Plot: What’s it about?
In times of war, prisoners of war are sometimes used to complete manual labor tasks, such as hauling supplies and constructing items such as bridges and shacks. Such is the case here, as a team of British prisoners of war are forced to build an important bridge for their Japanese captors. In most instances, this task would be carried out in slow and uncaring form, but this team of captured soldiers is no normal platoon. Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) assumes command of his mean and together, they begin to work on constructing the finest bridge the world has ever seen. Even though they’re working for the enemies, the men see this as a chance to win a small victory over their captors, by taking control of the project. That is just what they do also, as they take command over all aspects of the process and inside, they feel as though a moral battle has been won. But they don’t know that this bridge, that they’ve been working on so hard, is now the main target in an Allied demolition attack.
This review covers the two disc limited edition of The Bridge On The River Kwai, so if you need the single disc rundown, you’ll want to look elsewhere. This edition will cost you some extra cash, but I think this is the version to own and it is the definitive edition of this film on home video. I am very pleased with this extensive limited edition release, but Columbia/Tristar has also issued a single disc edition, in case you just want the film at the normal price. You lose the extras with that single disc, but whichever edition you choose, the film makes the purchase well worth the cost. In addition to having a wide fan base across the world, this film took home Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, and three other Oscars, as well as various other awards. This is one of those movies that has it all, no real flaws seem to emerge in this presentation in the least. And even after all the years, it stands up as well as ever and continues to gain new fans and acclaim. It seems like this picture appears on all time great lists, from the AFI’s list to IMDB’s charts, all of which is well deserved. I give this film my highest recommendation and whichever edition you choose, your money will be well spent to be sure.
This movie boasts an impressive ensemble cast, loaded with talented performers who turn in spectacular portrayals. I do think one man rises above even all the superb turns around him though, as Alec Guinness is powerful and effective at all times within his role. Guinness was known for his excellence in front of the camera, but here he is better than ever and really lights up the screen with his work. I know a lot of people associate him with his role in Star Wars, but for me, this is Guinness’ signature performance. Guinness took home the Academy Award for Best Actor and he certainly deserved it, to be sure. Guinness can also be seen in such films as Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, Great Expectations (1946), The Ladykillers, Damn the Defiant!, and Return of the Jedi. The rest of the excellent cast includes Sessue Hayakawa (Green Mansions, Black Roses), Jack Hawkins (Ben-Hur, The Fallen Idol), John Boxer (The Blue Lagoon, Gandhi), James Donald (The Pickwick Papers, The Big Sleep), and William Holden (Network, The Wild Bunch). The director of The Bride On The River Kwai was David Lean, who also helmed such movies as Summertime, Brief Encounter, Great Expectations (1946), Oliver Twist (1948), Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, and Ryan’s Daughter.
Video: How does it look?
The Bridge On The River Kwai is presented in a 2.55:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This film is over forty years old, so even with some restoration work, the print looks below modern standards. But the image is pretty clean in the end, while I noticed minimal grain and color fades. So the image does look older than I’d like, but this is still a terrific overall visual presentation. I found the contrast to be quite sharp at all times, with well balanced black levels and a very high level of detail. Even in the darkest sequences, I never felt like there was excessive grain or obscured detail. As I mentioned above, there is not much color fading evident and I think the richness was acceptable throughout. This is a superb transfer for a film made in 1957 and as such, I doubt anyone will be disappointed here.
Audio: How does it sound?
This edition includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 remix and while it doesn’t measure up to modern tracks, it packs quite a punch in the end. I have always loved Malcolm Arnold’s musical score, which won an Oscar and I am pleased it sounds so good in this new mix. I think the surrounds were coded to perfection for this score, as it sounds rich and immersive from start to finish. I wasn’t too impressed with the rest of the audio, save a few spots, but I don’t think this is a lacking track by any means. It delivers an above average experience and stays true to the material, which is what counts in the end. I was glad the track remains natural in sound, never forcing the surrounds and getting a hollow, harsh tone. I had no problems with dialogue either, clarity and volume balance levels were dead on. This disc also includes 2.0 surround tracks in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. If you need subtitles, this disc offers them in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The bulk of the special features are found on disc two, but the first disc contains one of my personal favorite extras, an isolated musical score. As I mentioned, this film has a fantastic score and it is so good to have it included in isolated form within this limited edition release. You can find a small insert booklet within the case also, which provides some text from the original press materials. On the second disc you will find this film’s theatrical trailer, as well as some bonus trailers for other war related films and a limited selection of talent files, as well. You can find a brief featurette titled “The Rise & Fall Of A Jungle Giant,” a featurette on how to fully appreciate the film (which is introduced by William Holden), a piece with filmmaker John Milius and his thoughts on the film, and a montage of various artwork used to promote the film. The main supplement is an exclusive documentary on how the film was made, from adapting the novel for the screen to the final completed product. This is an in depth piece to be sure and if you want to know something about this film, then I am sure this documentary covers it. This is how all documentaries should be done and let’s hope we see more like it soon.
