The bridge over the river Kwai

            During our last years in school before entering the Medical College in 1960, two films which later won international awards, were filmed by British film companies in Ceylon. These two were ‘The Bridge over the river Kwai’ and ‘Elephant walk’. I saw both of them in the cinemas of Ceylon during our medical student days and enjoyed seeing them immensely.

The Bridge over the river Kwai was a story, about building a bridge over the river Kwai, by British prisoners of war, during the Second World War. The Japanese army of occupation during the Second World War, wanted this bridge built. It was a story about loyalties, courage and pride in a job done. David Lean directed this film, which was shot partly near the Kithulgala Rest House, Ceylon. A bridge was built by the Ceylon Army Engineers and a narrow gauge Kelani Valley Locomotive and carriages, were driven over the bridge to be blasted away by explosives, placed strategically under the bridge. This realistic scene, was filmed by camera crews, located in safe strategic spots. The chief actor in this film was Alec Guinness who got various awards for his acting and later got a knighthood. My friend Somadasa Kongahawita told me, how the sound recordists, working on the above film, wanted the cry of the large egrets, found in plenty on the paddy fields, recorded on tape, to be dubbed onto the film. They offered Rs.25/- for each egret brought to them. The salary of a government clerical servant, was only Rs80/- those days. Quickly a thriving industry of catching egrets from the paddy fields in Kitulgala, overwhelmed the demand for egrets. The cry of these egrets, were duly recorded and dubbed realistically, into the appropriate scenes, in the film.One of the Burgher Engine drivers, hired to drive the locomotive related, how he acquired the heavy number plate, of the blown up locomotive. He had loosened the heavy nuts holding the number plates on the engine, before the destined drive over the bridge. He was instructed to start the engine moving, jump out of it and take cover. The locomotive carried on over the bridge, with dummy engine drivers in place. As soon as the explosion was over and the debris thrown into the air settled down, he was the first man to jump into the swirling waters of the river, to successfully retrieve the number plate. He had it as a souvenir and conversation piece, in his living room in later years. 

Bridge over the river Kwai

1. https://youtu.be/cayfWrlWgII

2. https://youtu.be/dzWRlTgEB5Q

3. https://youtu.be/kM6uU9CWjAI?t=4
4. https://youtu.be/uW-DahcNQv8