However, two major concessions and changes from the novel had to be made: (1) stockade Sgt.Fatso""s sadistic brutality against Maggio had to be interpreted as atypical of Army behavior, and (2) the fate of Capt.She""ll ask you, you wait and see." With teasing sexual lines and other innuendoes, the physically-attractive, black swim-suited Elsa baits Michael and plays games with him - with a smoky voice.The camp inhabitants are building one link in the infamous Bangkok-Rangoon "death railway."A newly arrived regiment of defeated British POWs is marched into the camp from the Southeast Asian Burmese/Siamese jungle - it is 1943.Having chosen a misguided film director as the main character of his own film, many critics have generally assumed that he film had a personal, introspective, autobiographical slant, with Sturges arguing for and affirming the production of light comedies (to lift viewers"" spirits) while providing commentary upon serious ""message"" films.