There are several skipped frames making for an uncomfortable splice or two and the opening shots seem like they were transferred from a cereal box, but for the most part the color is vital, the images sharp, and contrast range very good. I thought the difficult background details like jungle trees faired very well. The structure of the bridge was also very stable. Black level is excellent and contrast range gives the picture plenty of pop. Jungle ambiance and the racing river are captured with equal ease.
Dialogue is clear and crisp.
Watching this DVD of The Bridge on the River Kwai is a special treat not to be missed. The documentary on the two-disc set is okay. There are some pearls amongst the shucked oysters that these documentaries often are. I had forgotten that William Holden was added to the production because Columbia felt they needed an American star. The entire alternate coda of Shears' escape and the subsequent team coming back to blow the bridge was added because of the Shears character.