i have have this film in my collection for a number of year and sit down last night to watch it for the first time i should have leave it on the shelf . the plot be obvious and the theme of british colonial buffoonery and repression be overdone and unrealistic . the performance of dr azziz which switch from his hand wring subservience to proud but embittered nationalist be just totally unrealistic . but the bad be the totally miscast performance of alec guinness a a indian professor it be comical in the bad possible way and he would have be more at home in a benny hill episode . any indian person watch this film must feel insult at this completely inept portrayal and be easily his bad performance . however and the casting manager must take the blame when there be so many good indian actor hopelessly underutilized in the film . i have read many of the other review and have to agree that this be not one of david lean best and the academy must have either be drunk or high when they make their oscar nomination . if you like well shot scenery and this be for you and otherwise avoid .