Picture 30: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

David Lean’s epic war film takes us to a prisoner of war camp in Japanese occupied Thailand. British and American soldiers have unfortunately fallen into the hands of the notorious WW2 Japanese POW camp guards.

Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa) runs the camp. A stickler for the Samurai tradition, he expects high standards from his subjects. However, his 3 years at the “London Polytechnic” in the 1930s gave him not only a good grasp of English, but also a little space in his heart for his Western enemies. His UK counterpart, Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness), is keen to ensure that the wellbeing of his troops is maintained at all times and the Geneva Convention is followed to the letter.

The camp is on an island surrounded by dense jungle making escape almost impossible. Generally accepting of their fate, the POWs are put to work in the construction of a bridge on the River Kwai – a key bridge for the Japanese Empire’s rail route connecting Bangkok to Burma.

A series of interesting dynamics appear. Do the soldiers do a good job on the bridge to curry favour with the guards or do they deliberately sabotage it in keeping with the war effort? What extremes will the camp guards go to maintain discipline whilst keeping their workers well and functioning? How far down the Samurai route will Colonel Saito go? Will he go as far as performing hara-kiri if his project fails? Will the Japanese soldiers ever understand the ability to retain self-esteem after surrender?

A fascinating clash of wartime cultures and gripping story make for an entertaining 2 hours and 41 minutes. It respectfully makes the top 16.

Rating: 8/10

Reflections:

1)     In time, your oppressor can oddly become your friend.

Oscar Best Picture Rankings:

1. Casablanca (1943)

2. Rebecca (1940)

3. Lost Weekend (1945)

4. All About Eve (1950)

5. Hamlet (1948)

6. How Green Was My Valley (1941)

7. Gone With the Wind (1939)

8. Mrs. Miniver (1942)

9. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

10. Wings (1928)

11. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

12. You can’t take it with you (1938)

13. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

14. On the Waterfront (1954)

15. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

16. Marty (1955)

17. Cimarron (1931)

18. Grand Hotel (1932)

19. An American in Paris (1951)

20. From Here to Eternity (1953)

21. It Happened One Night (1934)

22. Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

23. Cavalcade (1933)

24. The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

25. Going My Way (1944)

26. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

27. All the King’s Men (1949)

28. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

29. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

30. The Broadway Melody (1929)

Previous or current ranking leaders are in bold.

With credit and thanks to the patrons of the Best Picture Film Club:

Dr Sophie Bloomfield

Dr Caspar Briault

Dr Kate Diomede

Dr Fionnuala Durrant

Dr Meera Radia