The Bridge on the River Kwai

It is a stirring drama of World War II, in which Spiegel has had the excellent help of British director David Lean, in charge of the action, and of a fine company of international players.

Has no one else found it highly peculiar that damn near everybody's choice for the best movie of (let's say) the decade should be dedicated, inferentially but absolutely, to the proposition that Courage is Madness and Cowardice is Best?

Part of the success of The Bridge is that its courageous hero is shown from all angles, in all kinds of mirrors. He is strong, stubborn, fallible, maniacal, silly, and wise; and in the end he is pathetic, noble, and foolish.

From sky to ground in two shots, and it already feels like we've traversed a great distance, with two and a half hours of skillful, suspenseful WWII adventure to go.

It is a whale of a story, and in the telling of it, British Director David Lean does a whale of a job.

A gripping drama, expertly put together and handled with skill in all departments.

The film, a highly assured piece of technical craftsmanship, is made rather too literally for the double-edged character of its central drama.

Suffice it to say, it's a masterpiece... and an epic one at that.

Few Second World War films are as enduring as this multi-Oscar-winning examination of the stiff upper lip from director David Lean.

It's certainly weathered well thanks to its novel and ingenious approach to presenting multiple perspective of the Second World War.

The Bridge on the River Kwai amused and excited me.

Epic of WWII honor and sacrifice gone haywire.