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The Bridge on the River Kwai
1957 162 min United Kingdom PG 16+
★8.7
Drama, History, War
Director: David Lean
📖 Based on the novel
«The Bridge over the River Kwai»
byPierre Boulle
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
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.
Budget:
$2.8M
US Gross:
$27.2M
Worldwide:
$44.91M
Starring
William Holden
Actor
Alec Guinness
Actor
Jack Hawkins
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1958
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 1958
— Best Cinematography
Academy Awards 1958
— Best Film Editing
Academy Awards 1958
— Best Original Score
Academy Awards 1958
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 1958
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Awards 1958
— Best Director
Academy Awards 1958
— Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe 1958
— Best Actor (Drama)
Golden Globe 1958
— Best Picture (Drama)
Golden Globe 1958
— Best Director
Golden Globe 1958
— Best Supporting Actor
BAFTA 1958
— Best Picture
BAFTA 1958
— Best British Actor
BAFTA 1958
— Best Screenplay for a British Film
BAFTA 1958
— Best British Film
Key opinion
David Lean’s war epic is widely regarded as a masterful psychological study, celebrated for its complex characterization and profound exploration of honor and obsession. While its status as a definitive classic is secure, modern viewers are divided on whether its deliberate pacing and 1950s sensibilities constitute a contemplative masterpiece or a sluggish narrative.
| Acting | Alec Guinness delivers a masterful, nuanced performance that effectively anchors the film's exploration of duty, madness, and military pride. | |
| Theme | The film prioritizes deep psychological tension and philosophical conflict over traditional explosive combat, offering a somber meditation on the folly of war. | |
| Ending | The climactic finale is exceptionally crafted, delivering an intense and emotionally resonant conclusion that leaves a lasting impact on the audience. | |
| Direction | David Lean’s direction exhibits a masterful control of scale and detail, utilizing authentic location shooting to create an immersive, epic atmosphere. | |
| Pacing | The nearly three-hour runtime rewards viewers who appreciate the film’s deliberate, character-focused tempo, while others find the early narrative progression to be sluggish and demanding. |