THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957) | FIRST TIME WATCHING | MOVIE REACTION

[@mwflanagan1]

Japan was not a signatory to the Geneva Convention, whereas the Germans were, regardless of inevitable atrocities. My father-in-law spent 39 months in two different Japanese prison camps in the Philippines during WWII, and he had horrendous stories to tell, but wouldn’t even tell us the worst of it. Thanks for this reaction, Cassie.

[@elessartelcontar9415]

Of the 132,000 British and American POWs taken by the Japanese army, 28% died in captivity. The death rates of Filipinos was often 90% due to maltreatment and murder. The Bataan Death March death rate was 60%. One of my maternal uncles swam across 19 miles of the Pacific to Corregidor and avoided being a POW for a month before it also fell to the Japanese.

[@Lone-wolf-1982]

@@elessartelcontar9415 Those really were true heroes and brave soldiers. We have no concept or comparison to the horrific suffering of Allied soldiers during WW2. I doubt this modern generation could handle it. Cassie should watch Back to Bataan, another classic war movie that shows some of the Bataan Death March.

[@kevinkasp]

Terrible stories. My grandfather was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Truman for keeping the last surviving American soldier alive from the Japanese in Guam for more than two stressful, nerve-racking years. He told me the worst thing was coming across a Japanese soldier in the jungle. The soldier was trying stay hidden (the Americans had finally returned to re-take Guam) so he needed to kill my grandfather; it became a fight to the death. Needless to say, the fact my grandfather could tell me the story a quarter century later tells you the outcome of that fight. My grandfather was deeply religious and having taken another man's life tormented him, despite the fact the Japanese treated the people of Guam worse than slaves.

[@acdragonrider]

The Japanese were prone to commit war atrocities wherever they went. I’m Chinese and almost all of my grandma’s family were killed by Japanese soldiers or died as a result of their atrocities… My Grandpa first married her older sister.. But after the Japanese dropped germ bombs over the province, they kidnapped her while she was still pregnant and sent her to a human experimentation facility . She never got out and we know what Unit 731 did. My grandpa, who served in the nationalist Chinese KMT army, was faithful to my grandma’s family and eventually married my grandma taking her with him to Taiwan when the civil war happened. My great grandma couldn’t go with them and my grandma never saw her again.

[@MaaZeus]

Japanese are known to be polite and reserved people these days but during the days of Imperialistic Japan with their nationalistic fervor and arrogant belief that they were serving basically a god (their Emperor) this was not the case. At least not towards outsiders and certainly not towards their prisoners. I love Japan these days but back then... hell they were worse than WW2 Germany in some ways.

[@beardedsloth7805]

My grandad was a pow in Burma or that area , he said he only made it because of a Buddhist Japanese guard who would sneak him food to share around and gave him one of those folding fans , he said that simple fan probably saved lives , he still had the fan when he died 12 years ago

[@kirbyculp3449]

You may be interested in the movie Harp of Burma, also called Burmese Harp.

[@wildcat1032]

About 250,000 Asian civilians and 90,000 allied POW’s were used as slave laborers to construct the Burma railway. 88,000 civilians died and 12,000 POW’s died. It was a shameful breech of international law. The Bridge on the River Kwai was one of the first anti war movies released and it was both a critical and commercial success. It won 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture. Director David Lean won Best Director and later went in to direct his masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia. William Holden made quite a career of playing the antihero. His work in the earlier Stalag 17 was also terrific. Great choice for a movie. Thanks Cassie!

[@johnortmann3098]

An excellent non-fiction book about "The Railway of Death" is "The Naked Island" by Russell Braddon, an Australian captured in the early months of the war and sent to work on it. Conditions were much worse than depicted in the movie. By the way, the central premise of the movie is wrong: The Japanese were perfectly capable of designing a bridge.

[@thejamppa]

@@johnortmann3098 There's also very good recent film about these events: Railway Man (2013) which tells one man's story overcoming trauma and forgiveness. I highly recommend it.

[@osmanyousif7849]

Don’t forget Sunset Blvd….

[@mlose50]

Definitely include Stalag 17 in your list.

[@jimglenn6972]

The Bridge on the River Kwai may have been an earlier WWII anti-war movie but there much earlier films. I think about All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). A strongly anti-war movie from a generation earlier.

[@MrHws5mp]

This is what's so great about older movies: they may not have had the special effects wizardry of the modern day (although there's nothing wrong with this one), but they gave themselves enough time and space to make great character studies, instead of trying to fill every second with spectacle.

[@geeebuttersnap2433]

Every time, substance will win out over spectacle.

[@barryd1671]

They really had to build a bridge on location and then destroy it in one take!

[@GuyFawkes522]

So the actual story of the 'Bridge' is a lot more interesting; the actual commander of the POWs was named Philip Toosey, who did everything he could to take care of his men, which earned him their enduring respect and loyalty. Toosey did everything he could to undermine the Japanese efforts in building the bridge, such as mixing the concrete wrong and collecting termites in large quantities to eat away at the support structures and origanize an escape, when the escapees where captured and killed, Toosey was severly punished. After the war, Toosey made efforts to save the life of Sgt. Maj. Saito (who was actually the executive officer), who treated the prisoners more humanly. His effortes were successful and the two remain friends for the rest of their lives.

[@GodlessScummer]

Toosey also never really collaborated with the Japanese. Hence why most of the veterans who were POW's on the Burma railway really hated this movie because they didn't like the portrayal of Toosey in Nicholson.

[@GuyFawkes522]

@@GodlessScummer Yeah, I should have mentioned that.

[@GodlessScummer]

@@GuyFawkes522 It's OK I left a long comment for Cassie to read as well but forgot to mention a couple of things you mentioned.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

So we get a great movie that has basically nothing to do with what really happened. ;)

[@GodlessScummer]

@@Quotenwagnerianer pretty much yeah.

[@bloodyrevolution8581]

My grandfather was a POW of the Japanese. He never spoke of his experience or the things he had to endure. The only thing I remember my grandmother saying is he never bought anything made in Japan until he passed away

[@thomast8539]

Cassie always comes through with reactons that no one else is putting up. This channel is the best.

[@phila3884]

I think she's the first top-tier reactor to tackle this one.

[@Sough]

I'm not sure about that, usually it's the standard fare, which makes sense when you're trying to find movies that people have already seen

[@RetroClassic66]

Check out @MoviesWithMia. She just uploaded her reaction to a Bogart classic that literally NOBODY else has released.

[@paintedjaguar]

Cassie does make an effort towards this, but lately I'm seeing more of the old classics and even some obscure films on other channels than hers. To be fair, this is usually because some individual fan has paid for a particular movie.

[@jonjohns65]

​@@paintedjaguarto be fair... Cassie does not accept pay-to-play, even if others do.

[@Tyrconnell]

Sessue Hayakawa (Saito) had an astonishing career. He was one of Hollywood's first heartthrobs in the 10s & 20s, playing not just Asian roles, but native Americans, Mexican, and any other 'exotic' lead. Growing anti-Japanese sentiment in California (several years before in the introduction of sound would probably have limited his career) sent him first the the New York stage and then to filming in Japan, Germany and France, where he became trapped on the outbreak of the war in Europe. Although he made a handful of French films during the war he mainly made a living as a painter. After the war he was cleared of any accusations of helping the Germans while in France and, with the help of Humphrey Bogart, returned to Hollywood. 'Kwai' earned him an Oscar nomination. As a side-note its interesting that while he played the dangerous 'exotic' leading man in Hollywood, in one of his Japanese films of thr 30s he played US Ambassador to Japan Townsend Harris!

[@sparky6086]

Sessue Hayakawa who played Colonel Saito, grew up Japanese, but went to the Universtiy of Chicago, where he was the quarterback of the football team, in the relatively early days of college football. After college, he became a Hollywood silent film star, sort of an exotic idol, a Japanese Rudolf Valentino, if you will. I think, that he was then too old to participate in World War II, but I can't recall? After the war, he got back into acting, including American films, such as "Bridge on the River Kwai".

[@sparky6086]

@jamesfrost126 Thanks. I stand corrected. I was going by my old man memory. I think, it was cool, he played college football as a quarterback in the US.

[@carystrunk5771]

Thank you! I was just about to write this when I saw your post!

[@adarael]

I came to the comments in the hopes somebody had posted about Sessue Hayakawa and how awesome he was. Thanks for doing so!

[@kirbyculp3449]

He was also in the Jerry Lewis film Geisha Boy.

[@Dontuween]

This movie was really about obsessions. Nicholson & Saito, building that bridge. Warden destroying it. Joyce wanting action. And Shears, the most reasonable obsession - wanting to get away from it all!

[@rickwiles8835]

And the insanity of war... All these obsessions in a time of peace would be used to create some useful and beautiful. In peace time Saito was probably kind and an acommbushed leader, but in wartime he lost his humanity working mem to death to build a bridge that will be used to bring more men and munitions to forster even more death. Nicholson, is also an accomplished leader becomes so engrossed in bringing a sense of accomplishment to his men he loses sight of what the bridge will be used for and what will happen to the men after to bridge is completed. The men will more than likely be moved to another camp and worked to death as the Japanese become more and more desperate in the final days of the war. Warren, is determined on accomplishing his mission at any cost.. All three working against each other and only see their personal mission oblivious to the big picture.

[@H4suf3l]

Nicholson's is more an obsession to uphold some extremely strict version of military discipline and rules and a sort of racist idea of "teaching" the Japanese how to be proper soldiers, that then gets transferred to the building of the bridge in a more proper and excellent way that only British soldiers could do. You're mostly right, just thought I'd add this little addendum :)

[@glennwisniewski9536]

@@H4suf3l How woke of you.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

@@H4suf3l Yes, because the Japanese of the period were noted for their porgressive attitudes towards race, right?

[@JackRabbitSlim]

@@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t Pointing out there's a perverse sort of colonialist racism in one character/side doesn't mean you think the other side are the 'good guys'. Why do people get so butthurt when you state simple facts about history? If you don't recognise that part of the motivation of Nicholson's character was because he'd been brought up in an age where British imperialism instilled the belief of cultural &/or racial superiority, which he wanted to prove, then you didn't understand the film. But hey, you could just read that paragraph & conclude that I think the Japanese were wonderful, non-racist saints, that must be what I meant...

[@Neotron2001]

My father, RIP, was such a fan of this movie and persuaded me to watch it when i was a teen. Years later I finally watched it. Thanks dad, i understand now. Such a magnificent film. A grand spectacle in filmmaking. ❤

[@Cheryworld]

Alec Guinness- one of the great actors of the 20th century. Well worth checking out his other movies: Lawrence of Arabia,The Ladykillers, , and even Star Wars (Obi-Wan Kenobi

[@thegorn68]

He's great as Jacob Marley in Scrooge (1970).

[@Aggiebrettman]

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is my absolute favorite movie of all time. Almost nobody dos reactions to that one, which is a shame-- it is the embodiment of EPIC.

[@williammassey8939]

Can you imagine Cassie watching Ladykillers?.... LOL...

[@bmbirdsong]

I just watched that today! It's so good! It really shows what an amazing range Alec Guinness had. Cassie would love that movie. @@williammassey8939

[@elessartelcontar9415]

That's Sir Alec Guinness, friend

[@luvlgs1]

William Holden was one of the biggest movie stars of his era. along with Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Burt Lancaster, Gregory Peck , they were that generation's model of style and masculinity .

[@emptyhand777]

He was talented, unfortunately he drank himself to death. You can really see how alcohol affected his appearance in his later roles.

[@allanrose3661]

Stalag 17 (1953) starring William Holden is another good war movie.

[@stupidsmart-phone6911]

It might even be a "Christmas Movie" as much as Die Hard and Gremlins are.

[@zulyhallelujah9257]

Lmao

[@drg3712]

@@stupidsmart-phone6911 It’s a Christmas Movie, a Comedy, a Prison Escape movie, A Who-Dun-it… all rolled into one.

[@kevinkasp]

And in case anyone missed it, William Holden is the American, Commander Shears, in this movie.

[@osmanyousif7849]

And From Here to Eternity….

[@jimtatro6550]

This is not only one of the greatest war movies ever, it’s one of the greatest films ever. Masterpiece.👍

[@jaelynn7575]

It's amazing that they actually built the bridge and blew it up.

[@craighanson-rc1md]

@@jaelynn7575 they didn't blow up the bridge in real life it was partly destroyed by allied bombers towards the end of the war but not completely blown up & was made out of concrete & steel which was repaired & still in use today. It's completely fiction. It down plays the POW conditions & treatment while also downplaying the Japanese engineers experiences. Also it down plays that many POW did not believe in any form of working or collaborating with an enemy by a leader like Nicholson did. Many real life POWs of the Japanese even of the germans felt any leader who did any type of collaborating would not live long or wouldn't hold much continued influence of the men in the camps once collaboration began in any sense. When a POW especially in American & the UK it has always been reenforced that no matter how well you are treated your sole purpose as POW is to try to escape & help as many as you can. Best example of this would be the German real life POW camp Stalag 13 just inside current day Poland. Which was actually a pretty humanitarian POW camp & yet prisoners continuously tried to escape & some were successful. The real camp is now a museum & shows at least part of what was the camp which for a POW was pretty luxurious with theaters & pools even a hockey rink. It was used for a tv show & I think a movie the best movie is called the Great Escape which is not 100% factual it's background & story backbone are.

[@jacktattis]

@@craighanson-rc1md You do know not one American tried the escape from German POW camps . It was not Americas policy to disrupt normal POW life The US were completely different from the Brits /Friends A good number walked out of a camp at Wars end but no Americans tried to actually escape

[@jaelynn7575]

They most certainly did build a bridge, blow it up and crashed a train during filming! @@craighanson-rc1md

[@craighanson-rc1md]

@@jacktattisLOL I never said Americans did I never said I knew one way or the other or what life was like in POW for Americans or anyone else including those held in Allied camps. All I know is what research & things report. There's understandable reasons not to risk trying to escape since it would likely only make things worse for those who did & probably even those who didn't try but were mistreated for an escape non the less but I do know & it's reflected in pretty much all era movies & those who survived any war let alone as POWs that idea of escape was always there including for most the feeling it was obligated to be done. How many or the idea that everyone taken POW tried to escape is clearly not true or likely for a variety of reasons including some we mortal might understand having not being POWs. My ultimate point was that this supposed great movie was a farce & a joke that for some reason people think really entirely happened & that any of the acting in this movie was good let alone great.

[@WorldAccordingToBriggs]

This is one of the greatest movies.

[@leslieoneal4464]

This, and "The Longest Day"!! Have watched both SO many times!

[@simonfrederiksen104]

Indeed - Watch and contrast this movie with Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (1982) - it's quite the experience.

[@31Mike]

I've always loved Battle Cry and The Dirty Dozen, too. On the Navy side, Mister Roberts is an absolute classic and must watch.

[@matsv201]

It does rank.. well. a bit low on historical accuracy

[@simonfrederiksen104]

@@31Mike I can't remember watching Battle Cry - Thanks for mentioning it.

[@joeyartk]

Anna May Wong always gets credit as the first Asian film star. But it was really Hayakawa. He was Valentino before Valentino.

[@thomasknash]

As bad as the Japanese seem to treat the prisoners in this movie, in real life they treated them way worse (look up Bataan Death March, for example).

[@tedmowsby9607]

Since you now have opened the door to David Lean, the great British director of epics, you will have to react to his two greatest masterpieces: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) and, most importantly, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)! Cassie, you will love Doctor Zhivago, it is one of the all time great romance films! It's also at the top of the best winter movies, so I cannot recommend it strongly enough for you and your channel this coming season!

[@DEWwords]

Ditto.

[@dansiegel995]

Saito, the Japanese commander, had extreme shame because the British commander BEAT him - beat him because he made such a great bridge, HIS way - proving he was the superior officer. He could not live with himself, so he was going to commit suicide after the train and his mission had been accomplished.

[@sopcannon]

but in reality Saio wasnt like that and didnt have that ending

[@jollyrodgers7272]

Actually, Saito was beginning the ceremony of Seppuku (hari kari) at the start of the film. He was obviously a conflicted and suicidal type.

[@YouCanCallMeReTro]

One additional thing that was easy to miss is he is seen cutting off his top knot in his bungalow, this is a very symbolic thing to do under Bushido as it would denote his shame and accepting a lower status after Nicholson had essentially bested him.

[@aaaht3810]

The conversation between Nicholson and Saito on the bridge was a really good scene.

[@barryd1671]

Yes, Saito refers to the beauty of nature, while Nicholson thinks it is the bridge that is beautiful.

[@p-51d95]

"Tora, Tora, Tora" Fairly historically accurate. IMO, the best "Pearl Harbor" film.

[@thejamppa]

Midway (2019) has fairly accurate Pearl Harbour attack scene according historian's. The aerial attack scenes against Akagi, Kaga and Shoryu by Dauntless' diving thru flak fire is one the most intense scenes I have seen in WW2 films in a long time.

[@hackermusic3355]

When I was in college the man in charge of programming on the college TV station was from Japan and he played Tora. Tora, Tora at least every other day.

[@nac5901]

The Railway Man is a more recent movie starring Colin Firth based on the biography of one of the prisoners who worked on the Burma railway, who later tracked down one of the Japanese guards looking for revenge, but they eventually became friends.

[@larryairgood4320]

"Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) is an essentially true film of British officer T.E. Lawrence and his WW1 successes in fighting and leading battles in Arabia. The movie starred Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn and others, and is long enough in time to have an intermission. Nominated for 10 Oscars, it won for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and in 4 other categories. Obviously a must watch film someday.

[@Hexon66]

The word "essentially" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that first sentence.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

@@Hexon66Haha, yeah, I would tend to agree with that. Edit: still a great movie though!

[@sherigrow6480]

Watch it on the largest screen possible

[@0PsychosisMedia0]

​@Hexon66 movie is 90% accurate. Rare this happens in film.

[@JPWick]

​@@sherigrow6480I can die happy watching a 70mm screening, maybe IMAX will get around to remastering it #problems

[@riccardobruero]

Thank you for reacting to this film! My father and his brother, both born on Sumatra, were Prisoners of War in Siam, and had to to forced labor on the Birma Railroad. Five other brothers died during World War 2. I saw this film with my dad years ago.

[@orangeandblackattack]

Im so happy you are doing one of the classics. Please do "Kelly's Heroes"..it is a comedic and serious WWII movie with Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles, Telly Savalas & Stuart Margolin (Rockford Files)..it is a hoot!

[@jaquesshugossen9398]

I really hope She does "Kelly's Heroes" too.. and this is a very well-made classic with great cast. So very happy She is giving this one a watch!

[@TheCrazyCanuck420]

Even my mom liked that movie

[@extracaliber432]

Crapgame and Oddball.

[@cthulhucollector]

Best movie about WWII if it happened in the 1960s

[@timothylockard3846]

James Garner was not in Kelly's Heroes.

[@MegaSkills9]

That whistling song carried on for years in my house. My family saw this movie when I was a kid and my brothers and sisters used to whistle it now and then when playing or walking somewhere long distance. It was fun.

[@farmerbill6855]

One of the reasons these older war films don't seem so brutal is this was made a mere 12 years after the war ended. They didn't have to describe it in detail because nearly everyone had lived it. They knew first hand the horrors.

[@mscommerce]

Nailed it. Exactly. My parents' generation never talked about the war in detail. When this movie was made, most adults in the audience who were over the age of 30 didn't need to see the horrors. Many had lived through it. With later movies, such as those made in our times, the horror is reconstructed on-screen, so that our, younger, generation can learn a bit about what it was like.

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

Ive been frustrated for a couple of decades now, knowing that there is a new production of "The Dambusters" dating to be made. The screenplay was written by Stephen Fry and Peter Jackson is supposed to be directing/producing it. They even made up some planes to begin filming at one point, but it has never gone into full production. Although the original is a classic, Stephen Fry hs said that that the reason it needed to be made, was that so much of it was inaccurate or had been glossed over. Partly because a lot of the equipment was still secret at the time the original was made, and partly because they had glossed over a lot of things to spare the feelings of living relatives.

[@paintedjaguar]

More likely, the difference is due to current audience appetites for graphic violence and lots of action. Plus the limitations on older films that were imposed by the Production Code, but then those limitations also reflected a greater reticence and reserve in public tastes and expression.

[@davidhuggan6315]

Yep, my Grandad saw it in the cinema and everyone had lived it just 12 years before.

[@farmerbill6855]

@@paintedjaguar yea, no. It's exactly what I said. Pointed out very succinctly by my parents.

[@michaelg2529]

I enjoy it when you watch these classic movies. These are my favorites reactions. You as a young reactor learn so many pop culture references which help you with other movies. Please do more of these reactions to old movies. It's nice to see that they're still appreciated.

[@brachiator1]

David Lean directed a number of great films. His 1965 Doctor Zhivago is an amazing historical drama and a great romantic film, definitely worth watching.

[@7thwheel]

Lawrence of Arabia!

[@avantegarde7797]

Seriously ? Do you enjoy heartbreak & pain with NO RESPITE ? Dr. Zhivago starts out sad and goes downhill from there. One of the worst films I've ever not finished. DON'T DO THAT ONE, CASSIE ! ! !

[@jamescox2822]

I'm sorry but lawrence of arabia was ten times Better than doctor chivago

[@Rich-jd9up]

The ending of this film is worth the wait. An absolute classic !!!

[@danielmatthews1522]

One of the greatest war movies ever. It's not about a happy ending, it's about exploring the effects war has on its participants.

[@kirbyculp3449]

In the book Saito is shot dead and it is Nicholson that saves the bridge.

[@karlmoles6530]

My second favorite film of all time. The end shocked me. It was the first film I saw as a child where the good guys didn't win and everyone died. It was my first experience with the reality of war

[@glennwisniewski9536]

Now I'm intrigued. What's your favorite?

[@kevinkasp]

I had my 20 year old son watch this about three years ago. It had a profound effect on him. The commitment to civilization and the rule of law, honor, codes, and futility of your life's work which could be destroyed in an instant. In the end all you have is how you conducted yourself.

[@help4343]

The bridge was blown up so they did win

[@megshells]

commenting because i’d love to hear what your fav movie is

[@SonOfSalop]

My English teacher gave me this book to read knowing I would enjoy it/engage with it, before I'd ever seen the film. I went to give the book back fuming because of how it ended. Very well written

[@christopherwhite1648]

I saw this movie with my family at the drive-in when I was 12. My dad told me the story of the POWs and how horrible the Japanese treated them. It was going to be a "date night" but they decided to take me. It was one of my earliest memories of feeling intense love and admiration for my mom and dad for allowing me to see the movie. Watching the movie once a year or so and it brings back fond memories of my parents.

[@McPh1741]

Not just a classic, a great classic. William Holden was in another great war classic a few year prior to this called "Stalag 17" and it's worth watching if you find the time.

[@candacemay7187]

Thank you, Cassie, for bringing back memories of my Dad!! He was a bomber pilot in WWII and this movie was played constantly in my house when I was growing up! He passed 10 years ago and I miss him dearly, but this movie brought a smile to me. Thanks again!

[@ernestitoe]

The name Alec Guinness seemed to ring a bell for you. I wondered if you would realize he was Obi-Wan Kenobi, when you saw him and heard his voice. True, he looked much different 20 years younger and in a British uniform. He was in the 1948 movie Kind Hearts and Coronets, playing 8 roles. It's a twisted comedy about a man who wants to inherit a dukedom, and there are 8 family members ahead of him, so he plots to kill them all. The Great Escape was made in 1963. This movie was made in 1957. The Great Escape was set in Europe, where the enemy -- the Germans -- didn't treat captured soldiers too badly. The Japanese considered surrender the worst kind of cowardice, which they thought gave them a license to be cruel. Colonel Saito seemed as if he could have been a decent man if he weren't a commanding officer in a war, and from a warrior culture of shame and obedience. You kept saying you didn't understand, but in fact you understood perfectly.

[@michaeldmcgee4499]

There is a book,"The Railway Man" which sheds light on the experience of the British slave laborers who worked on that railroad. It was later made into a movie starring Colin Firth. It is heartbreaking.

[@LashLeRoux.1]

Nicholson became a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, where the captive identifies with the captor. Japanese prison camps were brutal places. My father was a veteran of WWII. He had a friend, also a veteran, who survived the Bataan Death March followed by five years in a Japanese POW camp. He didn't talk much about his experiences other than to say that the march and the camp were both Hell on Earth.

[@etherealtb6021]

I wish they'd had mental health treatment for me so why through things like that then.

[@chrisnielsen9885]

@@etherealtb6021huh?

[@Tuning3434]

Not wanting to be 'that guy' but 3.5 years. Bataan surrendered in April 9, 1942 and the war was over in August 1945. Probably enough hardship to feel like a lifetime though.

[@blueeyedcowboy8291]

My father loved this movie, and I remember him showing it to me as a kid, in the 80's and liking it. One of the first "old" movies I ever saw and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

[@bigbow62]

The Train (1964) Burt Lancaster An amazing film with the French Resistance making it tough for the Germans who have taken control of a local train yard... Burt Lancaster does his own stunt work in this film ! Well worth a watch and a film you won't forget

[@stupidsmart-phone6911]

Finally, someone other than me suggesting that one! 🙂 John Frankenheimer was one of the great directors.

[@farmerbill6855]

I agree, that is a good film.

[@alanflor703]

I was thinking of this one while reading the other comments.

[@CosmicTaco333]

The actor who played Colonel Saito was Sessue Hayakawa. Hayakawa was a leading man in Hollywood movies in the early 1920s. He was considered a heartthrob in his films.

[@dainradical]

Good choice of films! "Bridge on the River Kwai " is one of David Lean's best films, equal, if not greater, to "Lawrence of Arabia". I'm looking forward to seeing your reactions to other classic films from the past. There are so many to see!

[@phila3884]

Lawrence is more "epic", but Bridge is the better film.

[@CEngelbrecht]

*"What have I done?"* is one of the best ufcking lines in cinema history.

[@robertcoet2566]

Sorry I see a ring on your finger in another video?🥹

[@RyanUptonInnovator]

This film is about motivation. Fear is a poor motivator. If you use fear, people will often die rather than help you. If you use love, then people will die to help you. This is what the film is about. They make a joke about it in Star Wars when a droid has a bad motivator.

[@MrEngel333]

Cassie, now that you have seen "The Bridge on the River Kwai", you need to see David Lean's other films with "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago". All of those films are incredible as well, and Alec Guinness also appears in "Lawrence of Arabia".

[@BubbaCoop]

Guinness was also in David Lean's two Charles Dickens adaptations and A Passage to India

[@marks3750]

He is also in Doctor Zhivago.

[@phila3884]

@@BubbaCoop "A Passage to India" is such a great film. As a David Lean fan, I discovered it in the 90s, and even though it is not based on a true story, it for me is the end of the "classic" era for such films.

[@roberthasse7862]

Note that both "Kwai" and Lawrence of Arabia make the same point: In order to be a great Anglo-Saxon officer, you need to be insane!

[@AndyHarrisGoogle]

That ending! Still works even today!

[@fozziebear5624]

I recommend several other war classics: "The Dirty Dozen" (1967, an excellent adventure-war drama with some humorous elements), "Where Eagles Dare" (1968, spy-war), "Kelly's Heroes" (1970, war with many elements humorous). Regards :)

[@allynvannoy4743]

The grave yards along the rail line in Thailand have lots of markers of British and Australian soldiers that died building the railroad and its bridges. But also, lots of Dutch soldiers that were captured in The Netherlands East Indies.

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

It is said there is a name to every sleeper on that railway of the workers that died in its construction.

[@Tuning3434]

Worst thing is that the 17000 POW died in this construction pale to the amount of civilian lives lost. An estimated 80000 to 100000 civilians, most abducted Tamirs, Malays and Chinese civilians from Malaysia.

[@deckofcards87]

The last 20 minutes of this movie are captivating! David Lean is widely regarded as one of cinema's greatest film directors: His most acclaimed movies are "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) And "Great Expectations" (1946). I also personally love "Brief Encounter" and his rom com "Blithe Spirit."

[@FrankJReynolds]

Geoffrey Horne, who played Joyce, is the last surviving actor at age 90. I saw him speak at a screening of KWAI almost 10 years ago.

[@glennwisniewski9536]

That's so cool. His predicament and ultimate fate in BOTRK always brings me to tears.

[@luislora9204]

*** I'm so glad Geoffrey Horne is still active. We met and spoke about an hour after the screening of the film at the Film Forum N.Y.,he was still teaching acting.Born to British parents in Buenos Aires Argentina.!!..Great Humble Person ...***

[@phila3884]

After this reaction, I wanted to see if he was still around, bit I was afraid to look it up. It would be cool if he was still making appearances. He had a substantial role among these giants of cinema. I was sad to hear the last surviving member of the Casablanca cast, Madeline Lebeau died 6 years ago.

[@SeanHendy]

Interesting when the Colonel reminisces about his 28 years in the Army. My Dad joined at 16 and retired at 55, a career spanning 39 years that took him to Malaya, Singapore, Brunei, Guyana, Malawi, Germany, Hong Kong, Cyprus and the UK, from what I can remember. I've no doubt forgotten a few others.

[@phila3884]

Finally!! This is my *favorite* movie of all time. I'm joining at the end. It influenced Spiellberg and Lucas a lot. The next mandatory watch is "Lawrence of Arabia". Another thinking cap "war" movie. With some of the same stars as this one.

[@framergod69]

also a great movie

[@stretch4872]

When I hear Nicholson trying to bolster the men's spirit, I can't help but hear that same voice decades later inspiring Luke to reach out with his feelings and connect with "the force". RIP Obi-Wan.

[@kaijohnson5033]

Hadn’t seen this film before but immediately knew it was Guinness when I heard his voice. Sounded exactly like Obi Wan.

[@fallenhero3130]

Alec Guinness is my favorite actor of all time and this is his best performance. He's also great in KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS (1949). I would love to see Cassie react to that.

[@pauloles2475]

Absolutely!!! Kind Hearts & Coronets is one of the best dark comedies of all-time!!!!

[@JayM409]

I love that movie. Alex Guinness plays eight characters. Also the Lavender Hill Mob.

[@joannerichards1750]

My favorite Alec Guinness character is George Smiley, British intelligence officer, from the 1979 BBC miniseries 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' adapted from John Le Carre's novel.

[@michaeldmcgee4499]

One of my favorite Guinness movies is "Damn the Defiant" with Dirk Bogarde and Anthony Quayle.

[@kernowarty]

The Lavender Hill Mob

[@philshorten3221]

Iconic! If you want another iconic British Military movie based on actual events "Zulu" is possibly the greatest British Military movie ever made!

[@joebombero1]

I just watched Zulu last week! Time to watch it again! Good suggestion, but I fear she will never see it.

[@kyleshockley1573]

One of the best cinematic representations of not being able to see the forest through the trees.

[@basilrug]

Hi Cassie… i’ve been watching your reactions for quite a while, and I’ve been loving every minute of it! It’s refreshing to see somebody genuinely seeing these movies for the first time and seeing their reaction. I’m 72, my father Max Cooper was an Australian World War II veteran who was captured in Singapore by the Japanese, and spent 3 1/2 years behind bars and in prison camps. He helped build the Burma Thailand railway as slave labor for the Japanese. His treatment along with all the others was an abomination of course, of 2000 men that were with him only 250 were alive after 3 1/2 years. beatings, starvation and tropical diseases killed most of them. The Japanese would not give them the food or Red Cross supplies that were sent to them. When general MacArthur of the USA launched an invasion to take back Singapore, the Japanese high command ordered all prisoners to be killed and for the Japanese to head north back to Japan for what was to be the last stand…as the allied forces closed in on the Japanese. Hundreds of thousands of young men from both sides were expected to die My father’s number was up as the Japanese were following orders to the letter, at that precise moment the first atomic bomb went off in Hiroshima, the Japanese were bewildered and in disarray, and when the second bomb was dropped they finally surrendered. As tragic as the devastation those atomic bombs created the paradox is I would not be here, nor would my daughter if they were not dropped. My father survived the war, came back, went back to work at the bank, had 40 years of terrible health and then eventually passed away at 86. This is why those people are referred to as the greatest generation, I cannot imagine anyone going through this in these modern times. Thanks for listening love your channel!

[@brettfromla4055]

1949’s 12 O’Clock High has been described as one of the best films regarding the pressures of being in the Army Air Corps during World War II. It stars Gregory Peck and I think it would be an excellent film to react to before seeing the upcoming Steven Spielberg series Masters of the Air.

[@MrEnvirocat]

It's still required viewing for all USAF Officer candidates.

[@kimleechristensen2679]

Another WW2 classic movie about the Airwar is "Battle of Britian" Its uniqueness is the large quantity of actual aircraft used from the time period. 😊😊😊

[@PeteSmoot]

Yes, absolutely. An absolutely fantastic movie.

[@PeteSmoot]

And if you want a much lighter hearted WWII movie, Kelly's Heroes.

[@thecountofmontecristo2796]

Great film

[@BenjWarrant]

I love that final aerial shot, with James Donald walking back towards the wreckage of the bridge. Can I also say that I admire the director for inserting the shot of the sweet little Thai girl's face when Joyce is shot by the Japanese.

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

Joyce was shot by Jack Hawkins' character.

[@tomsmith7742]

On my Top Ten list. Absolutely magnificent achievement- and the big explosion and crash at the end are REAL-NO special effects. Had anything gone wrong with that shoot, it could have ruined the entire movie. David Lean also directed Lawrence of Arabia, with another real train wreck. He commanded this production like a great general.

[@timothyjohnson4890]

Absolute tour-de-force by the greatest actors of that time, with one of the greatest directors at the helm. The answers to your questions, yes, they all went mad. The ending is not "satisfying" but essential in understanding war's true nature. I can't express how happy I was to see you do this incredible film. If you haven't seen "Lawrence Of Arabia" by all means do so. Also, for William Holden at his snarkiest, try "The Horse Soldiers" with him and John Wayne. Great fun seeing their interactions. As always, spot-on job!

[@donhyslop8173]

This is one of my all time favourite movies. Hope you enjoy it. Alex Guiness is great in his role.

[@tayloranderson254]

I LOVE this movie! An absolute classic, I’m so happy that you reacted to it. As a 90s kid I’m probably one of the few who do this but I watch this movie once every couple years. It’s just timeless. And I love the bittersweet ending.

[@FrancisXLord]

One of my late step-father's favourite movies, we watched it many times together. This won 7 Oscars, including Best Actor for Alec Guinness (Obi Wan himself, don't tell me you didn't recognise him), Best Film and Best Director for David Lean. David Lean won also Best Director for Lawrence of Arabia in 1963 - which you should also check out. The man was nominated (including those he won) for 11 Oscars in his career - for writing and editing on top of directing. A multi-skilled filmmaker and one of Steven Spielberg's biggest inspirations.

[@fiddiehacked]

In the early films, it's sometimes easier to recognize Sir Alec's voice.

[@airgunfun4248]

What a shame Alec stooped to that trash role in that trash movie(Martians or whatever) for children.

[@blacbraun]

@@airgunfun4248 Don't feed the Trolls.

[@nostrebornod]

People remember Alec Guinness mostly as a dramatic actor, but he was the lead in 1949's "Kind Hearts and Coronets" where he plays a man who begins to murder his relative in succession so as to inherit the title of Duke. It's a pretty good classic comedy

[@Manu-rb6eo]

Alec Guinness was tired to be remembered Just for Obi wan, I heard in a documentary about him he didn't even read the letters from fans who mentioned Obi-Wan.....I loved star wars but I can understand him, he worked hard his whole life.....not just for one role.....

[@barryd1671]

Guinness starred in several subtle comedies from Ealing Studios in the period 1949-58. Not to be missed are classics such as The Lavender Hill Mob, The Man in the White Suit, The Lady Killers, The Captain's Paradise, Last Holiday.

[@SeanHendy]

This and the film 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence' I think are the two most impactful films that cover WWII in the far east. As a veteran, and with Remembrance having just taken place, there were commemorations that took place in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, where this film is set, and where there is a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery where many of those that didn't survive the War, are laid to rest. My Grandfather landed on the beaches at Normandy on D Day, and took part in the liberation of Belgium. Sadly he passed in 1991, but his whole life he refused to buy anything that was Japanese, as he said he could never forgive how his friends were treated in the War.

[@kendavis5853]

I love the fact that back in the day how do you film that last scene? Well, you build a bridge over the river and valley, you lay railroad track on it, you blow up same bridge and you run an actual train off it. BOOM! You put as many cameras at as many angles as you can because you’re only going to get one shot. Awesome. People’s lives were on the line when they’d make movies back then. Hostess kept saying she was confused and I kept saying “exactly.” Guinness has this very telling scene where he’s reminiscing with commandant about his life. He drops his staff in the river. (symbol of his authority and leadership?) Then he turns to commandant and says, “I must be off.” Yes, you are. I love the symbolism of that scene. I also love the spell out for audience what the movie is about with final word spoken, “Madness!” Needless to say, I’m a fan.

[@angel-brace]

Yes! David Lean! It's just a tiny hop skip and a jump to 'Lawrence of Arabia', 'Dr Zhivago' and a 'Passage to India', with Alec Guiness in all four movies (this one included) 😀

[@gradymoore696]

My Granddad loved this movie, even though at the end he would say Hollywood can't get anything right. He went to Burma in 1944 as part of the 124th Cavalry Special. After Merrill's Marauders evacuated they went in to finish clearing the Ledo and Burma Roads. PBS did a documentary on them too called The Last Horse Soldiers, because it was their job to clear the roads and get all the supplies, packed on mules, from India to China. He didn't talk much about it, but some of the stories he told me before he died turned my stomach.

[@airgunfun4248]

A much under appreciated theater of that war S.E. Asia

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

@@airgunfun4248 Forgotten army

[@themoviedealers]

I will always remember this film. First because of its heart rending content, and ultimate triumph of the human spirit. I saw it on television when local TV stations used to show movies in the afternoon for 90 minutes, but it was so long they had to chop it up over several days. Also, I was nine years old, but I was hospitalized and in a lot of pain. So I felt like I was suffering along with the characters in the movie. It always really gets to me ever since.

[@franciscogarza2304]

Hey Cassie, Good Job reacting to "The Bridge on the River Kwai", The guy who played Shears the U.S Navy Commander was played by William Holden, You should check out his Oscar nominated performance as Joe Gillis a screenwriter from Sunset Boulevard (1950)

[@neilcreek]

The Japanese, as a whole, were absolutely brutal to their prisoners of war. Images of their prisoners, including those that worked on the Burma Railway show the men looking like skeletons with skin. One of my Dad's uncles was captured and imprisoned in southeast Asia, and was executed by the Japanese. He was forced to drink petrol, and then they ignited him. The portrayal of the men in the camp in this movie was far from typical.

[@TheWRYYYYYYY]

Modern thrillers could learn so much about building unbearable tension from this classic! Also, this is based on a novel written by Pierre Boulle, who also wrote Planet of the Apes, imagine that :D

[@santino001vileno9]

Thank you for your reaction to this classic! To answer your question: Yes, the story is true. I, while in the service, was able to visit the River Kwai (a Kwai is the Thai name for a water buffalo). I walked j=knee deep into the river, while it was low and gave my respects to the British soldiers who were buried in a cemetery above the river. There is a bridge over the river but a newer one of cement and iron, not far from the one the British soldiers built. That part of the river is actually in Western Thailand, not far from the border. This is simply a great movie. Thanks again...TC

[@brain8484]

this movie is complete fiction . you need to learn history and not by watching action movies .

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

The reality is far more depressing and brutal than anyone could show even now, let alone in 1957.

[@Lone-wolf-1982]

This film is definitely a world war 2 classic. Saw this when I was a kid in the 80s and couldn't believe Obi-Wan was "siding" with the enemy. Of course it portrays quite well the excess of pride and duty to point of it becoming hubris. The British officer class has always seemed to have that problem. Sir Alec Guinness gives a fantastic performance. Sessue Hayakawa (he also stars in Disney's Swiss Family Robinson as the pirate captain) perfectly portrayed the cruelty of the Japanese during WW2. Another well made movie, and true story about the Japanese POW camps is "Unbroken". William Holden was a superstar celebrity back when this movie came out. "Escape From Fort Bravo" was one of his that I like.

[@potterj09]

My father passed in 2001. This is one of those movies we watched more than once together. Others include Von Ryan's Express, A Bridge Too Far, The Dirty Dozen (my personal favorite) and Escape From New York.

[@redentortiongco5686]

Cassie how about taking a peak at these movies.."The Longest Day"..."A Bridge too Far"..."Battle of the Bulge"..."Patton"...have a nice day.

[@frzstat]

This might be Cassie's best reaction yet. Galaxy Quest was my favorite, because it's one of my favorite movies, but River Kwai makes you think about important subjects. Another great movie she should consider is In the Heat of the Night 1967, with Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger (and Quentin Dean!) Heavy subject matter for 1967. If Cassie reacts to another TV series I would love her to consider Hill Street Blues Season 1. HSB was a ground breaking TV series that lead to series like The Sopranos and The Wire.

[@ehkika7]

"In The Heat Of The Night" is my all-time favourite. Rod Steiger was excellent as was Sidney Potier.

[@frzstat]

@@ehkika7 it's definitely on my top 10 list of favorites. Steiger and Poitier are amazing in it, but all the performances are top notch. It's a masterpiece.

[@igloo2158]

I’d love to her react to The Wire.

[@ParkerAllen2]

This is one of my favorite David Lean movies. He made another great one called Great Expectations, my favorite movie adaptation of a Charles Dickens novel. These two movies have something interesting in common: a main character (Colonel Nichols, Miss Havisham), who realizes just before they die that they've made a huge mistake, and both of them say the exact same line: "What have I done?"

[@lewisner]

I know its just a movie but I'm British and this kind of demonstrates what it used to mean to be British. The scene where Saito cries because Nicholson has beaten him fills me with joy. Another movie you would love with William Holden (Shears) is "Stalag 17".

[@beauxguss6321]

For years I thought of Kwai as a Guiness film. It wasn't until one day I was thinking about my favorite war movies and I got to thinking that the top 2 were both POW movies... and then the realization that William Holden was the star of both absolutely blew my mind.

[@lewisner]

@@beauxguss6321 "Sprechen sie deutsch ?" lol.

[@insomnaholic]

I remember watching this movie on a recommendation from a friend back in the late 90s. I was surprised at the nuance and depth given to the characters. I'm not a fan of war movies, but I loved this one.

[@SailorAllan]

I guess this was first shown on TV in 1966 ( I was 14) and was blown away by it. loved it ever since. great reaction PIB.

[@jaquesshugossen9398]

This is a very wonderful classic, great cast, script even cinematogography. It does tell an actual event, however, it's not entirely historically accurate, according to many of the survivors of the RailRoad and The Bridge. It did get a lot of backlash from them, but that been said, it's a great film and well worth Classic Status. A Thorough enjoyment to behold 🙂 Bring Pop Corn!

[@bugvswindshield]

One of my all time favorite movies, not just war movies. Great Cast , story, directing.....everything!

[@tizzy789]

Of all the classic films released in 1939 the lead actor in 1939 Good Bye Mr Chips won Academy Award for Best Actor Robert Donat... 1939 the greatest year of film releases ever!!!

[@thunderstruck5484]

Remember seeing at the theater in the 60s when they used to rerelease movies in theaters, great great classic! William Holden always played a perfect antihero role, thanks for sharing your reaction!

[@jag985]

I am so glad you got to watch that! One of my top five. To help you wrap your mind around it, it was made to depict the "madness" of war (as the doctor says at the end). Did a good job, don't you think? Director David Lean made three of the greatest movies ever made, that one and "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Dr Zhivago." You should watch those.

[@kevinkasp]

And Alec Guiness stars in each one of them.

[@frederf3227]

The commandant's speech inducting the prisoners at 4:00 should be very reminiscent of the speech inducting Kirk and Spock to the work camp in Star Trek The Undiscovered Country. I'm sure that was on purpose.

[@davidwilburn4734]

The British commander Alec Guinness played the original Obi Wan that trained Luke Skywalker.

[@ronsavage6491]

William Holden has an extensive filmography that includes Sunset Boulevard and The Towering Inferno, but my favorite role was when he played himself in an episode of I Love Lucy. This was Jeffery Horne's (Joyce) first movie. His last was Big Daddy, in which he played Sid, the old guy with the five-year plan. Pierre Boulle, who wrote the novel The Bridge Over the River Kwai, also wrote Planet of the Apes.

[@jonathang9705]

The title of the novel was "The Bridge Over the River Kwai", they changed it to "On the River" for the movie. For my money the finest film ever made, the acting and cinematography were superb. 8 Oscars, ranked #13 on AFI's top 100 films. Classic war movie suggestions-"To Hell and Back", Audie Murphy stars as himself as the most decorated American soldier in WW2, "Pork Chop Hill" about the last battle of the Korean War, "Battleground", about the 101st at the battle of Bastogne, made right after the war with a number of returning vets starring and involved in the film.

[@fantasycamp4000]

Battleground I would say is the most accurate depiction of events from that era of filmaking. Good suggestion!

[@peesua]

This was based on real events of the Death Railway in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Many P.O.W's died due to the horrific conditions. My grandfather was there and was one of the lucky ones who got to return home. My grandfather was 6'2'' tall and my dad told me he was about 7 stone (98 lbs) when he returned and had ribs sticking out so far he looked very much like the prisoners in Nazi concentration camps.

[@jamessweet5341]

The Japanese were just as bad about feeding their own troops. As many died from starvation and disease as were killed in battle.

[@TheBTG88]

That monologue Guinness has about the value of his life is so deep and meaningful.

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

This is such an excellent film, thank you for doing a reaction to this Cassie. Col Nichols got so caught up in the accomplishment and achievement of him and his men he lost sight of his job as a soldier for a time by the time he realised it cost people their lives, this is the problem you can so wrapped up in something that it becomes an obsession he lost sight of things.

[@RealRonSwanson]

This is a true classic. And, yes. Kelly's Heroes is soooo great. One of my favorites and chock full of stars from the era when it was made...including Uncle Leo from Seinfeld!

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

This was my late fathers favorite movie I always smile thinking of it.

[@waltmoryn48]

What a "Gem' I saw this movie 1957 as a 9 yr old and at least 60 times since. Wonderful Cinematography!! Multiple Academy Award Winner. Many Thanks for Posting such a Classic.

[@marleybob3157]

#7 on my all-time movie list. Thanks for finally getting to it. You've now reacted to seven of my top ten all-time movies. All you are missing are "Sullivan's Travels", "Wag The Dog" and "Purple Rose of Cairo". I hope you eventually get to all of these masterpieces.

[@bandini22221]

Thank you for giving this classic a look. I remember seeing it at the drive-in when I was a kid. I've noticed that the old films don't get much attention from today's KZbin reaction videos.