The Bridge on the River Kwai
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Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Original TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-01-22
Top Cast
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William Holden
Cmdr. Shears
Alec Guinness
Col. Nicholson
Jack Hawkins
Maj. Warden
Sessue Hayakawa
Col. Saito
James Donald
Maj. Clipton
Geoffrey Horne
Lt. Joyce
André Morell
Col. Green
Peter Williams
Capt. Reeves
John Boxer
Major Hughes
Percy Herbert
Grogan
Harold Goodwin
Baker
Ann Sears
Nurse
Heihachirō Ōkawa
Captain Kanematsu
Vilaiwan Seeboonreaung
Siamese Girl
Keiichirō Katsumoto
Lieutenant Miura
Ngamta Suppapong
Siamese Girl
Javanart Punynchoti
Siamese Girl
Kannikar Dowklee
Siamese Girl
Release History & Theatrical Window
London
Festival / Special Debut
December 14, 1957
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 21, 2000
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$2.8M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$44.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
16.04x
+$42.1M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- David Lean
- Screenplay & Story
- Michael Wilson, Carl Foreman
- Original Score
- Malcolm Arnold
- Original Title
- The Bridge on the River Kwai
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese, Thai, English
- Runtime
- 2h 42m
- Production Budget
- $2.8M
- Worldwide Gross
- $44.9M
- Production Studios
- Horizon Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
David Lean
Michael Wilson, Carl Foreman, Pierre Boulle
Malcolm Arnold
Jack Hildyard
Peter Taylor
Sam Spiegel
Department Leadership Roster
Malcolm Arnold
Original Music Composer
Michael Wilson
Screenplay
David Lean
Director
Carl Foreman
Screenplay
Jack Hildyard
Director of Photography
Sam Spiegel
Producer
Peter Taylor
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Bridge on the River Kwai.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bridge on the River Kwai
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Bridge on the River Kwai about?
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.
Who directed The Bridge on the River Kwai?
The Bridge on the River Kwai was directed by David Lean.
Who stars in The Bridge on the River Kwai?
The principal cast of The Bridge on the River Kwai includes William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, James Donald.
When was The Bridge on the River Kwai released and how long is it?
The Bridge on the River Kwai was released in 1957 with a total runtime of 2h 42m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Bridge on the River Kwai?
The Bridge on the River Kwai had a reported production budget of $2.8M and grossed $44.9M at the worldwide box office (16.04 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Bridge on the River Kwai?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Bridge on the River Kwai was composed by Malcolm Arnold.
Is The Bridge on the River Kwai based on a book or true story?
The Bridge on the River Kwai is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Pierre Boulle".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Bridge on the River Kwai?
The Bridge on the River Kwai holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).