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The Bridge on the River Kwai

Play trailer 3:23 Poster for The Bridge on the River Kwai PG 1957 2h 41m War Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 102 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Adaptation of the Pierre Boulle novel about POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. British and American officers plot to blow up the structure, but the commander of the bridge's construction has different plans.
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The Bridge on the River Kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai

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Critics Consensus

This complex war epic asks hard questions, resists easy answers, and boasts career-defining work from star Alec Guinness and director David Lean.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 07/28/2022
The film is rather misshapen, particularly in the sections featuring William Holden, and the action that detonates the explosive finish isn't quite clear. However, Alec Guinness is compelling as the English Colonel Nicholson. Go to Full Review Richard L. Coe Washington Post 07/25/2022
This gripping tale will keep you tied to your seat thanks to the brilliant effectiveness with which Director David Lean has tied together script, casting and technical demands. Go to Full Review Helen Bower Detroit Free Press 11/17/2021
The madness of war has never been shown more graphically than in this Pierre Boulle screenplay from his own novel, set and filmed on location in Ceylon. Go to Full Review André Bazin Cahiers du Cinéma 06/15/2023
There are very few examples each year of cinematic enterprises that are carried out with such intelligence and above all with such care. But the quality of this film must ultimately be put in its artistic place, and that place is not the highest. Go to Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily 06/08/2023
One of the great, action-packed epics of the late 50s, The Bridge on the River Kwai is an exceptional case study about the hysteria of war and the pride that comes before the fall. Go to Full Review B.R. Crisler Christian Science Monitor 08/17/2022
For all of its grim setting and tragic conclusion, The Bridge on the River Kwai becomes a slyly humorous study in the limitations as well as the stoical splendors of the British “military mind." Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Netta F 07/28/2024 Excellent drama with great acting! See more Susan C. @RT24132695 Jun 6 Excellent movie, long movie but didn’t feel like it. See more lawrenceb56 T @Trexian May 12 The Alec Guinness section? Exceptional. Nuanced, psychological, and very, very intelligent. The William Holden/Jack Hawkins part? Silly beyond belief and even a bit misogynistic and a little bit racist. Doesn’t even seem like it belongs in the same film. See more Chris B @Papa13070 May 5 "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is a prisoner-of-war drama at its best, masterfully directed by David Lean. Amazing direction, and the whole approach to making this film is timeless - a study in being ahead of its time. Stunning set pieces and production design - such and effort was put into this. Fantastic cinematography, filled to the brim with pitch-perfect pans, wide-shots, and tracking-shots. Intense and dramatic score, deservedly receiving one of the total of seven Academy Awards. Brilliant cast and in particular Alec Guinness, who perfectly portrays a man of honour. Nonetheless, as a look into the historic event that took place in 1943 Burma, it is absolutely brilliant, and although the film does not carry loads of emotional moments, it is technically excellent, and greatly entertaining. One of the greatest assembled cast in movie history. Absolutely amazing. Highly recommended. See more Levi J @Lev77 May 3 Masterful, fascinating, and interesting historical "war epic" classic from the great David Lean with wonderful acting and cinematography, as well as a great storyline. See more Jack G @Gump.jack Jan 10 The blast ends a delusion,not just a bridge See more Read all reviews
The Bridge on the River Kwai

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Cast & Crew

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David Lean

Director

William Holden

Commander

Alec Guinness

Colonel Nicholson

Sessue Hayakawa

Colonel Saito

Jack Hawkins

Major Warden

James Donald

Major Clipton

Movie Clips

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The Bridge on the River Kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - A Good Life The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - A Good Life 2:13 The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Kill Him! Kill Him! The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Kill Him! Kill Him! 2:13 The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - What Have I Done? The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - What Have I Done? 2:10 The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - A Lot to Learn About the Army The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - A Lot to Learn About the Army 2:12 The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - The Coward's Code The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - The Coward's Code 2:13 The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Live Like a Human Being The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Live Like a Human Being 2:13 The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - He's Done It! The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - He's Done It! 2:12 The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Dinner with Saito The Bridge on the River Kwai: Official Clip - Dinner with Saito 2:13 View more videos

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The Bridge on the River Kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai: Trailer 1 The Bridge on the River Kwai: Trailer 1 3:23 View more videos
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The Bridge on the River Kwai

Poster Art The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) On the set of the film "The Bridge on the River Kwai." A scene from the film "The Bridge on the River Kwai." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Adaptation of the Pierre Boulle novel about POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. British and American officers plot to blow up the structure, but the commander of the bridge's construction has different plans.
Director
David Lean
Producer
Sam Spiegel
Screenwriter
Pierre Boulle, Michael Wilson, Carl Foreman
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Horizon Films, Columbia Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
War, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 18, 1957, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 3, 2013
Runtime
2h 41m
Sound Mix
Surround, Mono, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)