It’s been a long time since I read King Rat, but this seemed like a very subtle and well-crafted screenplay of it. Like the book Shantung Compound, this story of the prisoners of a Japanese POW camp in China uses the intense competition for scarce resources in such a place to illustrate the often harsh realities of human social and economic behavior. I can’t think of many films that make a more powerful comment on these things.
4 responses to “Movie: King Rat (1965)”
Just want you to know I’m halfway through Walking With the Wild Wind. It’s a good read for sure.
Walkin’ Jim is for real! Here my review of it.
I read Shantung Compound some years ago and, if I remember correctly, it had a paragraph in it explaining the last days of Eric Liddel of Chariots of Fire fame. Thought that it was interesting that he had died at that particular camp. Anyway, had a wonderful two weeks home but now must face the reality of life here once again and try to stay busy and try not to think too much about how many days have gone by! Later! Randy
I think you are right about Eric Liddel, though I don’t remember the details now. I’ve read elsewhere that he died there of a brain tumor.
We’re thinking of you all the time here – it seems like a lot of days in Iraq to us too – wish we could help you pass them.