The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

VHS COVER/SIDE

Length of film: 162 Minutes

Rated: PG

Genre: Adventure, Drama, War

Director: David Lean

Starring: William Holden, Alec, Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa,

IMDB Rank: 8.1/10

Part 1 Time: 110 Minutes

Part 2 Time:  52 Minutes

Where does the first part end? Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa) watches Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) speak to British troops as they march outside.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Good show, come on follow me,” states Colonel Nicholson to British troops.

First line of dialogue on the second part: “Ten minutes,” Major Warden (Jack Hawkins) speaks to Shears (William Holden).

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Somewhat, the railway bridge construction is now complete. Major Warden and his team continue their journey towards the bridge in an attempt to destroy it. Will Major Warden be successful in blowing up the bridge?

Which part is better? Part one shows the strength, loyalty, and determination of the human spirit as Colonel Nicholson stands up for the rights of his commanding officers who are P.O.W’s under Japanese confinement. Colonel Nicholson leads British officers and their battalion to complete the bridge for the Japanese Army. At the same time, the British army is coordinating an expedition to destroy the bridge. Part two is better as it shows the differing viewpoints of members belonging to the British army. As one group of British soldier’s are being suppressed by the enemy (Japanese) to create a strong bridge. Free allied British forces look to destroy the vary same bridge.

Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Leading Actor (Alec Guinness), Best Director, Best Writing. Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Music-Scoring, Best Supporting Actor (Nominated-Sessue Hayakawa).

National Film Registry: 1997