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The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
8.4
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 |
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161 min - 
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Top 250 #95
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Won 7 Oscars.
Another
24 wins
&
5 nominations
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| William Holden | ... | ||
| Alec Guinness | ... | ||
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Jack Hawkins | ... | |
| Sessue Hayakawa | ... | ||
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James Donald | ... | |
| Geoffrey Horne | ... | ||
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André Morell | ... |
Col. Green
(as Andre Morell)
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Peter Williams | ... | |
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John Boxer | ... |
Maj. Hughes
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Percy Herbert | ... | |
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Harold Goodwin | ... | |
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Ann Sears | ... | |
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Heihachirô Ôkawa | ... |
Capt. Kanematsu
(as Henry Okawa)
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Keiichirô Katsumoto | ... |
Lt. Miura
(as K. Katsumoto)
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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 SynopsisTaglines:
It spans a whole new world of entertainment!Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG for mild war violence (re-rating) (1991) See all certifications »Parents Guide:
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Details
Release Date:
(USA) See more »Also Known As:
El puente sobre el río Kwai See more »Box Office
Budget:
$3,000,000 (estimated)Gross:
$33,300,000 (USA)Company Credits
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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
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Colonel Nicholson: You're a fine doctor, Clipton, but you've a lot to learn about the army.
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(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the British Prisoners of War after Nicholson is put in the oven See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
It was Jack Hawkins' suggestion that the film be shot in Ceylon, rather than Burma. See more »Goofs
Crew or equipment visible: During the first two formations in front of Col Saito's office, the sun is behind the men, yet we can see some shadows in their foreground, caused by the movie lights behind or to the sides of the cameras. See more »Quotes
[Major Clipton has given up arguing with Colonel Nicholson that building the bridge could be viewed as collaboration with the enemy]Colonel Nicholson: You're a fine doctor, Clipton, but you've a lot to learn about the army.
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Soundtracks
"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the British Prisoners of War after Nicholson is put in the oven See more »
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