The movie was based on a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson. The short story was later published as a novel in 1939. The characters and setting are based on people from New England. The original short story was written for the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai. The characters and setting are based on people from New England. The original short story was written for the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai. The characters and setting are based on people from New England. The original short story was written for