The Bridge on the River Kwai Quotes

Colonel Green : Good show! Jolly good show, Major!

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Colonel Green : As I've told you before, in a job like yours, even when it's finished, there's always one more thing to do.

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Colonel Nicholson : Queer bird... even for an American.

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Maj. Warden : I belong to a rather rum group called Force 316. Our headquarters is up in the botanical gardens.
Commander Shears : Protecting rare plants from the enemy?

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Maj. Warden : [ to Col. Green ] Sir, it's most annoying. They say, in view of the time element, they don't think a few practice jumps would be worthwhile.
Major Shears : No?
Maj. Warden : No, they say if you make one jump, you've only got 50% chance of injury, two jumps, 80%, and three jumps, you're bound to catch a packet. The consensus of opinion is that the most sensible thing for Major Shears to do is to go ahead and jump, and hope for the best.
Major Shears : With or without a parachute?

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Commander Shears : [ referring to Col. Saito, who had a machine gun brought up to threaten Col. Nicholson and his officers ] He's going to do it, believe me, he's really going to do it!

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Commander Shears : I'm getting worse, you know. Sometimes I think I'm Admiral Halsey.

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Colonel Nicholson : Now, there's another important decision that can't be postponed. As most of the British soldiers will be working on the bridge, only a small number will be available for railway work. So, I must ask you, Colonel Saito, to lend us some of your own men to reinforce the railway gang, so that the final stretch of track can be completed as quickly as possible.
Colonel Saito : I have already given the order.
Colonel Nicholson : We must fix the daily work quota for your men. At first I thought of setting it at a yard and a half, so as not to overtire them, but don't you think it would be best if we make it the same as the British soldiers? That would also create a healthy competitive spirit.
Colonel Saito : I have already given the order.

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Maj. Warden : [ lowering binoculars ] Kill him... Kill him!
Major Shears : [ screaming ] KILL HIM! KILL HIM!

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Nurse at Ceylon hospital : [ both characters are on the beach, discussing the evening's plans ] You're going to stand me up, aren't you?
Major Shears : You couldn't be further from the truth!

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Colonel Saito : You are defeated but you have no shame. You are stubborn but you have no pride. You endure but you have no courage.

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Colonel Nicholson : [ Recognizing Shears ] You?
Major Shears : [ Lunging at Nicholson ] You!

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Lieutenant Joyce : I'm sorry, Sir. I thought you were the enemy.
Commander Shears : Well, I'm an American, if that's what you mean.

Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai