To End All Wars (2001)

A true story about four Allied POWs who endure harsh treatment from their Japanese captors during World War II while being forced to build a railroad through the Burmese jungle. Ultimately ... See full summary »

Director:

David L. Cunningham

Writers:

Ernest Gordon (book), Brian Godawa (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Carlyle, Kiefer Sutherland, Ciarán McMenamin

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ciarán McMenamin	...	Capt. Ernest 'Ernie' Gordon
Robert Carlyle	...	Maj. Ian Campbell
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Lt. Jim 'Yankee' Reardon
Mark Strong	...	Dusty Miller
Yûgo Sasô	...	Takashi Nagase
Sakae Kimura	...	Sgt. Ito
James Cosmo	...	Lt. Col. Stuart McLean
Masayuki Yui	...	Capt. Noguchi
John Gregg	...	Camp Doctor Coates
Shû Nakajima	...	Nagatomo (as Shu Nakajima)
Greg Ellis	...	Sgt. Roger Primrose
Pip Torrens	...	Lt. Foxworth
James McCarthy	...	Norman
Brendan Cowell	...	Wallace Hamilton
Winton Nicholson	...	Duncan

Storyline

A true story about four Allied POWs who endure harsh treatment from their Japanese captors during World War II while being forced to build a railroad through the Burmese jungle. Ultimately they find true freedom by forgiving their enemies. Based on the true story of Ernest Gordon.

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Plot Keywords:

japanese prison camp | jungle | escape | tarsau burma | railway of death | 

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Taglines:

In war, you have to survive

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for war-related violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

2 September 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Última das Guerras

Filming Locations:

Kaua'i, Hawaii, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Argyll Film Partners, Gummshoe Productions, Integrity Partners

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min 110 min (TV) 110 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The opening prologue states: "The following account is based on actual events during World War II, when 61,000 Allied POWs were forced to build the Thailand-Burma Railway."

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Goofs

The Japanese commander's vehicle is a Willys M38 Jeep, while it's possible that the Japanese used captured vehicles, this type was first produced in 1950.

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Quotes

Lt. Jim Reardon: Colonel, I've been watching these Nips. There's never more than a handful of 'em guarding the perimeter at any given time. And they're not watching very closely. It just doesn't make sense to me unless...
McLean: Unless what?
Dr. Coates: Well, unless every prisoner's been caught or died in a thousand miles of hostile jungle. Unless the local villagers are willing to turn in a POW for a bowl of rice. Unless - escape is impossible.

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Soundtracks

YANKEE DOODLE BOY
By George M. Cohan

User Reviews

A Profound film

"To End all Wars": Starring Robert Carlyle ("Go Now"), Keifer Sutherland, and MANY talented men. As the film began, it felt like a cousin to "Bridge on the River Kwai", but the plot slowly morphed to an even MORE complex set of ethical issues, with divisions not seen in that great 1950's film. I see this new one as more related to the movie "Andersonville" - our own true American tragedy of a P.O.W. camp during the Civil War - and what THAT experience demanded of those interned. "To End all Wars" is certainly an anti-war film, and a true story, but looks at many individuals for the complexity of dealing with the horror...and offers bits of consolation...where it can be found. Its elegant ending reminded me of "Schindler's List". "To End all Wars" deserves to be considered a PROFOUND film.