. As a young man he deludes them, and pretends to no longer have criminal intent and even gets a job at the Brinks. They are unaware he is preparing to rob the establishment. It is only after he and his gang pull off the heist that Florea reconsiders his actions and attempts to make amends for the crime.Cast
- Tony CurtisTony CurtisTony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...
... Jerry Florea - George NaderGeorge NaderGeorge Nader was an American film and television actor of Lebanese descent. He appeared in a variety of films from 1950 through 1974, including Phone Call from a Stranger , Congo Crossing , and The Female Animal...
... Edward Gallagher - Julie AdamsJulie AdamsJulie Adams is an American film and television actress, sometimes credited as Julia Adams or Betty Adams.-Life and career:...
... Ellen Gallagher - Jay C. FlippenJay C. FlippenJay C. Flippen is an American character actor who often played police officers or weary criminals in many films of the 1940s/'50s....
... Vincent Concannon - Sal MineoSal MineoSalvatore "Sal" Mineo, Jr. , was an American film and theatre actor, best known for his performance as John "Plato" Crawford opposite James Dean in the film Rebel Without a Cause...
... Jerry as a boy - Jan MerlinJan MerlinJan Merlin is an American character actor, screen writer, and author.- Career :Born and raised in New York USA, during the Second World War he enlisted in the US Navy to serve on three successive ships in the North Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, accumulating ten battle stars before entering Japan's...
... Andy Norris - Richard CastleRichard CastleRichard Edgar "Rick" Castle is a fictional character portrayed by Nathan Fillion in the ABC crime series Castle.-Family life:...
... Skids Radzevich - William MurphyWilliam Murphy-Politics:* William Murphy , Irish Fine Gael TD* William J. Murphy , Irish Labour Party politician* William J. Murphy, U.S. Democratic politician from Idaho...
... Red Flanagan - Kendall Clark ... Mr. Sanborn
- Don KeeferDon KeeferDonald "Don" H. Keefer is a retired American actor known for the versatility of his roles. He was born in Highspire in Dauphin County near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Keefer's first role was as Bernard in the 1951 film, Death of a Salesman, based on the Arthur Miller play...
... Mr. Sherman - Harry BartellHarry BartellHarry Bartell was an American actor and announcer in radio, television and film. With his rather youthful sounding voice, Bartell was one of the busiest West Coast character actors from the early 1940s until the final end of network radio drama in the 1960s.Bartell was born in New Orleans,...
... Father Bonelli - Tito Vuolo ... Angie
Production
The screenplay for the film was written by Sydney BoehmSydney Boehm
Sydney Boehm was an American screenwriter and producer. Boehm began his writing career as a newswriter for wire services and newspapers before moving on to screenwriting...
, based on Joseph F. Dinneen
Joseph F. Dinneen
Joseph Francis Dinneen was an American writer.* Yankee Fighter: The Story of an American in the Free French Foreign Legion , co-authored with John F. "Jack" Hasey.*The Purple Shamrock , was a biography of James Michael Curley....
's They Stole $25,000,000 - And Got Away with It. The film was shot on location in Boston. A young Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
auditioned for the film in May 1954 in his first real audition but was rejected by Pevney. The part of the young Florea was given to a 15 year old Sal Mineo. Mineo had also successfully auditioned for a part in The Private War of Major Benson
The Private War of Major Benson
The Private War of Major Benson is 1955 comedy film starring Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, Sal Mineo and Tim Hovey, about a tough-talking U.S. Army Officer who must shape up the ROTC program at Sheridan Academy, a Catholic boys' military school, or be forced out of the Army.The movie was filmed on St...
as a cadet colonel opposite Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
. Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
was hired to sing the title track written by friend Jeff Chandler
Jeff Chandler (actor)
Jeff Chandler was an American film actor and singer in the 1950s.-Early life:Chandler was born Ira Grossel to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, the only child of Anna and Phillip Grossel. He attended Erasmus Hall High School, the alma mater of many stage and film personalities...
, recording it on December 2, 1954. The overall score was composed by Frank Skinner and Herman Stein but they went uncredited in the film for their contributions.