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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Bridge On The River Kwai, The
    Genre:Classic

    Reviewed In Issue 09 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Alec Guinness, William Holden, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 5
    Sound Rating: 3.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 79616
    (MPAA Rating): PG
    (Retail Price): $49.95
    (Running Time In Minutes): 167
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1957
    (LD Release Date): 4/94
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): David Lean
    (Screenplay/Written By): Michael Wilson & Carl Foreman
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Malcolm Arnold
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Donald M. Ashton
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Peter Taylor
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): NA
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Sam Spiegel

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): RE:
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital):
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    One of the most brilliant films of all time, with superb widescreen cinematography and a fabulous musical score. Lean’s movie is loosely based on a true World War II event. Guinness plays a by-the-book, almost-crazed British colonel who leads POW’s in building a railway bridge for the Japanese in Burma while Holden and Hawkins are allied commandos sent out to destroy the endeavor.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The widescreen cinematography is wonderful and perfectly embellishes the emotional drama amongst the harsh jungle environment. The picture quality is outstanding with excellent image detail, very natural looking fleshtones, and excellent shadow detail. This transfer rivals the best of the modern pictures in color fidelity and contrast. Grain-free and artifact-free, it is beautifully rendered and sure to please LaserDisc collectors. The aspect ratio is perfectly framed at 2.35:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    Malcolm Arnold’s fabulous musical score features The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Completely new effects tracks are featured on this newly remixed edition which apparently were derived from the original elements. The jungle effects provide effective surround envelopment. Dialogue is always intelligible but overall the sound is a bit harsh.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
    (Aggressive System Surround):
    (Intense 25Hz Bass):
    (Deep Bass Challenging):
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield):
    (Aggressive Split Surround):
    (Center Back Surround Imaging):
    (Directionalized Dialogue):
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    Superb Cinematography:
    Reference LaserDisc:
    Collector Edition: