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The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

TV_PG 161 min  -  Adventure | Drama | History  -   14 December 1957 (USA)
8.4
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Ratings: 8.4/10 from 79,979 users  
Reviews: 234 user | 100 critic

After settling his differences with a Japanese PoW camp commander, a British colonel co-operates to oversee his men's construction of a railway bridge for their captors - while oblivious to a plan by the Allies to destroy it.

Director:

David Lean

Writer:

Pierre Boulle (novel), and 2 more credits »
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The Bridge on the River Kwai -- After settling his differences with a Japanese PoW camp commander, a British colonel co-operates to oversee his men's construction of a railway bridge for their captors - while oblivious to a plan by the Allies to destroy it. The Bridge on the River Kwai -- Clip: What have I done The Bridge on the River Kwai -- Clip: A reasonable type
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Holden ...
Alec Guinness ...
Jack Hawkins Jack Hawkins ...
Sessue Hayakawa ...
James Donald James Donald ...
Geoffrey Horne ...
André Morell André Morell ...
Col. Green (as Andre Morell)
Peter Williams Peter Williams ...
John Boxer John Boxer ...
Maj. Hughes
Percy Herbert Percy Herbert ...
Harold Goodwin Harold Goodwin ...
Ann Sears Ann Sears ...
Heihachirô Ôkawa Heihachirô Ôkawa ...
Capt. Kanematsu (as Henry Okawa)
Keiichirô Katsumoto Keiichirô Katsumoto ...
Lt. Miura (as K. Katsumoto)
M.R.B. Chakrabandhu M.R.B. Chakrabandhu ...
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Storyline

The film deals with the situation of British prisoners of war during World War II who are ordered to build a bridge to accommodate the Burma-Siam railway. Their instinct is to sabotage the bridge but, under the leadership of Colonel Nicholson, they are persuaded that the bridge should be constructed as a symbol of British morale, spirit and dignity in adverse circumstances. At first, the prisoners admire Nicholson when he bravely endures torture rather than compromise his principles for the benefit of the Japanese commandant Saito. He is an honorable but arrogant man, who is slowly revealed to be a deluded obsessive. He convinces himself that the bridge is a monument to British character, but actually is a monument to himself, and his insistence on its construction becomes a subtle form of collaboration with the enemy. Unknown to him, the Allies have sent a mission into the jungle, led by Warden and an American, Shears, to blow up the bridge. Written by alfiehitchie  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Bridge | Japanese | Jungle | River | Torture  | See more »

Taglines:

It spans a whole new world of entertainment!

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | War

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild war violence (re-rating) (1991) See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Japanese | Thai

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

El puente sobre el río Kwai See more »

Filming Locations:

Ambepussa, Sri Lanka See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$33,300,000 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (RCA Sound Recording) | Mono (35 mm prints) (RCA Sound Recording) | 4-Track Stereo (Linear PCM)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Ian Watts, longtime professor of English at Stanford, and author of the landmark "The Rise of the Novel", was a prisoner in the camp, helped with the construction of the bridge, and served as an advisor during the making of the film. See more »

Goofs

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): At the first officers' meeting, Col Nicholson says Jennings name right, then he says it as Jenning. See more »

Quotes

Colonel Saito: All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.
See more »

Crazy Credits

and introducing
Geoffrey Horne See more »

Connections

Referenced in Short Circuit (1986) See more »

Soundtracks

"Radio Dance Music"
(uncredited)
Music by Dave Shand See more »