MovieChat Forums > The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) Discussion > The madness of Colonel Nicholson

The madness of Colonel Nicholson

posted 4 years ago by merkin64 (122)
2 replies | jump to latest

They say the heat can drive men mad. Colonel Nicholson was not raving mad, but he clearly lost his perspective. He believed that building the bridge would boost morale, and also show the superiority of the British soldier. This being the 1940s, he regarded the Japanese as racially inferior. In the process of building the bridge, he could not see that he was aiding the enemy and working against his own country.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

Yep

[–] ak47wong (578) 4 months ago

It was also a matter of personal pride for him. When the bridge is completed, Nicholson proudly puts up a commemorative plaque bearing his name. Earlier in the movie, one of the officers comments to Nicholson that there are elm trees in the forest and that the elm piles of London Bridge lasted 600 years. Nicholson fancies that the bridge will be his legacy that lasts for generations.