Sir Alec Guinness was initially hesitant to portray Colonel Nicholson since he was well-known in comedies. To address this issue, Guinness attempted to infuse humor into his depiction of the Colonel. However, director Lean strongly disagreed with this approach, insisting on a serious portrayal. Watch THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI ('57) Monday (9/1) at 8p ET for FMC's Salute To Service marathon! 🇺🇸 | FMC

"But there are times,… suddenly you realise you are nearer the end than the beginning. "And you wonder, you ask yourself, what the sum total of your life represents." The Bridge on the River Kwai | Now streaming - https://bit.ly/3YHE1mu | SBS On Demand