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The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
After settling his differences with a Japanese P.O.W. camp commander, a British Colonel co-operates to oversee his men's construction of a railway bridge for their captors, while oblivious to a plan by the Allies to destroy it.
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Cast & Crew
Top Billed Cast
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Shears -
Colonel Nicholson -
Major Warden -
Colonel Saito -
Major Clipton -
Lieutenant Joyce -
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Captain Reeves -
Major Hughes
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Grogan -
Baker -
Nurse -
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Full cast
Director:
David LeanWriters:
Pierre Boulle (novel), Carl Foreman (screenplay), Michael Wilson (screenplay)All Cast & Crew
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Did You Know?
Trivia
William Holden, then a major star, was brought into the project to provide "box-office appeal" after Cary Grant turned down the role. He received three hundred thousand dollars up front, and was guaranteed a ten percent share of the profits, to be paid at the rate of fifty thousand dollars a year. This is one reason why Holden sued to stop the first American television showing of the movie in 1966, claiming it would hurt future box-office receipts, on which he was dependent (the lawsuit was unsuccessful). Because the movie made so much money, his shares eventually accumulated to the point where the studio was making more off of the interest on the unpaid balance than Holden was paid per year. A settlement was reached where Holden was paid a lump sum, and any future payments were willed to a motion picture relief fund.
Quotes
Colonel Nicholson:
It is quite understandable; it's a very natural reaction. But one day - in a week, a month, a year - on that day when, God willing, we all return to our homes again, you're going to feel very proud of what you have achieved here in the face of great...
Goofs
After Lt. Joyce has decoded the message they got from the radio he is reading it to them while it's supposedly still raining but the raindrops are only splashing on the close side of the river and not on the far side closer to the opposite bank.
Crazy Credits
And introducing Geoffrey Horne
Alternate Versions
Various versions have different main credits. There is the original that gives screenplay credit to Pierre Boulle, there is the restored version in which previously blacklisted Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson are credited and there is the original version that was distributed to cinemas at the time still lacking in CinemaScope equipment in which the Cinema Scope credit is omitted and the credits formatted to fit the smaller frame.
Soundtracks
God Save the King(1744) (uncredited)
Written by Henry Carey
Performed by the British Prisoners of War
Storyline
Plot Summary
Synopsis (WARNING: Spoilers)
Genres
Adventure | Drama | WarDetails
Release Date:
14 December 1957Language
English, Japanese, Thai
Country of Origin
UK, USAFilming Locations
Kalugamuwa, Gelioya, Kandy, Sri LankaBox Office
Budget:
$3,000,000 (estimated)Gross:
$44,908,000 (USA)
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