Movie:The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

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Has anyone seen this movie? Last november during a long boat ride on the Amazon River with the RAT Team, Mike Perrin started talking about this movie. It is a classic with 7 Academy Awards. Mike located a copy and is sending it to, I will watch this with my grandpa.

Plot
The film deals with the situation of British prisoners of war during World War II who are ordered to build a bridge to accommodate the Burma-Siam railway. Their instinct is to sabotage the bridge but, under the leadership of Colonel Nicholson, they are persuaded that the bridge should be constructed as a symbol of British morale, spirit and dignity in adverse circumstances. At first, the prisoners admire Nicholson when he bravely endures torture rather than compromise his principles for the benefit of the Japanese commandant Saito. He is an honorable but arrogant man, who is slowly revealed to be a deluded obsessive. He convinces himself that the bridge is a monument to British character, but actually is a monument to himself, and his insistence on its construction becomes a subtle form of collaboration with the enemy. Unknown to him, the Allies have sent a mission into the jungle, led by Warden and an American, Shears, to blow up the bridge.
 
Great movie! I saw it on "big screen" when it was released.

My only criticism of it is that the writer/director kinda went easy on the way the Japs actually treated their captured prisoners. It was much harsher and brutal than the movie depicted.

Enjoy.

L.W.
 
I seen it a few years ago for the 1st. time,pretty good for a older movie,excellent jesture to watch it with your grand parent
 
One of the all time great WWII movies. You'll like it, and your grandfather will not only appreciate watching the movie for its content, but I'm sure he'll also greatly appreciate that his grandson has a respect for and interest in something that he probably experienced first hand.

- Mark
 
LeanWolf is being nice the Japs were way over the top on every one.
Check it and do a search on the Chinese before we {The Western/Allied Powers} even before we went in.
POW's were no name as there History was no surrender so you were a dead man from the get go...then they bitched when we fire stormed and Nuked them.
They have not forgotten....
 
One of the all time great WWII movies. You'll like it, and your grandfather will not only appreciate watching the movie for its content, but I'm sure he'll also greatly appreciate that his grandson has a respect for and interest in something that he probably experienced first hand.

- Mark


Thanks for the thought, he was in the Korean war.
 
Some people don't seem to get the fact that "Platoon", "Apocalypse now", "Jarhead" etc... are ANTI-war movies.

There's no risk of you making this mistake with "Bridge...", believe me!

BTW, Could it be true that "Apocalypse Now" is used in the US military to get soldiers Gung Ho? That would be just sick!
 
Outstanding movie, great acting, great story line.

I do have to agree with Leanwolf, that it came nowhere near to showing the inhuman treatment of POW's by the Japanese soldiers. The Burma railroad had near as many bodies buried in it as railroad ties. Death from malnutrition, disease, and brutal punishments from sadistic guards were a daily happening. It was war crimes level. The movie really polishes it up and suger coats it.

But Sir Alec Guiness does an outstanding job of his portrayl of a ego driven brit officer who looses sight of things. For those younger members who only know him as Obi-wan, this movie is an example of the fantastic actor he was. :thumbup:

William Holden and Jack Hawkins were not chopped liver either.:thumbup:
 
One of my alltime favorites- a good day of movies might team "A Bridge Too Far" & "In Harms Way" as well. I only wish the Korean War and Afgahnistan got the coverage of WWII & Vietnam when it comes to telling the stories of our fighting forces. I guess the barren mountains do not offer the romantic backdrop...

Stropper, not sure where you are going with that but good luck.

2Door
 
Some people don't seem to get the fact that "Platoon", "Apocalypse now", "Jarhead" etc... are ANTI-war movies.

There's no risk of you making this mistake with "Bridge...", believe me!

BTW, Could it be true that "Apocalypse Now" is used in the US military to get soldiers Gung Ho? That would be just sick!

Because most of the time movie producers make stuff to obtuse, if I want to take something even remotely serious I like to read. I go to the movies it’s to be entertained and watch a movie not look for hidden meanings in the movie.

So yes when I was in a lot of guy watched and liked Platoon, Apocalypses Now, and even Starship Troopers. Jarhead is pretty new and I haven’t seen it and wont watch it.

On the topic there was a movie out a while back with Robert Carlyle that dealt with how the Japs treated POWs, it wasn’t too bad. It was called “To End All Wars”


Now if we could get a version of Starship Troopers that was true to the actuall book and its themes vs. some slacker directors anti war crap, especially when he didn’t bother to finish the book.
 
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I only wish the Korean War and Afgahnistan got the coverage of WWII & Vietnam when it comes to telling the stories of our fighting forces. I guess the barren mountains do not offer the romantic backdrop...

Once hollyweird figures out how to put a negative spin on we will get some movies you can be sure of that.
 
I am gonna check it out man. I will have to watch it with pops, as I have no Grand parents left though......

sounds like a cool movie.
 
Horned Toad,
I am afraid you are right on that... I keep hearing buzz about doing a feature movie on GSGT. Carlos Hathcock II but I am afraid it will not turn out as we wish.

I used to watch these movies on rainy Saturday Afternoons in the late 70's early 80's. Anyone remember Firebase Gloria??

2Door
 
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