The Bridge on the River Kwai: 1957

Starting The Bridge on the River Kwai, I thought I had seen it before, but as the film progressed, I realized I had confused this film with another World War II POW film. I expected to watch the story of a group of men working together to escape the prison camp, and instead, the film was more about the psychological effects of war and how principles are not always the best way to live one's life. One must use principles in addition to common sense and a desire to survive.

Alec Guinness stars as Colonel Nicholson, a by-the-book British officer who refuses to give in to Colonel Saito, the brutal commander in charge of the prison camp.

Colonel Nicholson with Colonel Saito

Despite threats and punishments, Nicholson remains firmly rooted in his principles. He will not allow Saito to break the Geneva Convention. He will not let his men slack on the job, even if their job helps the enemy. At the end of the film, however, Nicholson does seem to realize that blindly following his principles is not the way he should have been. Watching Nicholson at times can be frustrating because he seems so stubborn, yet he is logical in what he says. Often, though, I found myself siding with the medical officer, Major Clipton.

The film includes one escape, which is early on in the story. Of the three men, one survives, the American soldier Shears, who fits the role of the unwilling soldier. Shears didn't want to go into the war in the first place, and having spent months in a prison camp, he's moved further away from being a soldier in a unit to someone who looks out for himself. In ways, he is the voice of reason, explaining to Nicholson that without the hope of escape, what do the men have to live for? Shears is despicable throughout most of the story, but he does redeem himself at the end. He provides an interesting contrast, as the British soldiers and officers seem dedicated and noble while Shears, representing the Americans, seems frustrated that he's even a part of the war, perhaps reflecting some Americans' unwillingness to enter the war until America was attacked.

Although long, The Bridge on the River Kwai moves quickly, and while I had planned to split the viewing into two nights, I found myself completely hooked. I knew what was going to happen, but I didn't know exactly how the story would get there or the outcome of the characters. The film doesn't disappoint.