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.
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) is a 2h 41min drama feature film by David Lean. The classic story of English POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors.
Key facts
Cast
William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, James Donald, Geoffrey Horne, André Morell, Peter Williams
Original language
Japanese
First release
October 11, 1957 (Belgium)
Production companies
Horizon Pictures
Home video distributors
RCA Columbia Pictures Home Video (United States)
Based on
The Bridge over the River Kwai
Awards
Academy Award for Best Picture, Academy Award for Best Actor, Academy Award for Best Director, Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Academy Award for Best Film Editing, Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
Setting
Thailand
Filming locations
United Kingdom
Crew
Screenplay
Carl Foreman, Michael Wilson
Producer
Sam Spiegel
Cinematography
Jack Hildyard
Editing
Peter Taylor
Music
Malcolm Arnold
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Telluride Film Festival 2026 generic - Special Screenings
- Directors Guild of America 1957 generic ★ Winner
Titles
| Original title | The Bridge on the River Kwai | |
| Québec French title | Le Pont de la rivière Kwai |
VHS & home video releases
| VHS | RCA Columbia Pictures Home Video (cat. no. 60160) | 1983, United States, slipcase |
Soundtracks
| Vinyl LP | The Bridge On The River Kwai - Malcolm Arnold (1958) | 17 releases, 1958-1977: CBS, CBS/Sony, Columbia |
| 7" vinyl | Musique Originale Du Film: Le Pont De La Rivière Kwaï - Malcolm Arnold (1957) | 29 releases, 1957-1961: CBS, Philips |
| CD | The Bridge On The River Kwai - Malcolm Arnold (1958) | 9 releases, 1988-2018: Banda Sonora, Columbia, RDM Edition, Sony (+3 more) |
| Cassette | The Bridge On The River Kwai - Malcolm Arnold (1958) | 1 release, 1977: CBS/Sony |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Belgium | October 11, 1957 |
| Theatrical | Finland | October 11, 1957 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | October 11, 1957 |
| Theatrical | Norway | October 11, 1957 |
| Theatrical | Australia | December 2, 1957 |
| Theatrical | United States | December 14, 1957 |
| Theatrical | France | December 20, 1957 |
| Theatrical | Japan | December 22, 1957 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | December 23, 1957 |
| Theatrical | Spain | December 25, 1957 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | January 3, 1958 |
| Theatrical | Italy | January 30, 1958 |
| Theatrical | Germany | March 7, 1958 |
| Theatrical | Greece | March 7, 1958 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | March 21, 1958 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | July 18, 1958 |
| Theatrical | Austria | September 5, 1958 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | November 28, 1958 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | April 10, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | August 18, 1988 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | January 22, 1998 |
| Television | Netherlands | March 1, 2003 |
| Streaming | Germany | October 4, 2026 |
| Television | Germany | October 4, 2026 |
| Streaming | France | October 4, 2026 |
| Television | France | October 4, 2026 |
| Classification | Germany | 12 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | PG |
| Classification | United States | PG |
Versions & editions
| Home video VHS | United States | 1983 60160 |
| Home video | United States | November 21, 2000 |
| Home video | Sweden | March 26, 2004 |
| Home video | Netherlands | December 2, 2004 |
| Home video | United States | November 2, 2010 |
| Home video | Sweden | January 5, 2011 |
| Home video | Netherlands | April 18, 2012 |
| Home video | United States | October 3, 2017 |
| Home video | Sweden | December 4, 2017 |
Full credits
| Director | David Lean |
| Cast | 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), Tsai Chin (Tokyo Rose (voice) (uncredited)), Christopher Greet (British Officer (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Carl Foreman, Michael Wilson |
| Producer | Sam Spiegel |
| Cinematography | Jack Hildyard |
| Editing | Peter Taylor |
| Music | Malcolm Arnold |
| Sound | John Cox, John W. Mitchell |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
