Culver City, Calif. (Sept. 7, 2010) – Sony Pictures Home Entertainment announced today the Blu-ray™ release of the masterful 1957 epic World War II film, The Bridge on the River Kwai, restored and newly remastered for high definition, debuting Nov. 2, 2010 for the SLP of $34.95.
This classic film, among the most prized in the Columbia Pictures catalog, features William Holden (Oscar® Winner for Best Actor, Stalag 17, 1953) and Alec Guinness (Oscar® Winner for Best Actor, The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957) as World War II prisoners whose opposing missions in the Burmese jungle collide with devastating effects.
The winner of seven Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay, The Bridge on the River Kwai continues to be one of the most memorable cinematic experiences of all time. Now, for the first time on Blu-ray, following an extensive 4K restoration from the original negative, with newly remastered 5.1 audio, audiences can experience David Lean’s masterpiece as never before.
The Blu-ray Collector’s Edition of The Bridge on the River Kwai includes both a Blu-ray and DVD disc of the film, replicas of the original theatrical lobby cards and all-new special features which illustrate the scope of this epic motion picture, from its inception and premiere to its impact on audiences the world over. Produced by Sam Spiegel (On the Waterfront, Lawrence of Arabia), The Bridge on the River Kwai was an historic undertaking, with location filming in Sri Lanka capturing a sense of both the beauty and remoteness of its jungle setting. In addition to the Blu-ray release, Sony Pictures will be showcasing the restored version of The Bridge on the River Kwai at theatrical screenings in select cities across the country. Please visit www.bridgeontheriverkwaibd.com for the complete screening schedule. You can also read more about the original production and the restoration work at www.Columbia-Classics.com
The Bridge on the River Kwai Synopsis:
When British POWs build a vital railway bridge in enemy-occupied Burma, Allied commanders are assigned to destroy it in David Lean’s World War II adventure The Bridge on the River Kwai. William Holden plays the cynical and opportunistic American prisoner of war Shears, and Alec Guinness is the captured British officer Colonel Nicholson, who refuses to abandon his ideals even in the harshest of conditions. Sessue Hayakawa (nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role) is the Japanese Commander who struggles to maintain control in the face of defeat.
The Bridge on the River Kwai was an enormous success, not only in the United States and England, but the world over, for its gripping portrayal of duty-bound men in a war capable of bringing out both the best and worst of humanity. David Lean’s film is a sweeping examination of the all-consuming damage of war, on the scale of a spectacle rarely seen before or since.
All-new Blu-ray Exclusive Bonus Features
· William Holden and Alec Guinness on The Steve Allen Show
· The Bridge on the River Kwai Premiere, Narrated by William Holden
· Crossing the Bridge: Picture-in-Graphics Track: Includes information on the progression of the bridge’s construction, the challenges of creating a bridge in the jungle during wartime, the real POW experience, and a book to screen comparison.
· Original Trailers
More Special Features
· DVD of the restored film
· Four Featurettes
o Making of The Bridge on the River Kwai
o USC short film introduced by William Holden
o “An Appreciation” by Filmmaker John Milius
o “Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant”
· Photo Gallery
· Replicas of the original theatrical lobby cards
