James Bridges

Writing

James Bridges

Born 1936-02-03 · Paris, Arkansas, U.S.

James Bridges (February 3, 1936 – June 6, 1993) was an American screenwriter, film director, producer, and actor. He was a two-time Oscar nominee: once for Best Original Screenplay for The China Syndrome and once for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Paper Chase. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Bridges, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

The China Syndrome poster
7.1

While doing a series of reports on alternative energy sources, opportunistic reporter Kimberly Wells witnesses an accident at a nuclear power plant. Wells is determined to publicize the incident, but soon finds herself entangled in a sinister conspiracy to keep the full impact of the incident a secret.

The China Syndrome

1979

The China Syndrome poster
7.1

While doing a series of reports on alternative energy sources, opportunistic reporter Kimberly Wells witnesses an accident at a nuclear power plant. Wells is determined to publicize the incident, but soon finds herself entangled in a sinister conspiracy to keep the full impact of the incident a secret.

The China Syndrome

1979

White Hunter, Black Heart poster
6.4

Renowned filmmaker John Wilson travels to Africa to direct a new movie, but constantly leaves to hunt elephants and other game, to the dismay of his cast and crew. He eventually becomes obsessed with hunting down and killing one specific elephant.

White Hunter, Black Heart

1990

Perfect poster
5.6

A female aerobics instructor meets a male reporter doing a story on health clubs, but it isn't love at first sight.

Perfect

1985

Perfect poster
5.6

A female aerobics instructor meets a male reporter doing a story on health clubs, but it isn't love at first sight.

Perfect

1985

Perfect poster
5.6

A female aerobics instructor meets a male reporter doing a story on health clubs, but it isn't love at first sight.

Perfect

1985

Urban Cowboy poster
6.5

After moving to Pasadena, Texas, country boy Bud Davis starts hanging around a bar called Gilley's, where he falls in love with Sissy, a cowgirl who believes the sexes are equal. They eventually marry, but their relationship is turbulent due to Bud's traditional view of gender roles. Jealousy over his rival leads to their separation, but Bud attempts to win Sissy back by triumphing at Gilley's mechanical bull-riding competition.

Urban Cowboy

1980

Urban Cowboy poster
6.5

After moving to Pasadena, Texas, country boy Bud Davis starts hanging around a bar called Gilley's, where he falls in love with Sissy, a cowgirl who believes the sexes are equal. They eventually marry, but their relationship is turbulent due to Bud's traditional view of gender roles. Jealousy over his rival leads to their separation, but Bud attempts to win Sissy back by triumphing at Gilley's mechanical bull-riding competition.

Urban Cowboy

1980

Colossus: The Forbin Project poster
7.0

The U.S. has handed over control of its nuclear defense system to the Colossus supercomputer designed by scientist Dr. Charles Forbin. It soon becomes clear, that the now-sentient Colossus is far more intelligent than its creator realized—with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

Colossus: The Forbin Project

1970

Bright Lights, Big City poster
5.7

A disillusioned young writer living in New York City turns to drugs and drinking to block out the memories of his dead mother and estranged wife.

Bright Lights, Big City

1988

When Michael Calls poster
5.7

A woman begins to receive ominous phone calls from her nephew, who died 15 years earlier. With each phone call, a family member dies. Will she be the next in line?

When Michael Calls

1972

The Appaloosa poster
6.4

A man tries to recover a horse stolen from him by a Mexican bandit.

The Appaloosa

1966

The Paper Chase poster
6.8

A first-year law student struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter of a stern professor.

The Paper Chase

1973

The Paper Chase poster
6.8

A first-year law student struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter of a stern professor.

The Paper Chase

1973

Mike's Murder poster
5.4

Betty has a crush on her tennis instructor Mike. He promises to call her for a date, but never does – she doesn’t know he sells drugs on the side. After botching a deal on someone else’s turf, Mike has to disappear for a while. He contacts Betty – then he’s killed before they can meet. Betty tries to find out what happened, leading her straight into a hornet's nest of vice.

Mike's Murder

1984

Mike's Murder poster
5.4

Betty has a crush on her tennis instructor Mike. He promises to call her for a date, but never does – she doesn’t know he sells drugs on the side. After botching a deal on someone else’s turf, Mike has to disappear for a while. He contacts Betty – then he’s killed before they can meet. Betty tries to find out what happened, leading her straight into a hornet's nest of vice.

Mike's Murder

1984

Mike's Murder poster
5.4

Betty has a crush on her tennis instructor Mike. He promises to call her for a date, but never does – she doesn’t know he sells drugs on the side. After botching a deal on someone else’s turf, Mike has to disappear for a while. He contacts Betty – then he’s killed before they can meet. Betty tries to find out what happened, leading her straight into a hornet's nest of vice.

Mike's Murder

1984

September 30, 1955 poster
6.8

A young Southerner loses his grip on reality when his favorite movie star James Dean suddenly dies in a car crash.

September 30, 1955

1977

September 30, 1955 poster
6.8

A young Southerner loses his grip on reality when his favorite movie star James Dean suddenly dies in a car crash.

September 30, 1955

1977

The Baby Maker poster
6.2

Tish Gray had a baby and gave it up for adoption. She is contacted by a second childless couple who want her to have the husband's baby because of the wife's inability to have children. She accepts but finds that knowing the parents, and developing a relationship with them for the entire pregnancy complicates the simple arrangement.

The Baby Maker

1970

The Baby Maker poster
6.2

Tish Gray had a baby and gave it up for adoption. She is contacted by a second childless couple who want her to have the husband's baby because of the wife's inability to have children. She accepts but finds that knowing the parents, and developing a relationship with them for the entire pregnancy complicates the simple arrangement.

The Baby Maker

1970

Limbo poster
8.0

A ride to the airport unites three women whose husbands are either prisoners or missing in Vietnam.

Limbo

1972