MovieChat Forums > The General (1927) Discussion > Did Lean get the idea for ending of 'Kwa...

Did Lean get the idea for ending of 'Kwai' from ending of General

posted 16 years ago by baileysbox
3 replies | jump to latest

Does anybody know if David Lean got the idea for the payoff shot of BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI from the finale of THE GENERAL?

[–] Chrissie 15 years ago

I've read in Keaton biographies that the answer is "Yes".

[–] cmashieldscapting 13 years ago

How about the bridge explosion in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"?

Neville Longbottom: Professor, you're actually giving us permission to do this? To blow it up? Boom?
Minerva McGonagall: Boom!

They probably both owe a good deal to Keaton and "The General." From Buster Keaton to Harry Potter, two movie magicians!

[–] JimB-4 13 years ago

I would presume Lean got the idea for the train crash in KWAI from the novel that film was based on, no?