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IMDbPro

The Bridge on the River Kwai

  • 19571957
  • PGPG
  • 2h 41m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
223K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,152
953
Alec Guinness, William Holden, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, and Ann Sears in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
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.
Play trailer3:07
4 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureDramaWar
British POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid t... Read allBritish POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid through the jungle to destroy it.British POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid through the jungle to destroy it.
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
223K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,152
953
    • David Lean
    • Pierre Boulle(novel "Le pont de la rivière Kwaï")
    • Carl Foreman(screenplay)
    • Michael Wilson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • William Holden
    • Alec Guinness
    • Jack Hawkins
    • David Lean
    • Pierre Boulle(novel "Le pont de la rivière Kwaï")
    • Carl Foreman(screenplay)
    • Michael Wilson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • William Holden
    • Alec Guinness
    • Jack Hawkins
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 380User reviews
    • 112Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #166
    • Won 7 Oscars

    Videos4

    The Bridge on the River Kwai -- Trailer
    Trailer 3:07
    Watch The Bridge on the River Kwai -- Trailer
    Unsung Asian American Pacific Islander Heroes of Film History
    Clip 5:25
    Watch Unsung Asian American Pacific Islander Heroes of Film History
    The Bridge On The River Kwai
    Clip 1:17
    Watch The Bridge On The River Kwai
    The Bridge On The River Kwai
    Clip 1:55
    Watch The Bridge On The River Kwai

    Photos113

    William Holden in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
    Alec Guinness in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
    Alec Guinness, William Holden, and Jack Hawkins in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
    Alec Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
    Alec Guinness in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
    Alec Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
    "Bridge On The River Kwai, The" William Holden 1957 Columbia
    Jack Hawkins and Percy Herbert in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
    Alec Guinness, William Holden, Jack Hawkins, and Sessue Hayakawa in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
    Alec Guinness, William Holden, and Jack Hawkins in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
    Alec Guinness and William Holden in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
    The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Holden
    William Holden
    • Shears
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • Colonel Nicholson
    Jack Hawkins
    Jack Hawkins
    • Major Warden
    Sessue Hayakawa
    Sessue Hayakawa
    • Colonel Saito
    James Donald
    James Donald
    • Major Clipton
    Geoffrey Horne
    Geoffrey Horne
    • Lieutenant Joyce
    André Morell
    André Morell
    • Colonel Green
    • (as Andre Morell)
    Peter Williams
    • Captain Reeves
    John Boxer
    • Major Hughes
    Percy Herbert
    Percy Herbert
    • Grogan
    Harold Goodwin
    Harold Goodwin
    • Baker
    Ann Sears
    Ann Sears
    • Nurse
    Heihachirô Ôkawa
    • Captain Kanematsu
    • (as Henry Okawa)
    Keiichirô Katsumoto
    • Lieutenant Miura
    • (as Keiichiro Katsumoto, K. Katsumoto)
    M.R.B. Chakrabandhu
    • Yai
    Vilaiwan Seeboonreaung
    • Siamese Girl
    Ngamta Suphaphongs
    • Siamese Girl
    Javanart Punynchoti
    • Siamese Girl
      • David Lean
      • Pierre Boulle(novel "Le pont de la rivière Kwaï")
      • Carl Foreman(screenplay) (originally uncredited)
      • Michael Wilson(screenplay) (originally uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At one point during filming, director Sir David Lean nearly drowned when he was swept away by a river current. Actor Geoffrey Horne saved his life.
    • Goofs
      Japan was not a signatory of the Geneva Conventions until 1953, therefore there was no expectation by Allied prisoners of being treated in accordance with them. In fact, the Japanese treatment of prisoners led to the review and update of the conventions in 1949.
    • Quotes

      Colonel Nicholson: What have I done?

    • Crazy credits
      And introducing Geoffrey Horne
    • Alternate versions
      Various versions have different main credits. There is the original that gives screenplay credit to Pierre Boulle, there is the restored version in which previously blacklisted Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson are credited and there is the original version that was distributed to cinemas at the time still lacking in CinemaScope equipment in which the Cinema Scope credit is omitted and the credits formatted to fit the smaller frame.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Geisha Boy (1958)
    • Soundtracks
      Colonel Bogey March
      (1914) (uncredited)

      Music by Kenneth Alford

      Arranged by Malcolm Arnold

      Whistlers trained by John Scott

      Whistled by Alec Guinness with British Prisoners of War

    User reviews380

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A movie about madness
    I have watched this movie several times and it is just getting better and better all the time. Why? Because this movie actually has a message built-in, this isn't a violent story, like "Saving Private Ryan" - also a good movie with a message - but it is still not a slow story.

    When I last saw it, I realised that there was something in the movie that I had never understood, this isn't a movie about war, torture or how it was to be a prisoner of war; this is a movie about madness and pride. The pride shows both in Saiko and Colonel Nicholson, they are so full of it that it is almost impossible for them to come to a civil-conclusion with the problems they have with each other. The madness is shown in Colonel Nicholson and Holden's character - here they are, two prisoners of war and they don't want to help each other out, instead they try to reach separate goals, and they are both willing to die for it.

    After you have watched this movie one is amazed by the performances made by Alec Guinness and William Holden and I must say that this is therefore one of the best War/Drama movies ever made My vote? 9 out of 10 naturally.
    helpful•93
    19
    • Haplo-4
    • Feb 22, 1999

    FAQ8

    • What is 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' about?
    • Is 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' based on a book?
    • Is the movie based on a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1958 (Canada)
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • English
      • Japanese
      • Thai
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Ambepussa, Sri Lanka
    • Production company
      • Horizon Pictures (II)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 41 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Atmos

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    Alec Guinness, William Holden, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, and Ann Sears in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
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