The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Peter Williams: Captain Reeves

Quotes 

• Major Reeves : By the way, sir, I meant to tell you, there are trees in this forest very similar to elm. And the elm piles of London Bridge lasted six hundred years.

  Colonel Nicholson : Six hundred years, Reeves?

  Major Reeves : Yes, sir.

  Colonel Nicholson : Six hundred years... That would be quite something.

• Colonel Nicholson : Reeves, if this were your bridge, how would you get it underway?

  Major Reeves : Get it underway, sir? Well, first of all, I wouldn't build it here.

  Colonel Nicholson : Oh? Why not?

  Major Reeves : As I was trying to tell you a while ago, sir, the Japanese couldn't have picked a worse location. There's no bottom. You see those piles? They're sinking. Our chaps could drive those piles 'til doomsday and they wouldn't hold.

  Colonel Nicholson : *Where* would you build it?

  Major Reeves : [pointing]  Why, further downstream, sir. Across those narrows. Then we'd have solid bedrock on both banks.

• Colonel Nicholson : Hughes, if this were your bridge, how would you use the men?

  Major Hughes : [chuckles]  Well, sir, not the way they're doing it. It's utter chaos, as you can see at a glance. It's a lot of uncoordinated activity; no teamwork. Some of those parties are actually working against each other.

  Colonel Nicholson : Yes... I tell you, gentlemen, we have a problem on our hands. Thanks to the Japanese, we now command a rabble. There's no order, no discipline. Our task is to rebuild the battalion.

  Major Reeves : Yes, sir.

  Colonel Nicholson : It isn't going to be easy, but fortunately we have the means at hand: The bridge.

  Major Hughes : "The bridge," sir?

  Colonel Nicholson : The bridge. We can teach these barbarians a lesson in Western methods and efficiency that will put them to shame. We'll show them what the British soldier is capable of doing.

  Major Hughes : Yes, I see your point, sir.

  Colonel Nicholson : I realize how difficult it's going to be in this god-forsaken place where you can't find what you need, but there's the challenge.

  Major Evans : I beg your pardon, sir. You mean you really want them to build a bridge?

  Colonel Nicholson : You're not usually so slow on the uptake, Evans. I know our men. You've got to keep them occupied. The fact is, if there weren't any work for them to do, we'd invent some, eh, Reeves?

  Major Reeves : That we would, sir.

  Colonel Nicholson : So we're lucky. But it's going to be a proper bridge. Now here again, I know the men. It's essential that they should take a pride in their job. Right, gentlemen?

  Major Hughes : [All officers in unison]  Yes, sir.

  Colonel Nicholson : Reeves, you're the key man in this situation, as engineer. Tell me what you want, and Hughes and I will organize it. What do you think? Can we make a go of it?

  Major Reeves : We'll do our best, sir.

  Colonel Nicholson : Fine. We must draw up our plans... then arrange a conference with Saito... and set him straight.