Guiness and Lean -- All the Way

Rating: 10/10 (25 February 2005)

Of David Lean's three most celebrated films -- "Lawrence of Arabia," "Dr. Zhivago," and "Bridge" -- this is probably the most entertaining. But it is also a marvelous bit of film making. Alec Guiness made a lot of movies, several of them with Lean. He's unbelievably good here. I always liked William Holden, but he's completely outclassed in Guiness' company. Jack Hawkins, who rarely got the credit he deserved, holds up his end pretty well. Critics usually put "Lawrence" and "Zhivago" ahead of "Bridge" on their all-time lists, and I don't quarrel with that. But "Bridge" ain't too shabby -- and, as noted above, it's a lot more fun. Although the outcome is predictable, I was on the edge of my seat the first time I saw this movie, and I find that it is still remarkably effective in generating suspense, even after you know what's coming. "Bridge" is definitely a 10. Okay, maybe "Lawrence" and "Zhivago" deserve 11s.