12 MEMORABLE BEST PICTURE WINNERS #4

THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)

30th Academy Awards

Nominated With:
Peyton Place
Sayonara
12 Angry Men
Witness for the Prosecution

Directed By:
David Lean

Starring:
William Holden, Jack Hawkins, Alec Guinness, Sessue Hayakawa, James Donald, Geoffrey Horne

Synopsis:
Director David Lean's sweeping epic is set in a Japanese World War II prison camp where British POWs are forced to construct a railway bridge as a morale-building exercise. Yet the real battle of wills is between "play by the rules" British colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness), who is dedicated to the project, and his American rival (William Holden), who vows to destroy it. The POWs' whistling work theme became legendary.

Why this is a great choice:
While fellow nominated 12 Angry Men would have made an equal worthy selection, The Bridge On the River Kwai defiantly remains one of the lasting Best Picture winners. A definitive epic classic of old-fashioned filmmaking, it is as intelligent as it is entertaining. Brilliant acting to go alongside the flawless direction of David Lean. The script is excellent as it both uses and recreates cliches and genre formula. A glorious achievement of “Madness, Madness!”

12 Memorable Best Picture Winners -- previous enteries:

- The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

- Casablanca (1942)

- How Green Was My Valley (1941)