The Theme of Madness in ‘The Bridge On The River Kwai’ The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957) was the most successful war film of the 1950's. The film focuses on several battles, both an internal and external. It examines the question of where does duty and courage end and madness begin? The character of the British Colonel Nicholson, played by Alec Guiness, is, from the very start of the movie, in a battle of ethics …showed first 75 words of 1217 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1217 total…With every character being to raped up in there orders, duty and chaos of it all, they loss sight of what is really important, and matters to them. The ‘right thing’ or the noble, sane thing to do, is clouded by the characters emotions, wants, and orders. This is utter madness, and this is what I feel Clipton meant by this statement. That the characters let it all go to the point of no return.