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 a jungle war of survival, they learned sacrifice. In a prison of brutal confinement, they found true freedom.

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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 film's dedication during the closing credits is to Captain Ernest 'Ernie' Gordon who is played by Ciarán McMenamin in the film. The dedication states that the film is made In Memory of Ernest Gordon, 31 May 1916 - 16 January 2002.

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Goofs

Lt. Jim Reardon or "Yanker" as he is referred to in the film, would not have been in a wheelchair in the camp. The truth is, his back was too severely broken for him to be transported anywhere. He spent the rest of the time in camp bed-ridden. He appeared in a wheelchair in the film simply for camera flow.

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Quotes

Ernest Gordon: How I miss Scotland and the sea. The sea. There's nothing like it in all the earth. Salt in your face, the wind at your back, and all the world before you, and you're freer than a bird in the air or a fish in the ocean. To be free - I reckon that's why I joined the second war to end all wars. I was at the university studying to be a teacher when the call to arms occurred. I was only too eager to put aside my studies for the glory of action. I stopped reading history and became a part of it.

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Soundtracks

LA NA CRUINNE (END OF TIME)
Written and Performed by Maire Brennan

User Reviews

powerful story

In a Japanese POW camp, a Scottish band of soldiers learns about a very different culture - the hard way. They also learn from the more refined and educated among them the meaning of serving each other and their enemies, to the point of self-sacrifice.

The film begins rather slowly (and overly-sentimental) but becomes an incredible story with great acting and characters, powerful philosophy and imagery. Many gripping moments of self-realization, facing reality and appreciation for life and death. The depth of relationships, self-sacrifice and lessons learned leaves the audience with a lot to process. Overall, very inspiring and well-made.