A find from the post library. Was one of the classics on my to-see list, so worth the rent. Don't know why I hadn't seen it at some point before, but there you go. So many movies, so little time :) Here it is now, though: thoughts on The Bridge on the River Kwai.
Plot (adapted from the IMDB summary): The film centers on WWII British prisoners of war who are ordered to build a bridge to accommodate the Burma-Siam railway being built by Japan. Under the leadership of Colonel Nicholson, the prisoners are persuaded that the bridge should be constructed (as opposed to spending their energy on delaying the operations, sabotage, escape attempts, etc). The prisoners treat the bridge as a symbol of British discipline and spirit and ability to overcome adverse circumstances, but Nicholson becomes more and more obsessed with completing the project, whatever the cost. Meanwhile, unbeknown to the prisoners, the Allies have sent a mission into the jungle to destroy the bridge...
This movie totally deserves it's reputation. It won 7 Oscars in 1958, and was nominated for an 8th.
Alec Guinness is great in this movie, making a complex character seem very real. Nicholson starts out very concerned for his men, enduring severe punishment for what he sees as a proper cause. Through the course of the movie, though, he become blinded by the short-term goal of building the bridge, making his mark despite the cost to his men. Guinness makes the character almost sympathetic, really - you can see why he's willing to collaborate with the enemy to give the men focus during their imprisonment, but then you see how it turns. He has had a full military career without being outstanding; the bridge is his chance to make an impression, create his legacy, even though it means working injured men, collaborating with the enemy, etc. His realization of what he has done at the end is all the more powerful, when you keep in mind how hard he has worked for his men previously. One of those "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" moments.
Sessue Hayakawa, who portrayed Col. Saito, the director of the POW camp, was another Oscar nominee, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. I really liked the scene where he concedes to Nicholson about the officer's duties. The public bravado and collapse in private were both so well done, one of those scenes that just sticks out in the mind.
I honestly didn't like William Holden's character, though. Kinda interesting, as he was the top billing. Biggest name, I suppose. Not the first case, though, where I've liked the supporting characters better than the lead. Shears (the Holden character) was just a little heavy handed in the flirting, sarcasm, cynicism, etc. and somehow just grated on me instead of earning my support. Holden's Sgt Sefton in Stalag 17 was a much better cynical, anti-war service member.
The cinematography was very well done as well. Very epic. The same way you feel cold watching Dr. Zhivago, you feel hot and sticky watching all the jungle scenes. And I liked the repeated vulture images - though a little heavy-handed (almost silly) early on, when Shears was first rescued by the villagers, I liked the pairing with the vultures later in the movie. The pacing is on the slow side, but that's common with "epic" sort of movies. It also helps you appreciate the strain on the men at the camp, and the gradual descent by Nicholson into obsession, so slow that you don't notice it at first.
The music was another strong point, and earned another Oscar for the film. Of course, everyone remembers the Col. Bogey March from the film (the song the prisoners are whistling) but the music overall adds a good depth to the film. Of course, you do have the warning that watching this movie does mean that you'll be singing the Col. Bogey March for the rest of the afternoon...
Side note: apparently the "Comet: It makes your teeth turn green..." lyrics to the Col. Bogey March are a GS camp thing - neither Anne's guy nor Zach had heard of these lyrics...
The movie is an interesting history lesson too, not so much as fact itself, but as a starting point for learning something more. Reading up on the actual events on which the movie is based, the real officers involved in the project were nothing like Col Nicholson. Lt Col Philip Toosey was the real commander involved at the POW camp, and was not a collaborator as Nicholson was portrayed to be. Toosey was actually highly decorated for his efforts in WWII. It angered a lot of other survivors how the officer was portrayed in the movie, but Toosey didn't like the publicity so did not protest much himself. Several books have been written, however, based on his notes and later interviews, so more accurate tellings of the story are available.
More historical trivia: The actual Sergeant-Major Saito (not a colonel), unlike the character portrayed in the film, was said by some to be one of the most reasonable and humane of all of the Japanese officers. Saito and Toosey actually had great respect for each other; Toosey even spoke up on Saito's behalf at the war-crimes tribunal after the war, saving him from the gallows. Toosey and Saito corresponded for many years, and after Toosey's death in 1975, Saito made a pilgrimage to England to visit his grave. (Thank you, wikipedia and IMDB trivia!)
In short, treat this like any other Hollywood production - take the story with a grain of salt, and if interested in the story, do the research on your own afterward. Truth is often more interesting than fiction!
Overall: 5 of 5. Great movie, and certainly worthy of all the Oscars it earned. It's an interesting bit of history, especially when you start reading on the real story behind it all. So, full marks for entertainment and as an educational jumping off point :)
This movie totally deserves it's reputation. It won 7 Oscars in 1958, and was nominated for an 8th.
Alec Guinness is great in this movie, making a complex character seem very real. Nicholson starts out very concerned for his men, enduring severe punishment for what he sees as a proper cause. Through the course of the movie, though, he become blinded by the short-term goal of building the bridge, making his mark despite the cost to his men. Guinness makes the character almost sympathetic, really - you can see why he's willing to collaborate with the enemy to give the men focus during their imprisonment, but then you see how it turns. He has had a full military career without being outstanding; the bridge is his chance to make an impression, create his legacy, even though it means working injured men, collaborating with the enemy, etc. His realization of what he has done at the end is all the more powerful, when you keep in mind how hard he has worked for his men previously. One of those "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" moments.
Sessue Hayakawa, who portrayed Col. Saito, the director of the POW camp, was another Oscar nominee, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. I really liked the scene where he concedes to Nicholson about the officer's duties. The public bravado and collapse in private were both so well done, one of those scenes that just sticks out in the mind.
I honestly didn't like William Holden's character, though. Kinda interesting, as he was the top billing. Biggest name, I suppose. Not the first case, though, where I've liked the supporting characters better than the lead. Shears (the Holden character) was just a little heavy handed in the flirting, sarcasm, cynicism, etc. and somehow just grated on me instead of earning my support. Holden's Sgt Sefton in Stalag 17 was a much better cynical, anti-war service member.
The cinematography was very well done as well. Very epic. The same way you feel cold watching Dr. Zhivago, you feel hot and sticky watching all the jungle scenes. And I liked the repeated vulture images - though a little heavy-handed (almost silly) early on, when Shears was first rescued by the villagers, I liked the pairing with the vultures later in the movie. The pacing is on the slow side, but that's common with "epic" sort of movies. It also helps you appreciate the strain on the men at the camp, and the gradual descent by Nicholson into obsession, so slow that you don't notice it at first.
The music was another strong point, and earned another Oscar for the film. Of course, everyone remembers the Col. Bogey March from the film (the song the prisoners are whistling) but the music overall adds a good depth to the film. Of course, you do have the warning that watching this movie does mean that you'll be singing the Col. Bogey March for the rest of the afternoon...
Side note: apparently the "Comet: It makes your teeth turn green..." lyrics to the Col. Bogey March are a GS camp thing - neither Anne's guy nor Zach had heard of these lyrics...
The movie is an interesting history lesson too, not so much as fact itself, but as a starting point for learning something more. Reading up on the actual events on which the movie is based, the real officers involved in the project were nothing like Col Nicholson. Lt Col Philip Toosey was the real commander involved at the POW camp, and was not a collaborator as Nicholson was portrayed to be. Toosey was actually highly decorated for his efforts in WWII. It angered a lot of other survivors how the officer was portrayed in the movie, but Toosey didn't like the publicity so did not protest much himself. Several books have been written, however, based on his notes and later interviews, so more accurate tellings of the story are available.
More historical trivia: The actual Sergeant-Major Saito (not a colonel), unlike the character portrayed in the film, was said by some to be one of the most reasonable and humane of all of the Japanese officers. Saito and Toosey actually had great respect for each other; Toosey even spoke up on Saito's behalf at the war-crimes tribunal after the war, saving him from the gallows. Toosey and Saito corresponded for many years, and after Toosey's death in 1975, Saito made a pilgrimage to England to visit his grave. (Thank you, wikipedia and IMDB trivia!)
In short, treat this like any other Hollywood production - take the story with a grain of salt, and if interested in the story, do the research on your own afterward. Truth is often more interesting than fiction!
Overall: 5 of 5. Great movie, and certainly worthy of all the Oscars it earned. It's an interesting bit of history, especially when you start reading on the real story behind it all. So, full marks for entertainment and as an educational jumping off point :)
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