Bryan Forbes & King Rat (1965)

[Mr. Arkadin]

An amazing book which has lost none of its literary prowess in its conversion to celluloid. I hope others will see this one as well.

While The Great Escape and Bridge on the River Kwai are entertaining, I don’t find the same depth and realism that is established in Forbes film. You might say The Great Escape is the P.O.W. version of Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), while KR would find a closer alignment with Patch of Blue (1965) or Take a Giant Step (1959).

It’s also important to note that while Clavell’s novel might be set in a prison camp, it deals with important philosophical questions about virtue, class, politics, and even religion. Human nature is studied here and the results might surprise you.

Your wish is my command:

http://silverscreenoasis.com/oasis3/vie ... f=1&t=1748

[Mr. Arkadin]

Someone at TCM wrote a couple of days ago that this film was taken off the schedule. I did not record it (have the DVD), or stay up and watch. Did it show and if not, what played in its place?

[Sue Sue Applegate]

I've never seen this film, arkadin and kingrat, and I am so sorry I missed it.

I'll need to search the upcoming schedules.

Kingrat, I enjoyed your explanation about the wartime pecking order a la GWTW.

I have a great affinity with The Great Escape, Bridge on the River Kwai, and Stalag 17.
My dad served with Patton's Third Army in the European theater, and my uncle was killed on
the Arizona. His name is on the monument at Pearl Harbor, and I hope to take my son there
sometime in the near future.

One of my other uncles served and was wounded in The Phillipines.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

This was such an insightful, informative post, kingrat. I am so sorry I missed this film when it was on.

[Mr. Arkadin]

Probably one of the most interesting things about contrasting The Great Escape and King Rat is the fact that James Clavell wrote both screenplays.

While The Great Escape is an accessible commercial product designed to make money, King Rat is a smaller artistic work that is highly personal for viewers and its writer, who actually spent time in Changi prison camp and claimed to know someone like Corporal "King".

If you've never read the novel, I highly recommend it.

[MikeBSG]

I've always liked "Seance on a Wet Afternoon." Patrick Magee is wonderful in the little screen time he has. The whole movie is very well done. It isn't what you expect from a thriller, but you can't look away from the screen either.