Lean's finest among many fine hours

Rating: 10/10 (15 April 2020)

My view is that this is Director David Lean's finest film (just above BRIEF ENCOUNTER, OLIVER TWIST, HOBSON'S CHOICE, IN WHICH WE SERVE and GREAT EXPECTATIONS) and, albeit less famous, spectacular and beautiful than LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, it is a more self-contained and perceptive film, in regard to human emotions and pitfalls.
I am astounded that some viewers criticize BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI as historically inaccurate. The film lays no claim that it is based on a true story, let alone that it is historically accurate, so the historical aspect has no bearing whatsoever on the film's quality, and should not be used as an interpretation tool.
THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI is an anti-war film that presents a situation that could happen with any army in the world in a war situation - history has zip to do with it.
There is much to learn from it, notably that following principles to a T does not pre-empt the emergence of contradictory situations, such as when Colonel Nicholson (sublimely played by Alec Guinness), who had refused on principle to have his officers work 'like coolies,' ultimately is quite ready to let those same officers do manual work, and he even encourages men in the sick bay to help build a bridge for the enemy - which, as the medic understatedly played by James Donald points out, could be misconstrued as treason.
THAT is the contradiction at the heart of this sublime film, that will stay like a thorn in the flesh until Col. Nicholson realizes that his dream of a bridge that could last 600 years, like London Bridge, and the British Army remembered for its construction, is as fallible as all dreams inevitably are.
Guinness deservedly picked up the Best Actor academy award for his role as Col. Nicholson, who stubbornly wants to maintain conventional and civilized values in the jungle and in the face of an enemy of a different and opposing culture, embodied by the Japanese camp commander, brilliantly played by Sessue Hayakawa.
Holden acts as a kind of comic relief, an American caught in the middle of British POWs in Burma, and his role is reminiscent of the one which won him an Oscar in STALAG 17, where he acted as the in-between fellow who managed to bribe the guards and get the goodies, but who has enough decency in him to earn the viewer's sympathy.
Jack Hawkins is superlative as the British commander who leads the operation to destroy the bridge on the River Kwai. He is the very embodiment of the stiff upper lip British officer with touches of sardonic humor and complete professionalism.
And, finally, James Donald, as the medic with the bird's eye view (an eagle is seen flying over the forest some 3 or 4 times during the film), who sees all with detachment and concludes that war is madness. His is a minor but crucial role, and he delivers with great aplomb.
Photography, action sequences, script, and soundtrack are all of the highest quality. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorites and I rate it the greatest anti-war war movie ever made. 10/10