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The Bridge on the River Kwai

Play trailer 3:23 Poster for The Bridge on the River Kwai PG Released Dec 18, 1957 2h 41m War Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 103 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Adaptation of the Pierre Bouelle 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 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. Jul 28, 2022 Full Review Richard L. Coe Washington Post 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. Jul 25, 2022 Full Review Helen Bower Detroit Free Press 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. Nov 17, 2021 Full Review André Bazin Cahiers du Cinéma 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. Jun 15, 2023 Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily 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. Jun 8, 2023 Full Review Amy Thomasson InSession Film One of the greatest and most satisfying endings in all film history... Apr 25, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Netta F Excellent drama with great acting! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/28/24 Full Review william s Watched this for the first time last night and I can see why it was/is beloved by many, especially for it's time. Alec Guinness is superb, and it moves along quite well for a 2 hour and 40 minute film. The ending did muddy things for me a little. I actually thought the psychology of Nicholson (Guinness), and what he was doing FOR his men, and doing TO the Japanese was spot on thru the entire film. It felt uplifting, and the idea of demoralizing the enemy, through your own determination, willpower and competency really resonated with me. And while the ending wasn't unearned, as they foreshadow it with Nichols talking about how we will be remembered, or what mark we leave on this world (paraphrasing), I feel like Nichols attempting to sabotage the demolition kind of chisels away at the foundation of the rest of the film. I think I would have rather just had Nichols witness the destruction of his bridge, and let Guinness act out the pain of realizing the necessary but nonetheless bittersweet nature of that moment. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/16/24 Full Review MG_Claymore C A classic British war film. gotta love that col. boogey march. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/14/24 Full Review Tasos L The best war movie i've ever watched. A true masterpiece! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/06/24 Full Review Irene M More timeless than I anticipated. Well acted and not jingoistic. Already a fan of William Holden but not looking for more movies directed by David lean. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/15/24 Full Review j f No movie has ever laid more bare the stark differences between the souls of Patriots and monarchists. A casual Patriot, who doesn’t even want to be there and lacks any training, not only saves the day, but effortlessly scores with any skirt that happens across his path. Meanwhile the monarchists, so adept at bootlicking, lose their humanity in constant deference to hereditary class structure. Weird, wild stuff. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/30/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Bridge on the River Kwai

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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

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Movie Info

Synopsis Adaptation of the Pierre Bouelle 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
Columbia Pictures, Horizon Films
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)
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