Number 15: The Bridge on the River Kwai (Best Picture Ranking)

David Lean is between people directors who gained two Oscar for directing two Best-Picture-winners. In 1962, he triumphed with Lawrence of Arabia and 5 many years earlier, his renowned war-film The Bridge on the River Kwai dominated the ceremony.

The film tells two intervened tales. 1 is that of the English Colonel Nicholson who, together with his troopers, is caught by the Japanese and despatched to a prison camp. There, he attempts to uphold his very own requirements against the enemies – like insisting that officers are exempt from manual labour. When his soldiers are compelled to construct a bridge across the river Kwai, Nicholson orders them with the most serious dedication to do the best they can as a symbol for British workmanship – until he gets essentially obsessed with the undertaking. The 2nd story issues an American Navy Commander who managed to escape from the camp but is sent back to demolish the bridge.

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a brilliant psychological research of 3 men in the course of the time of war. In the prison camp, Colonel Nicholson and the Japanese Colonel Saito combat for the energy in excess of the guys – Saito relies upon on them to build the bridge while Nicholson needs to manage his guys the way he desires. Commander Shears is a instead cynical male who tries to get the ideal for him out of each and every circumstance. David Lean utilizes these a few main figures to tell a interesting tale of energy, obedience, obsession, tradition and day-to-day existence under amazing conditions.

Alec Guiness won an Oscar for playing the stern, bureaucratic and identified Colonel and there is no cause why he shouldn’t have. His portrayal is reliable and comprehensible and he turns his character into the movie’s most intriguing factor. Sessue Hayakawa is also really unforgettable as his opponent Colonel Saito even though William Holden plays the sort of character he was born to enjoy – cynical, egoistical and challenging-edged.

Of course, a movie by David Lean does not only function spectacular performances but is also a feast for the eyes and ears. Even in the terror of war, David Lean finds photos of unparalleled splendor and the cinematography captures the moments of tension and horror just as properly as people of a far more quiet character. The ‘Colonel Bogey March’ is used really nicely and also the unique rating underlines the movie’s tale with fantastic result.

All round, it is a thrilling and hugely entertaining movie which consistently finds new angles, themes and storylines to maintain the viewer fascinated until the unforgettable ending.