This Is Considered One of the Greatest War Movies of All Time and Holds a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes

It can often be surprising to learn that it didn’t take long after the conclusion of World War II for Hollywood to begin making films about what occurred in the devastating global conflict. Given how many members of the Hollywood creative community were actively involved in the war, there was a wealth of experience to draw upon. Nonetheless, it can often be challenging to develop deep insights on such recent events, as it often takes much longer to examine the lasting ramifications. However, 1957’s The Bridge on the River Kwai is a thoughtful, emotionally dynamic examination of the burdens of warfare that astutely captures the experiences of prisoners-of-war.

The Bridge on the River Kwai was a showcase for director David Lean, whose talent for constructing massive productions and putting together ambitious set pieces made him one of the most distinguished filmmakers of the “Old Hollywood” era; in the aftermath of Bridge on the River Kwai, he would go on to direct such historical epics as Lawrence of Arabia, A Passage to India, Ryan’s Daughter, and Doctor Zhivago. Scale was certainly a significant component in the success of The Bridge on the River Kwai, as the film’s meticulous recreation of the theater of war was downright disturbing for those who had lived in it only a decade prior. However, The Bridge on the River Kwai deftly examined the twisted psychology felt by both sides of a conflict, and successfully became one of the first “anti-war” films to reach a mainstream audience.

‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ Follows Prisoners of War in Thailand During WWII

Based on the novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle, The Bridge on the River Kwai is set within a camp of imprisoned Allied soldiers who have been held captive by the Japanese military in Thailand. Commander Shears (William Holden) of the United States Navy makes a valiant attempt to lead his men on an escape mission, but after their plans are thwarted, his men are forced to submit to the abusive demands of Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa), the Japanese commander in charge of the camp. The British Colonel Nicholson (Sir Alec Guinness) attempts to speak on behalf of the imprisoned soldiers, but Saito informs him that they will be forced to begin construction on a railway bridge that connects Thailand to Burma. Fearing for the safety of his men and the violence that Saito could inflict upon them, Nicholson decides to begin leading efforts to complete the construction.

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a great character study of Nicholson, whose desire to survive and retain his honor leads him to become obsessive and narcissistic. While Nicholson initially refuses to submit to Saito’s commands, citing the manual labor laws of the Geneva Convention, he grows to recognize that the Japanese take no issue in inflicting torture upon them. However, Nicholson eventually develops a sense of respect for Saito, as both men are unambiguously patriots who are working in the best interests of their nation. Nicholson understands that Saito would not question any of the commands that he is issued, which is something that he can relate to, given his own experience in the conflict. Guinness has rarely been better, as he shows the steady rate at which Nicholson’s mind is warped by circumstances, as he fixates on building the bridge to a dangerous degree. Although his career is filled with amazing performances, The Bridge on the River Kwai stands out as it is the role that won Guinness the Academy Award for Best Actor.

‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ Was Ahead of Its Time in Its Depiction of War

The Bridge on the River Kwai showed the complexity of war, as it acknowledged that the conflict was more convoluted than open battles between different armies. Although Saito has come to detest all the Allied soldiers that are under his command, he understands that they are more valuable as workers on the construction of the bridge than as simple prisoners. The value that Nicholson’s soldiers have is also a factor, as Saito realizes that killing them in the public eye could dissuade others from working on the railroad. While it was released in an era in which there were still strict restrictions when it came to graphic content, the depiction of both physical and psychological torment is quite visceral, particularly as the enthusiasm of the prisoners begins to diminish over time. Most disturbing is that the film frankly addresses the difficult decisions made by those in command, who discuss whether risking a strategic advantage by taking part in a rescue mission would be justified.

The Bridge on the River Kwai is still impressive today as a monumental achievement in epic filmmaking, as the destruction of the bridge itself during the final act is more riveting than the majority of big-budget spectacle films that are released today. While it has already earned a prestigious spot in cinematic history by winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, The Bridge on the River Kwai has also aged much better than some of the other winners from its decade, such as Around the World in 80 Days or The Greatest Show on Earth. Even if historians have come to understand more about World War II in the following decades, Bridge on the River Kwai is among the most captivating portrayals of that era on screen.