The Film: In what was a relatively quiet decade for director David Lean his one notable effort remains this enduring war epic. Set in a Japanese prison camp during World War II, Leans interpretation of Pierre Boulles award-winning novel sees Alec Guinness in career besting form as Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson, who is tasked by Sessue Hayakawas cruel Colonel Saito (rightly Oscar-nominated for his villainous turn) to build the storys eponymous structure. After this, Lean went on to direct Lawrence Of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago, but its in this movie that his balance of scope and drama has never been bettered. Classic Moment: Apocalypse Now may have boasted of the horror but Bridge Over The River Kwais frantic ending captures the madness of a plan not coming together in a way that is unforgettable.