Lean furnishes a jolly good film

Rating: 8/10 (12 December 2019)

David Lean directed World War II nearly an epic at 161 minutes or so!
A precursor to his Lawrence of Arabia epic.
The film focuses on mainly British Prisoner's Of War in a Burmese camp tasked with building a new railway bridge over the River Kwai, an epic engineering fete on the Singapore to Rangoon railway line.
The film focuses primarily on the battle of wits between British commanding officer Col. Nicholson (Alec Guinness) and under pressure Japanese camp leader Col. Saito.
What follows are acts of bravery/jolly good British bravado against some sadistic treatment at the hands of the Japanese captors who disregard the Geneva Convention when it comes to officers partaking in manual work
Lean portrays the British throughout in a stiff upper lip way although this is counterbalanced by a musical score that brings a sense of national pride to the British viewer.
The film has the obligatory American lead (Anthony Holden) as Shears. A cowardly U.S. Naval P.O.W.
Shears looks on at the British stiff upper lip attitude with amused contempt!
Nicholson turns round the tables belittling the poor engineering of the Japanese to build the best bridge possible.
Meanwhile Shears escapes only to be recruited by the British to help blow up the bridge!
The second half of the film is two stories. The building of the bridge versus the mission to destroy it leading to a culmination that is madness!
Lean furnishes an entertaining film, that while not quite up to the standards of Lawrence of Arabia is still a good film.
Featuring great cinematography of the jungle environment, good musical score and good performances from the cast. Some who go on to appear in other classic War films such as The Great Escape.
One of Guiness' greatest performances.