Project Detail

To End All Wars

Synopsis

To End All Wars is the true story of Ernest Gordon, a young Scottish student teacher who signs up with The Argyll and Sutherland Highland regiment at the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1942, during the fall of Singapore, the regiment is captured by the Japanese and taken to a prisoner of war camp in Thailand.

Despite the threat of execution, the regiment's proud Colonel James MacLean and his loyal Major Ian Campbell are committed to escape and defiant in the face of their implacable captors. Established prisoners, including Dusty Miller advise compliance in line with the Japanese code of Bashido, which demands dedication to the Emperor. Also held in the camp is American Lieutenant Tom Reardon, an opportunist who believes self-interest is the only reliable method of survival.

MacLean and Campbell are ordered to meet with Lieutenant Colonel Nagatomo and Captain Noguchi and learn that they have 18 months to build 420 kilometres of railroad into the jungle. When MacLean protests and robustly refuses to sign documents pledging they will not escape, he is executed.

Work on the 'railroad of death' begins in appalling conditions. Famine, fear and disease sweep through the men as they buckle under the strain.

Details

Year
2002
Type of project
Features
Running time
124 mins
Format
35mm Kodak
Director
David L Cunningham
Producer
Scott Walcheck, Greg Newman, John Quested
Editor
Tim Silano
Screenwriter
Brian Godawa
Director of Photography
Greg Gardiner
Composer
John Cameron, Maire Brennan
Principal cast
Robert Carlyle, Kiefer Sutherland, Ciaran McMenamin

Genre

Categories

Production Status

Production Company

Argyll Film Partners

Contact: David Cunningham
Raleigh Manhattan Beach Studios
1600 Rosecrans Avenue
Media Centre
Suite 330
CA 90266
USA

T 00 1 310 727 3350

Sales Company

Goldcrest Films International

Contact: Paola Zingaro
65-66 Dean Street
London W1D 4PL
UK

T 00 44 (0)20 7437 8696

mailbox@goldcrest-films.com

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