FILMS… The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

#1950s #AllPosts

 

Whistling an iconic tune whilst they march…

 

A British Colonel is instructed to build a bridge over the River Kwai. Later one of his men after escaping the camp will be asked to return to blow up the bridge.

 

Alec Guinness

Alec Guinness and cast

Bridge On The River Kwai, The (original Version) – Trailer, YouTube Movies

 

The other films reviewed on this theme are Escape to Victory /  Victory (1981), Inglourious Bestards (2009) and Kelly’s Heroes (1970).  This is the last of the 2 Reel Quirky Cats War Movie Posts that were voted for by you. War Movies proved to be a popular topic as you can see from the wide variety of films chosen.

It was a war in itself, and like between this and The Great Escape (1963) fought to win until the final moments. The final votes were tallied it was this film.. and a fitting final choice, a war film which won 7 Academy Awards, Bridge Over The River Kwai (1957) finally won the vote.

The Bridge Over The River Kwai is remembered as much for being a war film as for its memorable signature tune in the Colonel Bogey March. This tune which I tried albeit unsuccessfully and untunefully (apart from in my head, where I also have the singing abilities of Julie Andrews) to whistle as a kid, an adult and in between.

 

About the poll…

So here’s how you voted…

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About the plot…

Set in 1943. the film tells how Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) is instructed by a Japanese PoW camp commander to organise his fellow Prisoners of War to build a bridge for use by the Burma-Siam railway. He is initially against this quoting the Geneva Convention, then sees this as a great exercise in building up the men’s morale. He is favoured by the PoWs as he keeps to his principles despite being tortured by their captors.

He is later shocked by the poor design of the completed bridge, and with an improved design, sets out to build a better one, confusing the men about his motives. Three men escape from the camp including Commander Shears (William Holden). Shears finds medical help and love in a nearby village. However, unbeknownst to Nicholson and his peers, the Allies hope to destroy the bridge led by Major Warden (Jack Hawkins).  And Warden asks that peer of Nicholson’s, an American who escaped from the camp, Commander Shears (William Holden) to join him in this mission…

 

About the trailer…

The trailer for this film is a masterpiece, and a showcase telling you everything you wanted to know about this film in around 3 minutes. Apart from the ending and to some degree the plot. And it must have looked and sounded amazing as the commentary from the man with the masterful voice is even more masterful than usual. Perhaps due to that accent. Anyway back to the preview.

The film trailer draws you in with the whistling and marching of a troop of Prisoners of War soldiers to that tune simultaneously which was timed to a split second. Gradually, a band takes over this soundtrack. Then the gist of the plot is shown in the enticing golden font on a rolling screen.

This plot is explained by a Japanese PoW camp commander where we are told that these British soldiers are to build a bridge over the River Kwai. And that good behaviour will be rewarded.. and ending on an ominous note, bad behaviour punished. This led to a single ominous, eerie and dramatic musical note (which got my attention as well as the soldiers) and footage of a few extras (I assume) getting shot (just to reinforce things).

And the book of the film is plugged, with sadly not the author for this pre-internet age especially with this winning a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. Meaning I assume lots of microfiches or something was examined frantically, if you liked the film so much, you wanted to read the book…

We then meet the actors involved in this production with that golden font and that voice-over, which nicely reminds you who’s who.. there’s William Holden and Alec Guinness. But sadly, it gives little indication of the characters and the roles they play in this film.

And we get a few nifty shots of these men in action with a couple of clips from the movie. Jack Hawkins is also announced but shares his wee cinematic moment with the newcomer and assumed totty, Geoffrey Horne. Who tbh I didn’t recognise…  but on research was sadly last seen in a movie after many years out of the limelight.

Anyway, a man with that voice reinforces that these soldiers had a wide spectrum of emotions.. be it humour, – cue amusing clip – romance – cue totty and possible love interest – and brutality. This encourages you to know it’s more than just a war movie. This is a nice touch for people like me who like to know there is more than battle scenes and that there is some human story behind it too.

Then the preview ends by telling us the producer, Sam Spiegel and the director, David Lean telling you some of their work. This was also a great plus for this preview, as you (if you are anything like me) possibly spend the credits trying to remember just what other films these important people behind the scenes worked on.

It ends with the film title in huge font and thus reminds you – before you get lost in the next trailer – what the film was. These final moments clinched this, in the war of the trailers on how trailers should be styled and shot.. just how many trailer titles do you forget just what it’s all about after the barrage of trailers ends.

 

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CLICK HERE to read the Thoughts All Sorts review.

 

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David Lean Blogathon 2018, No 36

This is the first of two trailer reviews added to Maddy Loves Her Classic Films David Lean Blogathon. Films with this cast include William Holden in Sunset Boulevard, Fedora, Damien Omen II, Network, SOB and The Towering Inferno. Alec Guinness stars in Doctor Zhivago, The Ladykillers and Star Wars. 

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