THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI

“Madness...madness.” Burma, 1943. Ordered by Japanese prison camp commandant Saito (Sessue Hayakawa) to construct a bridge, British POW Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) at first refuses but then acquiesces, reasoning that the undertaking will provide a morale boost for his men. But in his obsession with detail and pride in his work, Nicholson loses sight of the fact that the bridge will serve a deadly purpose — the transport of Japanese munitions. It falls to American escapee Shears (William Holden) and British Major Warden (Jack Hawkins) to lead a mission back to the camp to destroy Nicholson’s folly. A powerful portrait of war and madness, the film won seven Oscars® including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Guinness. DIR David Lean; SCR Carl Foreman, Michael Wilson, from the novel “Le pont de la rivière Kwaï” by Pierre Boulle; PROD Sam Spiegel. UK/U.S., 1957, color, 161 min. RATED PG

Run Time: 161 Minutes

Opening Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026

Genre: War drama

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