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William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, Geoffrey Horne ... see more see more... , James Donald , André Morell , John Boxer , Percy Herbert , Harold Goodwin , Ann Sears , Henry Okawa

The Bridge on the River Kwai opens in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in Burma in 1943, where a battle of wills rages between camp commander Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa) and newly arrived British c... read more read more...olonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness). Saito insists that Nicholson order his men to build a bridge over the river Kwai, which will be used to transport Japanese munitions. Nicholson refuses, despite all the various "persuasive" devices at Saito's disposal. Finally, Nicholson agrees, not so much to cooperate with his captor as to provide a morale-boosting project for the military engineers under his command. The colonel will prove that, by building a better bridge than Saito's men could build, the British soldier is a superior being even when under the thumb of the enemy. As the bridge goes up, Nicholson becomes obsessed with completing it to perfection, eventually losing sight of the fact that it will benefit the Japanese. Meanwhile, American POW Shears (William Holden), having escaped from the camp, agrees to save himself from a court martial by leading a group of British soldiers back to the camp to destroy Nicholson's bridge. Upon his return, Shears realizes that Nicholson's mania to complete his project has driven him mad. Filmed in Ceylon, Bridge on the River Kwai won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for the legendary British filmmaker David Lean, and Best Actor for Guinness. It also won Best Screenplay for Pierre Boulle, the author of the novel on which the film was based, even though the actual writers were blacklisted writers Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson, who were given their Oscars under the table. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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PG, 2 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: David Lean

Release Date: October 2, 1957

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DVD Release Date: November 21, 2000

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The Bridge on the River Kwai The Bridge on the River Kwai Alec Guinness in The Bridge on the River Kwai David lean and Alec Guinnes on the set David lean, Alec Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa Alec Guinness in The Bridge on the River Kwai Alec Guinness in The Bridge on the River Kwai On the set Alec Guinness Sessue Hayakawa in The Bridge on the River Kwai The Bridge on the River Kwai The Bridge on the River Kwai Alec Guinness in The Bridge on the River Kwai Sessue Hayakawa in The Bridge on the River Kwai The Bridge on the River Kwai Alec Guinness in The Bridge on the River Kwai William Holden
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Flixster Reviews (2,442)

  • SirPant
    May 8, 2012
    SirPant
    The Bridge on the River Kwai is a tough one for me to review. The reason I've never watched it before is because of my Grandfather. He was a POW and worked on the Burma-Siam railway which included bridges which would have crossed the River Kwai. He took my father and Uncle to see... read more this film when it was released. My father told me the story that he was very insistent that they see the film so that they could see what he went through - having never spoken of the war since his return. After seeing the film he was so outraged, disappointed and ultimately let down, he never spoke of the war again until the day he died, which after years of torture, over-work and starvation, was at a very young age. My grandfather took umbrage to the mixture of fact and fiction. Made only 15 years after the actual events and seeing how twisted and false he, his fellow prisoners and officers were represented was an insult to him. Years ago I decided to look into my family history and I researched him, his regiment and all I could regarding his time as a POW. A lot of what I found I didn't even pass onto my father, needless to say the info I found was not of a pleasant time. Why then they decided to use real people's names but in different circumstances is beyond me. Fiction is fiction and fact is fact, mixing the two is a very dangerous thing, judging by many of the reviews here, many don't realise this film is fiction and did not happen. The film is well acted and looks beautiful but ultimately is an insult to the memory of the men on both sides, that were there. I don't care if it's Mel Gibson, Disney or the great David Lean, it's not right and I don't like it. Change the men's names and tweak it here and there and I would have liked this film just as much as everyone else but as it is I find it immoral and disrespectful and historically dangerous in its neglect of the truth. Does it really matter? Yes, in this circumstance it most certainly does! Why change a perfectly interesting part of history anyway, the madness, the madness indeed. One star for the acting and one star for the aesthetics, that's all I can give.
  • garyX
    February 17, 2012
    garyX
    A stubborn English Colonel locks horns with a similarly duty-bound Japanese prison camp commander over the building of a strategically important railway bridge during the second world war. David Lean's prisoner of war story is a tale of obsession, and it is the battle of wills be... read moretween Alec Guiness and his Japanese counterpart that forms the core of the story. Examining the cliche of the British stiff upper lip, although Guiness' obstinate refusal to co-operate with the enemy gives his men the spirit to carry on, it is more his own personal obsession (bordering on insanity) than heroism that eggs him on. On the other side of the coin, it is William Holden's hustling commander, actually more interested in self-preservation (echoing his role in Stalag 17) who must show him the error of his ways during an unforgettable finale that brilliantly captures the madness of war. It is maybe a little longer than it needs to be, as the central section away from the bridge itself is rather less interesting, but Guiness' performance is superb, and this film is rightly considered as an all-time classic.
  • cosmo313
    December 5, 2011
    cosmo313
    Based on a novel based on true events, this is a historical epic set during World War II in Japanese controlled Burma about a group of British POWs in a prison camp who are tasked with building a bridge that will aid the Japanese with their transportation needs. It starts as a ba... read morettle of wills between the Camp overlord, and the British Colonel tasked with leading the construction. It also becomes a battle of wills between an American who escaped from the camp but is told he will avoid court martial if he helps a group of Brits. destroy the vital bridge. Got all that? Good. It's actually pretty easy to follow. It only seems complex.

    Directed by David Lean, this is, as you'd probably expect, a sweeping epic that is gloriously British to the core. As far as the events and storylines go, it's pretty neat and compact, but only seems super epic given the running time. I actually rather like that this was a film that focused primarily on a singular event (through various perspectives) instead of trying to look at the broader spectrum of this part of the world in 1943.

    By focusing on a narrow event, this allwos for the possibility to really get into the minds and conflicts of the characters, specifically how Col. Nicholson is bound and determined to complete the bridge to perfection, even if it does benefit the enemy and drive him mad as a result. The performances are top notch, with Guinness and Holden taking top honors, though Hayakawa is superb as well. The cinematography is wonderful, the location shooting looks great, and the music, especially the insanely cathcy "Colonel Bogey March" are great too.

    This is an all around great film with few flaws (if any, really). It's lengthy, but it cruises right along, and never feels like a chore, and I really appreciate that. It's got a great and interesting story, goes about telling it in a neat way, and is really fun and entertaining to watch. Sure, i'd be happier with stricter adherence to historical and military accuracy, but that's not what the point of this film is.

    Definitely give this one a shot. It's really quite something.
  • blacksheepboy
    October 6, 2011
    blacksheepboy
    An excellent war film that focuses on characters rather than on battles, offering outstanding dialogue and an intense Oscar-winning performance by Alec Guinness. The cinematography is not flawless, with some scenes visibly filmed during day and darkened to appear as night, but th... read moreis is compensated by a suspenseful climax that is unforgettable.
  • CloudStrife84
    July 13, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    These older type of war movies sure are dependable in their making. Like an old vintage car, that stills runs smoothly on the road and is beautiful to look at. Perhaps not as fast or exciting as the WWII films we're spoiled with these days, but one that has a lot to give nonethel... read moreess. Especially in the acting and cinematography department, where it truly excels. A sweeping matinée fit for a rainy afternoon.
  • moonrivers
    June 6, 2011
    moonrivers
    The sum of the parts is what makes this classic, and Guinness, in the meantime, earns his Oscar as everyone's idea of stinking British superiority personified.
  • rayman0071
    February 15, 2011
    rayman0071
    Synopsis: When British P.O.W.'s build a vital railway bndge in enemy-occupied Burma during World War II,allied commandos are assigned to destroy it at any costs. Director-Producer David Lean's epic World War II action-adventure spectacle that was spectacularly produced within its... read more budget,and astounding cast. Lead by William Holden,Alec Guinness and Jack Hawkins,THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI,based on the novel by Pierre Boulle,captured the imagination of the public becoming one of the biggest grossing films of 1957. The winner of seven Academy Awards including Best Picture,Best Director(Lean),Best Actor(Guinness) was filmed on exotic locations and was given the full "Cinemascope" treatment while filmed in breathtaking Technicolor. Even its theme song,which was an old World War I whistling tune,"The Colonel Bogey March" became a massive worldwide hit on the Hit Parade's top 100 charts for all of 1957 and much of 1958 which was itself Oscar nominated for Best Original Song. The greatest of all David Lean's impressive works,this was the one that launch a boxoffice bonanza.
  • matertenebraum
    February 10, 2011
    matertenebraum
    I am normally an admirer of David Lean. But it is difficult to understand why he chose to base this film on a real event at the River Kwai, as it grossly misrepresents the real "Colonel Nicholson" and caused considerable distress to both him and the River Kwai veterans.

    The Colo... read morenel Nicholson character is based on the allied camp commander, Lieutenant Colonel Philip Toosey, who was a remarkable officer by any standards.

    Awarded the DSO for heroism during the defence of Singapore, he refused an order to join the evacuation so he could remain with his men during captivity. In the hellish conditions of the camp, he worked courageously to ensure that as many of his men as possible would survive. He endured regular beatings when he complained of ill-treatment of prisoners, but as a skilled negotiator he was able to win many concessions from the Japanese by convincing them that this would speed the completion of the work. Behind their backs, however, he did everything possible to delay and sabotage the construction without endangering his men, and also helped organise a daring escape, at considerable cost to himself. For his conduct in the camp, he won the undying respect of his men.

    After the war, he showed great generosity of spirit by saving the life of Colonel Saito, second in command at the camp and a relatively decent officer, when he spoke up for him at the war crimes tribunal. He worked for the veterans all his life, and became President of the National Federation of Far Eastern Prisoners of War.

    He refused repeated requests by the veterans to speak out against the film, being much too modest to seek any glory or recognition for himself. However you will find his achievements documented in a book by Professor Peter Davies entitled "The Man Behind the Bridge".

    Toosey hoped that no one watching the film would believe a British Army officer could be so stupid in real life. But with the film being rated on this site as one of the top 50 movies of all time, this hope may have been misplaced. Enjoy the film by all means as a work of fiction, but it is surely important to set the record straight and recognise the heroism of the real man involved.
  • axadntpron
    January 24, 2011
    axadntpron
    David Lean hates his audience. This film could/should have been an hour shorter. Not because I hate long movies, but because some scenes weren't vital to the film. I liked it and would rate it higher if Lean wasn't he'll bent on making every film 3 & 1/2 hrs long.
  • FireStormStudios
    October 18, 2010
    FireStormStudios
    This is a great flick and a classic for a reason. This is a nicely done film with a climactic ending that doesn't fail to please. The cast is amazing and everything fits together nicely. It's one of the more memorable movies I have seen and there is not too much to add except ... read morethat I recommended to everyone.

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Critic Reviews

February 18, 2009
TIME Magazine

It is a whale of a story, and in the telling of it, British Director David Lean does a whale of a job. Full Review

Mike Kaplan
February 19, 2008
Mike Kaplan, Variety

A gripping drama, expertly put together and handled with skill in all departments. Full Review

Dave Kehr
December 13, 2006
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

For what it is, it ain't bad, though it serves mainly as an illustration of the ancient quandary of revisionist moviemakers: if all you do is systematically invert cliches, you simply end up creating ... Full Review

James Berardinelli
July 3, 2003
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

In my opinion, it is one of the two best films to emerge from a very strong decade of cinema. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Brilliant is the word, and no other, to describe the quality of skills that have gone into the making of this picture. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Most war movies are either for or against their wars. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) is one of the few that focuses not on larger rights and wrongs but on individuals. Full Review

Charles Cassady
December 15, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

Epic of WWII honor and sacrifice gone haywire. Full Review

Keith Uhlich
September 22, 2010
Keith Uhlich, Time Out New York

From sky to ground in two shots, and it already feels like we've traversed a great distance, with two and a half hours of skillful, suspenseful WWII adventure to go. Full Review

Christian Blauvelt
September 20, 2010
Christian Blauvelt, Slant Magazine

The Bridge on the River Kwai is David Lean's last film not to succumb to bloat. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
September 10, 2010
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

[Lean] somehow managed a very pleasing balance. Full Review

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The Bridge on the River Kwai Trivia

  • From which classic movie starring Alec Guiness is this popular whistling march from?  Answer »
  • Which of the following actors has appeared in these 3 David Lean movies, "Lawrence of Arabia", "Dr. Zhivago", and "The Bridge on the River Kwai"?  Answer »
  • In "The Bridge on the River Kwai" Commander Shears says that "there's always..."   Answer »
  • This film is about WWII prisoners of war who are forced to build a bridge by their Japanese captors in Burma. What movie was this?  Answer »
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