UK / USA,
1957, 161 min
(Alternative: 155 min)
Directed by:
David LeanCinematography:
Jack HildyardComposer:
Malcolm ArnoldCast:
William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, James Donald, Geoffrey Horne, André Morell, Percy Herbert, Harold Goodwin, John Boxer, Ann Sears (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
British POWs in Burma are employed by the Japanese to build a bridge; meanwhile, British agents seek to destroy it. After surrendering his unit to the Japanese. Colonel Nicholson demands his men behave by the book, and refuses to cooperate with the equally dutiful Japanese commander. When the Japanese insist that the POWs build a bridge, they decide to build the best one possible, thereby restoring morale. But after one of the men escapes to Australia and lets the British commander there know of the operation, he is sent back to the jungle to destroy the tactically-crucial bridge that his comrades are desperately trying to complete. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Academy Awards
- 1958 - Best Motion Picture of the Year
- 1958 - David Lean (Best Achievement in Directing)
- 1958 - Alec Guinness (Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role)
- 1958 - Carl Foreman, Michael Wilson, Pierre Boulle (Best Adapted Screenplay)
- 1958 - Jack Hildyard (Best Achievement in Cinematography)
- 1958 - Best Achievement in Film Editing
- 1958 - Malcolm Arnold (Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score))
- 1958 - Sessue Hayakawa (Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role)
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)
- 1958 - Best Film
- 1958 - Alec Guinness (Best British Actor)
- 1958 - Pierre Boulle (Best British Screenplay)
- 1958 - Outstanding British Film
Golden Globes
- 1958 - Best Motion Picture – Drama
- 1958 - David Lean (Best Director)
- 1958 - Alec Guinness (Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama)
- 1958 - Sessue Hayakawa (Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
- 1957 - Best Film
- 1957 - David Lean (Best Director)
- 1957 - Alec Guinness (Best Actor)