Great epic film-making with strong acting, direction and production values.

Rating: Null/10 (27 December 2004)

References to this WWII film almost always consist of the whistling, marching soldiers and the climactic tussle over the title bridge, but first time viewers may be surprised at what other great things there are to be found in it. Holden plays a slightly shifty American POW, slaving away in an Asian camp as commander Hayakawa tries in vain to complete a railroad bridge that will open up more territory for the Japanese to conquer and control. When new arrival Guinness is brought in with his band of officers and other enlisted men, he and Hayakawa form a stand-off, with Guinness refusing to take part in the bridge-building and Hayakawa going to almost any lengths to make him. Holden makes a break for it and is recruited by Hawkins to go back and destroy the bridge, but by then Guinness is so proud of his work on it that he loses sight of the big picture. Holden finds himself up against one of his own allies when it comes to stopping the bridge from fulfilling it's purpose. Director Lean took his cast deep into Ceylon to give an authentic and lushly gorgeous setting to his story. There are eye-popping sights of the landscape (just as his later "Dr Zhivago" and "Lawrence of Arabia" would also include), notably a massive and beautiful waterfall. Top-billed Holden has to take a back-seat to the far more intriguing character Guinness plays, but he adds a degree of charm to the film, at times providing the comic relief, and does get one strong scene against Hawkins. Guinness is superb as the impossibly stalwart and stern Colonel who lets his pride in his duties and in his work distract him from his overall commitment to his country's cause. Veteran actor Hayakawa does well as the antagonist, though he doesn't really get a particularly showy scene to chew on. Hawkins is solid and there's a fresh, nice performance from Horne as a green lieutenant who comes along on the mission and gets more than he bargained for. The film has a deliberate pace and takes its time to set up the characters, but the acting is so fine and the scenery so striking that it rarely seems too oppressive. Though their scenes are sometimes just a little too precious and unexpectedly romance-oriented, there are several Asian women to give a dot of female persuasion to the film (along with Sears' brief role as a nurse who can't quit with the bedside manner.) A beautiful musical score is often forgotten in the wake of the more famous Colonel Bogey March. Though the outcome of the story has been revealed in many film retrospectives and TV clips, there is undeniable suspense as the situation intensifies at the end. In all, it's a very satisfying film with great performances and sure-handed direction, consisting of far more action and drama than just soldiers whistling while they march.