The Bridge Of San Luis Rey

This was the second movie version of Thornton Wilder's Pulitizer Prize-winning novel, the first filmed as a near-silent in 1929 with Lily Damita, Ernest Torrence, and Raquel Torres. Set in 18th century Peru, the film opens at the chapel of San Luis where Brother Juniper (Woods) chats with local peasants. Suddenly the century-old bridge which leads to the chapel collapses, killing five people. The bridge collapse takes place off screen so the viewer does not know who the victims were until the film's end. Brother Juniper sets out to learn more about the five people in hopes that it will help him to better understand the tragedy. He journeys to Lima and meets Uncle P...