The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
“It spans a whole new world of entertainment!”
Synopsis & Story Arc
Official Logline
The classic story of English POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. British and American intelligence officers conspire to blow up the structure, but Col. Nicholson, the commander who supervised the bridge's construction, has acquired a sense of pride in his creation and tries to foil their plans.
Complete Cast & Crew Directory
Directing & Screenplay
Cast & Characters
William Holden
William Holden
as Cmdr. Shears
Alec Guinness
Alec Guinness
as Col. Nicholson
Jack Hawkins
Jack Hawkins
as Maj. Warden
Sessue Hayakawa
Sessue Hayakawa
as Col. Saito
James Donald
James Donald
as Maj. Clipton
Geoffrey Horne
Geoffrey Horne
as Lt. Joyce
André Morell
André Morell
as Col. Green
Peter Williams
Peter Williams
as Capt. Reeves
John Boxer
John Boxer
as Major Hughes
Percy Herbert
Percy Herbert
as Grogan
Harold Goodwin
Harold Goodwin
as Baker
Ann Sears
Ann Sears
as NurseCinematography & Large-Format Specifications
Cinematographic negative, aspect ratios & laboratory mastering sheet
| Aspect Ratios | 2.39:1 |
|---|---|
| Camera Systems | Arri Alexa LF / Panavision Millennium DXL2 |
| Negative Format | 35mm / 65mm / Digital Master |
| Printed Film Format | 70mm / DCP Master |
| Sound Mix Formats | Dolby AtmosDTS:X5.1 Surround |
| Laboratory / VFX | Technicolor / Double Negative (DNEG) |
| Color Processing | Color (Rec.709 / DCI-P3 Mastering) |
| Official Runtime | 162 min |
Behind The Scenes
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GlobalCineDB Consensus Score
Weighted consensus from 100K+ verified global cinephile ratings
Community Reviews & Discussions (3)
The pipe organ composition from Hans Zimmer at the edge of Gargantua is monumental. Nolan masterfully balances the vast coldness of relativistic astrophysics with the intimate, multidimensional bond of family. A transcendent achievement of cinema.
"Do not go gentle into that good night, Rage, rage against the dying of the light." Michael Caine reciting Dylan Thomas resonates throughout the entire odyssey. Pure cinematic grandeur.