Wolff rating: UNSURPASSED
Plot summary: British soldiers find themselves in a Japanese internment camp, and the Colnel goes head-to-head with the hard-headed commandant who needs a bridge built.
Biased, pithy comments: A World War II movie that is so exquisitely realized it seems as if it were made yesterday, a prequel to ``Saving Private Ryan.'' Except it wasn't---although made in the seething early years of the Cold War, it eschews gung-ho or glorificaton of war and comes out as a striking statement about the ultimate futility of war and looks through the lens of men's souls that war provides. Simply, it's remarkable, riveting, and exquisitely made. Hayakawa and Guiness are perfect as icons of their cultures (the definition of the immoveable object and the irresistable force), while Holden and Donald have their own sparks. Definitely worth seeing; it rarely gets better than this.
Other Notes: Based on an excellent book (also recommended) by Pierre Boulle which is in turn based on real events.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: William Holden, Alec Guiness, Sessue Hayakawa, Jack Hawkins, James Donald, Geoffery Horne
Directed by: David Lean