bridge on the river kwai

Original release poster Directed by David Lean Produced by Sam Spiegel Written by Pierre Boulle (novel)

Carl Foreman

Michael Wilson (screenplay) Starring Alec Guinness

Sessue Hayakawa

William Holden

Jack Hawkins

Geoffrey Horne Music by Malcolm Arnold Cinematography Jack Hildyard Editing by Peter Taylor Distributed by Columbia Pictures Release date(s) October 2, 1957 (UK)

December 18, 1957 (US) Running time 161 minutes Country UK Language English Budget $3,000,000 Gross revenue $27,200,000 IMDb • Allmovie

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a British 1957 World War II film by David Lean; based on the novel The Bridge over the River Kwai by French writer Pierre Boulle. The film is a work of fiction but borrows the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942-43 for its historical setting. It stars Alec Guinness, Sessue Hayakawa, Jack Hawkins and William Holden.

In 1997, this film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected for preservation in the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry. Contents [hide] 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Historical accuracy 4 Production 4.1 Screenplay 4.2 Filming 4.3 Music 5 Awards 5.1 Academy Awards 5.2 BAFTA Awards 5.3 Golden Globe Awards 5.4 Other awards 5.5 Other nominations 5.6 Recognition 6 Mistakes 7 Parody 8 See also 9 Notes 10 External links //

Plot

Two prisoners of war are burying a corpse in the graveyard of a Japanese World War II prison camp in southern Burma. One, American Navy Commander Shears (William Holden), routinely bribes guards to ensure he gets sick duty, which allows him to avoid hard labour. A large contingent of British prisoners arrives, marching in defiantly whistling the Colonel Bogey March under the leadership of Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness).

The Japanese camp commander, Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa), addresses them, informing them of his rules. He insists that all prisoners, regardless of rank, will work on the construction of a bridge over the Kwai River as part of a railroad that will link Bangkok, Thailand and Rangoon, Burma.

The next morning, when Saito orders everyone to work, Nicholson commands his officers to stand fast. He points out that the Geneva Conventions state that captured officers are exempt from manual labour. Saito is infuriated, but Nicholson refuses to back down, even after Saito has a machine gun set up and threatens to have the officers shot. Saito is dissuaded by Major Clipton (James Donald), a British medical officer, who warns of an inquiry and scandal should Saito carry through with his threat; instead, the Japanese commander leaves Nicholson and his officers standing in the intense heat. As the day wears on, one of them collapses, but Nicholson and the rest are still standing defiantly at attention when the men return from the day's work. The British officers are placed in a punishment