# "Pearls Before Swine"-12/20/2014: Is "Bridge on the River Kwai" Now Obscure? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787 "2014-12-21T01:27:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/1 "2014-12-21T01:27:13Z")
[This](http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine) is the “Pearls Before Swine” for December 20, 2014. I get the impression that someone at Pastis’ syndicate must’ve told him a “Bridge on the River Kwai” reference would be lost on readers and that conversation made its way into today’s strip. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/2 "2014-12-21T01:45:08Z")
The only knowledge I have of Bridge Over the River Kwai is that they whistle the “Hitler has only got one ball” song at some point. And I’m pretty sure I got that from the Simpsons homaging it. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/3 "2014-12-21T01:52:29Z")
Its not obscure to those who love movies. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/4 "2014-12-21T01:59:44Z")
The movie was one of those epics that would be shown on TV once or twice a year as a special event – like The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind, Mary Poppins and the seasonal classics like Ten Commandments and The Sound of Music. Those days are long past and now its just another TCM presentation during “Seven Days of Oscar” or Alec Guiness Night. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/5 "2014-12-21T02:16:39Z")
I know there is such a movie, but the only thing I could tell you about it is that there’s a bridge. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/6 "2014-12-21T03:25:37Z")
Seems like there’s an age cut-off effect. Us older farts know the movie well, and love it dearly. (Anyone for Guinness is “Tunes of Glory?” A lesser work, but a stunning performance.) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/7 "2014-12-21T03:28:18Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > I know there is such a movie, but the only thing I could tell you about it is that there’s a bridge. Surely you know that it spans the River Kwai? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/8 "2014-12-21T03:29:58Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The only knowledge I have of Bridge Over the River Kwai is that they whistle the “Hitler has only got one ball” song at some point. Colonel Bogey March. I vaguely know the plot and have seen parts of it but don’t think I’ve watched it from start to finish. > [@](#): > > And I’m pretty sure I got that from the Simpsons homaging it. “Lisa, her teeth are big and green. Lisa, she smells like gasoline. Lisa, da-da-da-deesa. She is my sister. Her birthday, I missed-a!” Via the [Comet song](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_%28song%29) I guess, but that reference **does** go over my head. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/9 "2014-12-21T03:59:41Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Seems like there’s an age cut-off effect. Us older farts know the movie well, and love it dearly. > > (Anyone for Guinness is “Tunes of Glory?” A lesser work, but a stunning performance.) I liked “Kind Hearts and Coronets” ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/10 "2014-12-21T04:47:56Z")
I love BOTRK. Any movie with William Holden is, of course, awesome. And it has one of my favorite bits of dialogue in any movie: Colonel Green: You were an accountant in Montreal? Lieutenant Joyce: Yes, sir. Uh, not really an accountant, sir. That is, I didn’t have my charter. Colonel Green: Exactly what did you do? Lieutenant Joyce: Well, sir, I just checked columns and columns of figures which three or four people had checked before me, and then there were other people who checked them after I had checked them. Colonel Green: Sounds a frightful bore. Lieutenant Joyce: Sir, it was a frightful bore. That describes about 2/3 of my career. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/11 "2014-12-21T05:39:47Z")
It really shouldn’t surprise me that it’s becoming obscure, but it didn’t actually occur to me that it might have. It’s a great film, and one I just assume nearly everyone has seen. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/12 "2014-12-21T05:59:24Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I liked “Kind Hearts and Coronets” Since we’re off on Alec Guinness, I loved his bit part as the Pope in _Brother Sun, Sister Moon_. I didn’t see it until after _Star Wars_ and _Empire Strikes Back_, so as he’s sharing the benefit of his wisdom with young Francis of Assisi, I half expected him to slip in something about not getting seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/13 "2014-12-21T06:29:30Z")
Oddly fantastic movie. Incredible cinematography, over the top hammy acting all around, epic story, in technical terms one of the best movies ever made, but now a relic. WWII films were an entire genre and this one was exceptional but I can see the lack of appeal to modern audiences. There’s a modern style special effects conclusion, but for well over 2 hours it’s a movie based on dialogue and a psychological analysis of the conditions of a prison camp in Burma. Much too heady for the audience today. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/14 "2014-12-21T14:29:15Z")
I’m 60, consider myself reasonably knowledgeable about movies, have never seen it, and don’t really know what it’s about. Did know “Colonel Bogey’s March” was associated with it, though. So – \*men \*of a certain age, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/15 "2014-12-21T14:52:31Z")
My daughter is nearly 30 and I’m pretty sure she has no idea what it is, unless she happens to remember her dad watching it on TV. I’ve seen much of it, but I don’t think I’ve ever watching it start to finish. However, I did find the comic strip worth a giggle. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/16 "2014-12-21T14:54:04Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > I know there is such a movie, but the only thing I could tell you about it is that there’s a bridge. This and it’s some kind of war movie. Never seen it. 39. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/17 "2014-12-21T15:08:01Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I’m 60, consider myself reasonably knowledgeable about movies, have never seen it, and don’t really know what it’s about. > > Did know “Colonel Bogey’s March” was associated with it, though. > > So – \*men \*of a certain age, perhaps? You know exactly how old I am. I know all about the movie, having seen it several times. Know a lot of Allied veterans who were there hate it, as it distorts history so much. And the guy who wrote the book the movie was based on also wrote the book _Planet of the Apes_. Pierre Boule, a Frenchman. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/18 "2014-12-21T15:58:37Z")
I’m 31 abd I’ve seen the movie half a dozen times. My wife is 30 and she’s never heard of it. Of course she’s never watched Miracle on 34th stree or Its a Wonderful Life either so she may be farther behind on classics then most people. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/19 "2014-12-21T16:06:25Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > [This](http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine) is the “Pearls Before Swine” for December 20, 2014. No, [this is](http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2014/12/20). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787/20 "2014-12-21T16:08:32Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > So – \*men \*of a certain age, perhaps? I’ve tried watching it three times, and was bored out of my skull. It’s just not my type of film. The last time, I got about a third into it. I know the Colonel Bogey March, that’s all. I’m 69. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearls-before-swine-12-20-2014-is-bridge-on-the-river-kwai-now-obscure/707787.md?page=2)