Oh, I'm dying for a cup of tea.
-Would you care for one? -No, thanks.
-A drink? -No, thank you.
-Pot of tea for one, please, Peter. -Very good, sir.
Do you read this?
I taught Oriental languages at Cambridge before the war.
I never congratulated you on your escape. Good show!
If your sea rescue plane hadn't spotted me, I wouldn't be here.
No, I suppose not.
Would you like to see where you were?
All right.
Our information's scanty. It's based on your report.
We think the camp's here.
Do your people have any idea what happened to Col. Nicholson?
He had guts. They were about to shoot him and he didn't bat an eye.
If you're about to be shot there's not much you can do.
Here is the river Kwai, and here's the village where you were helped.
Here is the railway.
You must be fairly familiar with this area.
No, I was out of my head half the time.
The railway starts down here in Singapore. Malaya...
...Bangkok, Rangoon. Their idea is to drive on through, into India.
-Where was I picked up? -Oh, about here.
The Japanese aim to open the Bangkok- Rangoon section by the middle of May.
We'll try to prevent them.
It's too far for bombers to carry a load.
We'll have to go smash it on the ground.
-How? -Parachute drop, then march.
With demolition equipment through that jungle?
Our chief problem is lack of firsthand knowledge.
You see, none of us have ever been there.
-I don't want to discourage-- -It should be interesting.
Col. Green's given me the Kwai bridge. I'm taking a team in to blow it up.
Lucky you.
Sure you won't have tea?
No, thanks. I don't want to be rude, but I've got a date at 2.
-If there are any questions.... -Of course, l'm sorry.
Well, there is only one question, actually.
How would you feel about going back?
Come again?
Under the circumstances it's a bit much...
...but you have a unique knowledge for our purpose.
We'd love to have you with us.
That's why you brought me here?
To ask me this?
Well, frankly, yes.
I just got out of there.
My escape was a miracle. Now you want me to go back! Ridiculous!
This is embarrassing--
l don't belong to you. l belong to the American Navy.
Actually, Col. Green has taken the matter up with your people.
-With my people? -Your Navy's turned you over to us.
A signal arrived yesterday morning from the Pacific...
...authorizing your temporary transfer of duty to Force 316.
-They can't do this! -I'm afraid they have.
it was hard to break it to you.
But they can't do this to me. I mean it. My Navy's made a mistake!
Look. I'm not a Navy commander. I'm not even an officer.
Look. l'm not a Navy commander. l'm not even an officer.
The whole thing's a fake. I'm just an ordinary swab jockey, second class.
When the Houston sunk, I made it ashore with a real commander.
We ran into a Japanese patrol. He was killed.
I figured it was just a matter of time till I--
So you changed uniforms with a dead man.
I thought officers would get better treatment in prison camps.
But with Saito, the officers worked along with the rest.
There's always the unexpected, isn't there?
I kind of got used to being a commander...
...so when I arrived at the hospital...
...I took a look at the enlisted men's ward and then the officer's ward...
...and I said to myself, '' Let's let it ride along for a while.''
There were certain advantages.
I saw one of them on the beach.
That's the whole story.
The point is, you can't use me. You want an officer...
...an American Commander Shears who doesn't exist.
When the Navy learns the truth, they'll say:
''Ship him home for impersonating an officer.''
-Once that happens, I've got it made. -Got it what?
Made! I'd like that drink now.
I'll apply for a medical discharge.
I'll say I impersonated an officer because I went crazy in the jungle.
I'm getting worse. Sometimes I think l'm Admiral Halsey.
It's quite a clever plan.
Not only clever, it's foolproof.
If my Navy finds out who I am...
...those orders won't be worth the paper they're written on.
Isn't this your photograph?
-Where did you get this? -It took some doing...
...since your people couldn't identify you.
Finally your C-in-C Pacific sent us a copy of your service record.
The photograph, fingerprints. Would you care to have a look?
You see, we've known about your actual rank for nearly a week.
Your Navy's in an awkward position.
In one sense you're a hero...
...for making an escape from the jungle.
At the same time, they can't bring you home...
...and give you the Navy Cross for impersonating an officer.
I suppose that's why they were happy to hand you over.
You see?
Hot potato.
As far as your rank is concerned...
...we're fairly informal about that in Force 316.
You'd have the simulated rank of major.
A simulated major. That figures.
Well....
As long as l'm hooked, I might as well volunteer.
Good show!
Oh, Colonel Green, sir.
This is Major Shears. He volunteered to go and help me blow up the bridge.
Really?
Good show!
Jolly good show, major!
Get up to sick bay. This foot's infected.
Colonel might think I'm malingering.
I'm the medical officer. Get cracking!
Will someone tell me why he wants to build a proper bridge?
Don't worry about old Nick. He knows what he's doing.
Hello, Clipton. About time you paid us a visit.
Fine job our chaps are doing.
Yes. How's he behaving?
He's been most reasonable since we took over.
-What's he thinking? -I haven't the foggiest.
-Thanks, Reeves. -Right, sir.
What do you think?
Quite a challenge, isn't it?
Are you convinced that building this bridge is a good idea?
-Are you serious? -Yes, sir.
A good idea? Take another look.
You don't agree morale is high? Discipline has been restored?
Their condition has improved?
Are they a happier lot or aren't they?
They feed better and they are no longer abused.
Honestly, Clipton, there are times when I don't understand you at all.
I'll try to make myself clear.
The fact is, what we're doing could be construed as...
...forgive me, sir, collaboration with the enemy.
Perhaps even treason.
We're prisoners of war. We haven't the right to refuse to work.
I understand that, sir. But must we work so well?
Must we do better than they could themselves?
If you had to operate on Saito, would you do your best or let him die?
Would you prefer we disintegrate in idleness?
Or have it said we can't do a proper job?
It's important to show them they can't break us in body or in spirit.
Take a good look, Clipton.
One day the war will be over.
I hope that those who use the bridge in years to come...
...will remember how it was built, and who built it.
Not a gang of slaves, but soldiers. British soldiers, even in captivity.
-Yes, sir. -You're a fine doctor...
...but you've a lot to learn about the army.
Hold him! Hold him!
Use your boot! Get your boot in there, will you?
Good morning!
What on earth are you people staring at?
Get him with your boot!
I'm sorry l'm late, sir.
Four minutes, to be exact. You were in need of medical attention?
-Sir? -I was referring to the nurse.
Very ingenious. Warden was right.
Sit down.
I asked you here to help us pick the fourth member of your team.
-Ask Mr. Joyce to come in. -Yes, sir.
Chapman wants Joyce, but I have my doubts.
He has too much imagination as distinct from cold calculation.
I've told you...
...in this job, even when it's finished there's always one more thing to do.
He's the best swimmer in the school.
I'm well aware of your evaluation. The opinion I want is Shears'.
All right, at ease.
These men are thinking of taking you for a hike in the jungle.
Yes, sir.
You were an accountant in Montreal?
Yes, sir. Not really an accountant.
That is, I didn't have my charter.
Exactly what did you do?
Well, sir, I just checked columns and columns of figures...
...which people had checked before me...
...and other people checked them after I had checked them.
-Sounds a frightful bore. -Sir, it was a bore.
How did you wind up here?
ln '39 I came over to London to enlist. Later I volunteered for this work.
-You volunteered! -Yes, sir. See, the regular Army--
Go ahead, you can be frank.
Well, the regular Army reminded me of my job in civilian life.
They don't expect you to think.
Think about this.
Are you sure you'd be able to use it in cold blood?
I know how to use it.
That's not what I meant. Could you use it in cold blood?
Could you kill without hesitation?
That's a question I've asked myself. It's worried me quite a bit.
And what was the answer?
I don't honestly know, sir.
I've tried to imagine myself....
I suppose I find it hard to kid myself that killing isn't a crime.
It's an old army problem.
Well, I think that's all. Thank you, Joyce.
Am I to go with the team?
We'll let you know.
You see what I mean.
Well, at least he was honest.
None of us ever know the answer to that question until the moment arises.
What's your opinion, Shears?
Well, he's Canadian.
That fits with the international composition of this outfit.
If he wants to go, he can take my place!
Well, if you're all agreed on Joyce, he's yours.
I had an air reconnaissance report on the village.
There's enough clearing to make your jump at dusk.
-You've had parachute training? -No, sir.
Blast! This is awkward.
Silly, it never occurred to me!
Well, maybe--
He's right. Arrange some practice jumps for him.
I'll go check right away.
-All right, Chapman, you can run along. -Yes, sir.
Well, feel like a sniff of air?
Yes, sir.
You don't realize what a plum you are.
Your knowledge of the area, making friends in that village.
lt's almost as if your whole escape had been planned with us in mind.
By the way, here's something that'll interest you. The new '' L'' pill.
-L pill? -L for lethal. lnstant, painless.
Much better than the old ones. For capture, of course.
You're telling me not to be taken alive.
I wouldn't recommend it.
lf any of you get hurt or wounded the others will have to leave him behind.
The objective comes first in our work.
You want my honest evaluation? I didn't want to say in front of them.
I understand, go ahead.
Well, Chapman will be fine. lce water in his veins.
Joyce is.... He'll be okay.
-It's Warden I don't get. -Oh? Why not?
Cambridge don and all of that.
It's one thing to play with explosives like a kid with firecrackers--
He's not without experience, you know.
When Singapore fell, he stayed behind to blow up a couple of bridges.
Many other installations before the Japs caught him.
-Fascinating story. He-- -Sir, it's most annoying.
In view of time, they don't think practice jumps would be worth it.
The consensus is, the most sensible thing for Shears to do...
...is to go ahead and jump and hope for the best.
With or without parachute?
Oh, very good!
With or without!
He's in the trees!
Yai says we can't reach the Kwai your way.
There are too many Japanese patrols. We'll swing north through heavy jungle.
-Then who's going to lead? -Yai.
He hates the Japanese. They took all his men.
Which means we shall have to use women bearers.
-Women bearers! -They're capable.
He says it's dangerous to spend the night here.
There's an enemy post three miles away so we'll have to sleep in the jungle.
-What about Chapman? -Yai will bury him and his chute.
Is there something wrong?
I was just thinking. You speak Yai's language. I don't.
He's going to lead you to the river by a route I never took.
Will someone tell me why l'm so indispensable to this outfit?
I know how you feel, but there's always the unexpected, isn't there?
Tell that to Chapman.
Let's get cracking!
You're lovely.
Lovely.
Be happy in your work!
Yes, sir.
Leeches.
She's telling you to hold still. She'll take the leeches off your back.
What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?
I'll teach you to say that in Siamese.
No, that would spoil it. Too much talk always spoils it.
What's wrong with that thing?
It's taken an awful beating. I can't get a strong signal.
I'll tell you. It's wet, mildewed! Like everything else in this jungle.
You might as well dump it!
This is Radio Tokyo signing off.
This is your friendliest enemy reminding you to take it easy...
...and never volunteer for anything.
If we stay, we'll be up to our necks.
-I've got it all decoded, sir. -Read it!
Yes, sir. ''One, original bridge works reported abandoned.
New construction downstream from first site.
Two, enemy intends to open railway with passage of special train...
...Bangkok for Rangoon with troops and V.l.P.
Estimated to arrive target, a.m. 13th.
Three, synchronize demolition with passage of train.
Four, good hunting. Have fun.'' That's all.
A train and a bridge!
Can we get there in time, sir?
Yai says we're two to three days away.
If we set a faster pace, we could make it before sundown on the 1 2th.
It's worth it for the train.
Oh, by all means. Good hunting. Good show.
Jolly good fun. Jolly good.
If you hadn't fixed the radio, we wouldn't know about the train.
There's always the unexpected, isn't there?
-Half a pint, sir. -Quinine.
Well, we'll complete this later.
-Clipton, we're facing a crisis. -Yes, sir?
I spoke with Reeves and Hughes. We can't finish the bridge on time.
We haven't the manpower.
I've asked the officers to help, but that won't do it.
The officers are working?
l explained the situation and they volunteered, but it's not enough.
Why not ask Saito for some men?
This is ours. We'll make the most of our resources.
That's why I came to talk to you. The sick list.
There's not a man in this hospital who doesn't belong there.
It's no reflection on you, but there are always a few malingerers.
Keep an open mind, that's all I ask.
Come along, let's see.
Don't move, don't move.
What's wrong with Haskins?
Amoebic dysentery and black water fever. Temperature of 104.
Right. I see.
And this man?
Leg ulcers. I may be able to save it if I do more cutting tonight.
Want to send him out to work?
Don't talk rot, Clipton.
That man there?
His arm's infected.
Most of their wounds won't heal properly.
I wonder if fresh air and light duties might do more than being cooped up.
-Light duties? -lt's not our policy to keep a man...
-...just because he scratched his arm. -Not our policy?
A man may not be on top of his form, but he can still be useful.
Trimmings and finishing jobs. Stand easy, Baker.
Do you feel up to doing a little light work on the bridge?
-Anything you say, sir. -Good show.
You? Nothing difficult.
-I'll try, sir. -Good man.
Look here, men. It goes without saying that l'm proud of all of you.
But we're facing a crisis. For those of you who feel up to it...
...how about lending us a hand? Fetch and carry, paint here and there?
What do you say?
-Yes, sir. -Good show. Come on, follow me.
Ten minutes.
Make sure they're all dead.
Come on, Joyce.
Use your knife or we'll be shooting each other.
Go that way, Joyce.
I could have done it. I was ready.
Are you hit, sir?
Let's go.
It's superficial. Maybe a chipped bone, but nothing broken.
-It's my fault, sir. -Oh, shut up.
I can walk on it. That's all that counts.
Yeah, but how far and how fast?
We won't know that till I've tried it, will we?
What are you doing?
I didn't give orders for a halt.
We all need it.
We're still five hours' fast march from the objective.
Maybe six.
Come on.
If you keep walking, you'll bleed to death.
-You're going to leave me here. -If you stop, we stop.
You can't study the layout of the bridge after dark.
You've got to get there before sundown.
But, sir, when the job's done, who knows if we can return by this route...
...or whether we could find you if we did?
If you were me, I wouldn't hesitate to leave you and you know that.
He doesn't know, but I do.
You'd leave your own mother here if the rules called for it.
You'll go on without me. That's an order.
You're in command now, Shears.
I won't obey that order.
Your heroics make me sick.
You carry the stench of death like the plague.
Explosives and L-pills go well together.
It's one thing or the other. Destroy a bridge or destroy yourself.
This is just a game, this war.
You and that Colonel Nicholson. You're crazy with courage. For what?
How to die like a gentleman, how to die by the rules...
...when the only important thing is how to live like a human being!
I'm not gonna leave you here to die, Warden...
...because I don't care about your bridge or about your rules.
If we go on, we go on together.
Good old Yai.
All right.
Come on.
Let's get closer.
Still sorry we brought you along?
-Feeling better? -Yeah.
You're in command again, you know.
Thank you, major.
l can't understand it. lt's such a solid, well-designed job.
Not like the bridges the enemy usually throws together.
Look.
Those poor devils down there.
Imagine being forced to build that in the condition they must be in.
They've got a British officer working on his knees.
The Japanese seem to be enjoying it too.
If he knew we were here, it might boost his morale.
If not for the train, we could set a time fuse and be miles away.
Since we don't know what time it'll cross tomorrow...
...we'll have to do the job manually.
We'll set the charges against the piles...
...about three feet underwater, l should think...
...and run the main wire downstream to the plunger.
The problem is where to hide it.
Our side of the river is obviously used by the Japanese.
They'd spot it at once.
Look. Do you see those fallen tree trunks?
And the grey rock just below them on that little beach?
-Yes, sir, I see them. -That's our key position.
The wrong side of the river...
...but it's the only hiding place within feasible distance.
As soon as the bridge goes up...
...whoever's there will have to swim back.
lt won't be a pleasant swim.
Sir, I was the best swimmer in my course.
lt looks like your line of country, then.
Thank you.
Shears, pick a spot on our side of the bank where you can cover Joyce.
Yai will be with you so you can occupy the Nips...
...if they make trouble for Joyce.
On the theory that there's always one more thing...
...I'll set up the mortar here to create an additional diversion.
Perhaps I might even take a few potshots at the train.
All clear?
Any questions? Right, you'll start as soon as it's dark.
They're sure to have sentries on the bridge...
...so you'll have to float the stuff down from upriver...
...which means building a raft.
Yai.
Yai will take three women to help you.
One will stay here with me. All right, get cracking!
You know, if it wasn't for my ankle, I'd take Joyce's assignment.
You think he'll be all right?
I think so. Want me to handle it?
I'd let you stay up here with the mortar if I could.
I'm sorry.
When it's over, I hope you get that medical discharge...
...and not the hard way.
Thanks.
Load.
Beautiful.
Yes, beautiful.
A first-rate job.
l had no idea it would turn out so well.
Yes, a beautiful creation.
I've been thinking....
Tomorrow it will be 28 years to the day that I've been in the service.
Twenty-eight years in peace and war.
I haven't been at home more than ten months in all that time.
Still, it's been a good life.
I love lndia.
I wouldn't have had it any other way.
But there are times....
Suddenly you realize you are nearer the end than the beginning.
And you wonder....
You ask yourself...
...what the sum total of your life represents...
...what difference your being there at any time made to anything...
...or if it made any difference at all, really.
Particularly in comparison with other men's careers.
I don't know if that kind of thinking's healthy...
...but I must admit I've had some thoughts on those lines...
...from time to time.
But tonight....
Tonight....
Blast.
I must be off.
The men are preparing some sort of entertainment.
Lovely.
lf you were the only
Girl in the world
And you were the only boy
Nothing else would matter
In the world today
We could go on loving
In the same old way
A Garden of Eden just made for two
I'm sure I speak for all of us...
...when I say this has been a most enjoyable evening.
Most of you move on tomorrow to a new camp and new construction.
It's a pity you won't see the first practical use of this bridge.
You'll be glad to know that the completion...
...of this link in the railway...
...will enable us to transport the sick and disabled...
...to the new camp by train.
Colonel Saito has kindly permitted me to stay behind...
...with Major Clipton and the sick men...
...and we'll rejoin you in a few days' time.
Now that your work here is finished...
...I suppose many of you feel somewhat let down.
That's quite understandable.
It's a very natural reaction.
But one day, in a week, a month, a year...
...on that day when, God willing, we all return to our homes again...
...you're going to feel very proud of what you've achieved here...
...in the face of great adversity.
What you have done should be...
...and I think will be...
...an example to all our countrymen, soldier and civilian alike.
You have survived with honour.
That, and more.
Here in the wilderness...
...you have turned defeat into victory.
I congratulate you.
Well done.
To the king.
You're in business.
Now, you got everything? Stem, ammunition, pack, canteen, knife.
I'll be directly across the river.
The professor says there's always one more thing to do.
I can't think of what it could be.
Except to wish you a long and happy life.
Thank you.
What's happened?
The river's gone down.
You can see the wire.
The charges!
Don't wait for the train.
Do it now!
If Saito is correct, the train will arrive in 5 or 1 0 minutes.
If you don't mind, I'll watch from up on the hill.
Why? It's better from the bridge.
It's hard to explain, sir. I'd rather not be a part of it.
As you please. Honestly, sometimes l don't understand you at all.
As you once said, sir, I've got a lot to learn about the army.
Good morning.
River's gone down in the night.
What's he doing?
Colonel, there's something rather odd going on.
I think we better have a look around before that train comes across.
He's gone mad.
He's leading him right to it!
Our own man!
I was right. There is something going on.
You've got to do it, boy! You've got to do it now!
Have you a knife? I just realized the bridge has been mined!
Mined!
Good boy!
British officer! Here to blow up the bridge.
-Blow up the bridge! -Yes, sir. British commando orders.
-Blow up the bridge?! -Yes. There's no time!
No, no! Help!
Kill him! Kill him!
Let me go, sir! You don't understand!
Kill him! Kill him!
Kill him, Joyce!
You!
What have I done?
Madness!
I had to do it!
I had to do it. They might have been captured alive!
It was the only thing to do!
Madness!