History vs. The Movies – The Bridge on the River Kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai  Is One of the Greatest World War II Movies.

Is It Accurate?

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a masterpiece of filmmaking. The story concerns British soldiers captured by the Japanese during the Second World War, ordered to build a bridge to connect a vital railway link to help the Japanese army.

At first, the British commanding officer resisted but then decided that it would be good for his men’s morale to help build a bridge that would last forever. Meanwhile, a guerrilla team led by an American Navy man who had been held in the camp and then escaped hacked their way through a thick jungle to try and destroy the bridge.

History vs. The Movies – The Bridge on the River Kwai

A book that purported to tell the true story of the British prisoners forced to work along the Southeast Asian Railway was the basis for the screenplay. When the movie premiered, surviving members of the British POW contingent that built the actual bridge bitterly contested this story. For example, in the film, the British commander is seen as collaborating with the Japanese commanding officer and ordered that the bridge be built to the highest possible specifications. While there is no denying that this is a brilliantly acted and perfectly written film featuring magnificent cinematography, many questions remain about whether it tells the true story.

In this fast and fascinating multimedia presentation, we will compare the historical events with the cinematic portrayal. This mesmerizing story is not to be missed.

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