The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Have you ever wished that you could see some of your all-time favourite classic films the way they were meant to be seen: on a big screen and from an actual reel of film? Well, you're in luck! Cineplex Theaters is running its Classic Film Series once again this year, and they've got some of the all-time greats lined up for you to enjoy!

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a World War II film directed by Brit David Lean, who is renowned for his works Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. The story revolves around a group of British prisoners of war who are being held captive by the Japanese and used as forced labour. Their captors order the men to construct a bridge over a large river to be used to accommodate the Burma-Siam railway. Colonel Nicholson, the commander of the PoWs, inspires his men to complete the bridge as ordered, instead of sabotaging it as they had originally intended. Unbeknownst to the men, the Allied forces have concocted a plan to destroy the bridge and everything that the prisoners have been working towards.

The cast of The Bridge on the River Kwai couldn't be called anything less than stellar. In the lead role of Colonel Nicholson is Alec Guinness — that's right, Obi Wan Kenobi himself. Guinness plays the complex character with strength and conviction that makes you question his sensibilities while simultaneously admiring his determination and honour.

William Holden, of Sunset Boulevard and The Wild Bunch fame, plays Shears, a seaman impersonating a U.S. Naval officer who escapes the PoW camp and is subsequently put in charge of the mission to destroy the bridge. Holden is a superbly talented actor and his performance in this film is phenomenal.

Peter Williams, John Boxer, James Donald and Geoffrey Horne play fellow PoWs Captain Reeves, Major Hughes, Major Clipton and Lieutenant Joyce respectively. Together, these men's performances provide the true heart of the film.

The commandant of the Japanese PoW camp, Colonel Saito, is brought to life by Sessue Hayakawa, whose performance is as brutal as it is brilliant.

What truly makes The Bridge on the River Kwai one of the all-time great war films is the struggle the men must endure and the futility of their work. In one of the most heartbreaking conclusions of war film history, any morale the soldiers had left is crushed and their spirits irrevocably shattered. Akin to Apocalypse Now, this film makes a clear statement about the absurdity of war and the impact that it has upon those who are involved.

Although it's not for the faint of heart, The Bridge on the River Kwai is a must-see for any cinephile and lover of classic film. It is definitely worth your time to watch this movie, especially the way it was meant to be seen. It's playing January 11 at 7 p.m. and January 22 at 1 p.m. at the Westmount Cineplex Odeon VIP theatre.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars