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 6th June 2011. This classic film, among the most prized in the Columbia Pictures catalogue, 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 Blu-ray Edition of
The Bridge on the River Kwai includes all-new special Blu-ray exclusive 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 a historic undertaking, with location filming in Sri Lanka capturing a sense of both the beauty and remoteness of its jungle setting.
Blu-ray features include:
- 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
- Making of The Bridge on the River Kwai
- USC short film introduced by William Holden
- "An Appreciation" by Filmmaker John Milius
- "Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant"
- Photo Gallery
- BD Live Functionality