Its thrilling climax makes this a good one...

Rating: Null/10 (24 April 2004)

..."The Bridge on the River Kwai" is a multi-character tale set in WWII and focusing mostly on a large number of POWs in a Japanese prison camp. In charge of the camp is Col. Saito (Sessue Hayakawa), an angry, almost merciless leader who has troubles of his own. Inside the camp - leading the British prisoners - is Col. Nicholson (Alec Guinness), a strong-willed, by the book patriot. Other characters include a major posing as a commander who recently escaped the camp (William Holden), and an honest, hard working doctor working there (James Donald).
The plot is set in motion when Nicholson is ordered by Saito to have his soldiers build a bridge at the camp and Holden's character is sent to destroy it. It may seem unimportant, the whole movie about a bridge, but the way the characters grow obsessed over it is incredibly well done.
Most notably is Guinness' performance as the stubborn Nicholson who sees the bridge as his signature in history, all the while ignoring the fact that he's really helping his enemy. Guinness took home a well deserved Best Actor Oscar for his role in this.
Also great are Hayakawa and Holden. Hayakawa was nominated for an Oscar for this, and it is deserved, what could've been a cartoonish villain is presented in full, a truly three dimensional character. Holden puts forth as well, his character so reluctant and angry to be on his mission.
David Lean's direction here is great too, his talent for adventure shown in the gripping climax when all the major characters meet in an exciting, suspensful and ultimately tragic climax.
A classic film, I recommend, 8.5/10.