Movie Review

             WATERLOO BRIDGE

                     The Immortal Love

Waterloo Bridge is a story of a sorrow and sad love story between a handsome officer and a poor beautiful ballet dancer. This tale, which takes place in England at World War Ⅰ, depicts the ruthlessness of life, which unleashes itself in a relationship that defies a number of social and moral boundaries.

The movie started out with the main character standing on a bridge, holding a good luck charm and reflecting one of the most magnificent events in his whole life. Roy (the hero, acted by Bobert Taylor) met Myra (the heroine, acted by Vivien Leigh) while they were both on the bridge, and fleeing from the hazardous air raid. During the period of hiding in a safe place, Roy became enamored with the beautiful girl for her youth, her beauty, and her kindness. Therefore, he talked to the girl and got some information about her. Nevertheless, the nice talking had to end up for Myra’s performance. Moreover, Myra gave her good luck charm to Roy as a present, wishing him a good luck in the war. The charm, to be a clue of the story, from the beginning to the end, was a symbol of love, was a symbol of destiny.

The first encounter shocked deeply Roy’s heart. Oh, he could not forget that beautiful face, so graceful behavior as soon as the first sight. Roy fell in love, and even refused a dinner with captain and went to theater to see Myra’s performance. As a result, Roy and Myra were both falling in love.

The most marvelous scene took place in the Candlelight Club. The obscure candles, the mild music , the graceful dancing ,the nice talking , the silent night , the beloved lovers ,all of these beautiful pictures made the short meeting become more and more wonderful and cherished . Following the melodious Auld Lang Syne, the candles were put out step by step. In the last dance of that evening, the melody was to be the farewell Waltz to Roy and Myra. They danced in the moonlight, drank deeply the magic charms, a splendid and romantic night. Roy hugged Myra tightly, and kissed her tasty lips. Her heart beat against him, slowly and quickly. Moreover, he would be the girdle around her dainty waist, clasping it round so close and tight, and listening to her right beat noiselessly and softly. She was grown so dear, so very dear. He would be an unpolished jewel that trembles at her ear, hiding in ringlets day and night, and touching Myra’s so warm and white neck lovingly. At that time, words were useless. This moment, love became immortal.

However, the heavenly pictures implied the sadness of the fate. The commencement of the tragedy was approaching. The misfortune to Myra followed each other in quick succession. She was dismissed for being absent of ballet performance because of seeing Roy off at the train station. Unluckily, this event was also involved Kitty (Myra’s friend), who helped Myra to protest the unfair treatment. The two poor girls had to leave the magnificent hotel with unprospective future. They had to look for a new job from doors to doors, from corners to corners to earn some money for their daily life. Myra always believed that Roy would come back soon to get married with her, and therefore, the impoverished life would be over. Contrary to her opinion, when Myra read the report of the victims of the war, she saw the very name of Roy. Oh, what was the most grieved thing? The bad news broke up Myra’s dream into pieces, and spoiled her heart completely. Although she tried to hide the grievous feeling in front of Roy’s mother at the restaurant, her eyes, her face had let out her secret. She did not want to hurt the kind lady, but she was still misunderstood by Roy’s mother. The lady got a very unpleasant feeling about her strange words and actions, so she left angrily. At that time, Myra could not stand any more. Her trembled hands, her screwy face, her sorrowful tears, the world swam before her eyes, and became expansive, exploded .Myra passed out.

Myra got sick. Kitty had to buy medication and nourishments for her bad health. However, Myra finally found that Kitty’s money was from an immoral career .The humble career, the dirty money; Myra had no idea with the rest of her life. A sound of Kitty’s flied around her head: “We must be alive, we need the money.” A chilly night on the Waterloo Bridge, Myra stepped into an unreturned direction. It is worth mentioning that the director made the scene mysterious and depressed, but he tried to keep Myra an innocent soul in our mind. A voice talked to Myra, but the man did not appear. The lens was focused on Vivien’s facial expressions, showing a dismal picture upon our eyes.

The benchmark started appearing. It happened at the train station when Myra made a deal there. Unfortunately, the destiny conducted a great joke on her. Myra saw the very man that she had already thought he has dead, Roy. She could not control her complex passions. Her eyes were full of tears, and she did not know how to face the dramatic circumstance. Myra was happy, surprised, and fearful, and lots of unspoken feelings spread all over her chest. Apparently, Roy had put his eyes on Myra. It was time to hit the ruthless end of the story.

Myra could not refuse Roy’s love, which she longed for a long time. However, she also suffered from the innocent love with those guilty memories. She wanted to tell Roy the truth, but she really, really needed the love. Myra confounded herself. However, Roy trusted Myra, believed in her, felt sorry for her persistent waiting, and committed a happy future to her. He wanted to marry Myra immediately; nevertheless, what is going on was out of his mind.

When seeing the friendly and harmonious relations among Roy’s family at the countryside , when talking with Roy’s kind and humorous uncle , when receiving Roy’s mother’s careful and gracious care , Myra compunction to these nice people . Therefore, she took all of her courage to tell bravely Roy’s mother the whole things — from the beginning to the ending. Finally, Myra left Roy.

In the end, the lens came back to Waterloo Bridge, where Myra reserved all of her happiness and suffering. Several trucks passed by her side, reflecting the light on her face. Suddenly, there was a strong note occurring at the dark night. There was a nippy wind and that night the music shrouded all over the black liner like an injunction from heaven, related to something unknown like an order from God, whose meaning was inscrutable. A harsh sound cut the silence of the night. Myra, a beautiful ballet dancer, ended up her youth under the social tire.

Waterloo Bridge leaves us wondering why even we ourselves pursue things when we know they take us beyond the limits of reason and right. This movie best depicts our own willingness to wish a happy love between the lovers, but also depicts the ruthlessness of the life. Maybe, someday we will find ourselves in the same kind of loss and achievements as the hero and the heroine.

In addition, we thank Vivien and Bobert for their soulful and heartfelt performance.