thumb|right |Movie poster for The Bridge on the River Kwai After World War II, the song (and the debate about Hitler's monorchism) remained in common parlance. Its use in David Lean's 1957 film The Bridge on the River Kwai led to the Mitch Miller band recording a best-selling version under the title "The River Kwai March". In Lean's early conception of the film, Allied soldiers in a Japanese prison camp would sing the song as an act of defiance. But after the widow of the composer of "Colonel Bogey March" objected to the bawdy lyrics, Lean decided that if the soldiers simply whistled the tune the audience would supply the lyrics mentally. Since then the song has been the subject of numerous cultural references, both comedic and controversial.
thUmb|Right |moViE pOstEr fOr The bridge on the RIVer kwAI AfTEr world war ii tHE SoNG (and the Debate ABOut hitLer's MonoRChIsm) rEMaineD in cOmmON parlAncE iTs use IN davID leAn's 1957 fiLm the bridgE on the rivEr KwAI lEd tO The mitCh mIller bANd recOrdInG a BESt-sEllIng veRsIoN uNder tHe tiTlE "ThE river kwai march" IN Lean's early ConcEPtion Of The fIlm aLlied soldIerS in A JAPaNeSe Prison caMP Would siNg the Song as aN aCt OF deFiancE buT After the wIdow of THE compOser Of "ColoNEL boGey MArcH" oBJeCTeD to THe baWdy lyrics leaN deCIded that if The solDIErs SimplY wHisTleD The tuNe the aUdiEnce WouLd SuppLY the lyRiCs menTally since thEN the song has been The sUbJect OF numeRous cuLturAl ReferENces both coMedic aND contrOveRsiAl