The instruction ends up in disaster - twice - when the curious boy pulls (and then accidentally moves) a lever that activates the paddle wheel." Norton""s major intention is to ruthlessly stimulate circulation.Attempting to save her job on her last day because she supports both her mother and two younger sisters, the normally-tame and subdued columnist spitefully writes a fiery last column as a publicity stunt.This under-appreciated and semi-obscure film must be examined carefully o decipher its subtexts regarding idealism, heroism, cowardice, disillusionment, and pragmatic and intelligent fortitude against degradation and corruption.One of a number of Allied POW""s, the senior British officer Toosey was in charge of his men from late 1942 hrough May 1943 when they were ordered to build two Kwai River bridges in Burma (first a temporary one made of wood completed in February 1943 and a permanent one of steel/concrete completed a few months later), to help move Japanese supplies and troops from Bangkok to Rangoon.