The Film
More than 50 years after its release this 1957 Academy Award winning film for Best Picture stands the test of the time, and is often used as a bench mark for other POW films. Truth be told, director David Lean's epic The Bridge on the River Kwai really has it all. It combines the classic elements of a POW drama, including a daring escape, just enough action and suspense, along with excellent dialog and first rate acting to make this largely fictional story seem real enough.
Based on the novel of the same name by French writer Pierre Boulle the film is only loosely based on the actual construction of the Burma Railway in 1942-43. Charged with building a bridge, Japanese Colonel Saito uses harsh measures to convince his British captives to do so, and in a twist that could only take place in a movie, the British build one heck of a bridge - which of course needs to be destroyed to prevent the Japanese invasion of India. A big movie that doesn't go too far this one is a cinematic masterpiece even if it isn't so close to the real history.
The Picture
With the new transfer to Blu-ray this film doesn't look a day over 40. But seriously while the film had previously been given a nice deluxe treatment on DVD, this Blu-ray actually takes it further. While there is some graininess, and a few sequences that are far from top-notch, most of the film has never looked better. The skin tones and colors of Burma are a bit soft at times, and appear just slightly muted but this is likely on par with the film techniques of the era. The 2.55:1 presentation also takes widescreen about as wide as it could go - so this one is best viewed with a larger screen TV, but it is worth it.
The Sound
The Blu-ray is also a notch better than the DVD's audio, which was presented in 5.1 Dolby Digital. The new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack captures the intensity of the climatic end, as the train approaches from the distance. That said there is a bit less ambient sound throughout the film, but that's to be expected given when this one was made. The dialog, including that of Colonel Saito comes through the center loud and clear, while the catchy tune (Colonel Bogey March) has a resonating quality that is almost piercing.
The Extras
Going to the movies back in 1957 was still a pretty big deal, even with the advent of TV. And as that box in the home took away audiences movie makers went all out with larger than life epics, which clearly describes Bridge on the River Kwai. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has preserved this with a deluxe box set Blu-ray, which includes a lovely slip case with a reproduction of the original souvenir booklet. The set also includes 12 mini-reprints of the original theatrical lobby cards as well. The actual disc includes a segment from The Steve Allen Show with William Holden and Alec Guinness, as well as new archival audio of Holden narrating the film's premiere. The Blu-ray also includes the DVD box version, and both discs feature a plethora of features including a documentary on the adaptation of Boulle's novel, casting and history of the production; Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant featurette, USC short film introduced by William Holden, and "An Appreciation by Filmmaker John Milius" featurette.
Final Thoughts
There has been a backlash in recent years against this film, especially as it depicts the all too easy collaboration with the Japanese. Likewise, it lacks the harsh reality of a POW camp, and fails to show the brutality that the prisoners typically faced (as would later be seen in such films as Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and To End All Wars). But that said, it is a movie after all, and this one on Blu-ray gets the first rate treatment, looking and sounding great, with bonus materials and a package that is so much more than just a plastic case.
Product Details
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