one of the best from one of the best

Rating: 9/10 (18 June 1999)

That a director could make such a superb movie as this and then surpass it with "Lawrence of Arabia" is astonishing, but such was David Lean's accomplishment. Just as in "Lawrence" the superb cinematography and gripping action never detract from the fact that this is, at its core, a psychological drama. Alec Guinness is a true genius; anyone who can portray Colonel Nicholson like this, and then go on to the Gulley Jimson of the Horse's Mouth and the Jock Sinclair of Tunes of Glory has acting talents verging on the supernatural. The rest of the cast is just as exceptional, especially Jack "jolly good show!" Hawkins, and the movie is visually stunning. A true 'desert island' film. Would that they made them like this nowadays.