David Lean’s 1957 blockbuster 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' epitomized the post-war trend of massive, location-based epics. To film the climax, the production built an actual, full-scale wooden bridge in the jungles of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and then blew it up with a real train crossing it. This was one of the most expensive practical stunts in history at the time ($250,000 for that shot alone). The film grossed $30 million (a huge sum for the 50s) and won 7 Oscars. It proved that 'authenticity'—actually going to exotic locations and building real sets—was a major draw for audiences who were tired of studio-bound films.