King Rat (1965) Kentucky Fried Rat In Mi Prison What Am I Gonna Do?

“This is not a story of escape. It is a story of survival. It is set in Changi Jail Singapore, in 1945. The Japanese did not have to guard Changi as a normal prisoner of war camp. The inmates of Changi had no friendly Swiss border or any other neutral country within reach. They were held captive not so much by high walls, or barbed wire, or machine-gun posts, but by the land and sea around them – and the jungle was not neutral, nor was the ocean. They did not live in Changi. They existed. This is the story of that existence.”

Those are the opening words for King Rat. The first image we see is an incredible panning shot of a half naked officer, sat there on a throne with sun flare glaring on the camera lens. As the image reveals itself you realise he is sat on the toilet within a regimented line of stink holes off in the distance. This image of the weary gaunt old man with a vacant look is accompanied by composer John Barry’s sorrowful score. The images and music fuel the introduction of this movie with an underlying feeling of complete sadness and dread.

This prison camp is a mournful and devastated place. Dying, exhausted POW’s wander around hungry, desperate and completely broken. Rag tag clothes covered in dirt and grime, with hot sweaty faces these lost men pace about the prison compound. They try to keep the boredom at bay by busy building, farming the dead land, mending tattered clothes and brushing up the relentless dust. This is a god forsaken place.

Amongst the men, two stand out. One British, First Lieutenant Grey (Tom Courtenay) an annoyingly by the book military policeman whos taken it upon himself to try and keep law and order in the camp. He has his strong morals but comes off snidey and a little malicious. To be honest, more of an uptight annoying arse. On the other hand, there’s American soldier Corporal King (George Segal), a man who stands out from everyone. Probably a sociopath, with a commanding ego, the ability to take advantage of weak broken men and use them to tend his needs. Adapting to his situation with ease, he is the only man in the camp who takes immaculate care of his clothes and appearance. You wonder what he may of been before the war? A salesmen? A conman? Maybe a lawyer? Whatever it was, he knows which button to press to control people.

Corporal King also likes to make money, why he is still infatuated with material possessions? What good is money in this place anyway? Regardless, he’s always on the take and with his black market business growing he needs a translator to deal and barter with the prison guards. A position of “employment” is offered to British RAF officer Flight Lieutenant Peter Marlowe (James Fox). He’s a kind, thoughtful, almost innocent soul and with naivety he and King become good friends. A partnership that will bring in lots of scraps, crazy plans, gourmet food and run-ins with Provost Grey.

A few Wolfy Observations 

• In amongst all the scrawny, malnourished prisoners of war, is a wonderful collection of familiar faces. Lots of British contingent from the likes of Denholm Elliott, Leonard Rossiter, John Mills, John Standing, James Donald starring alongside their Allied American friends, Patrick O’Neal and Todd Armstrong.

• The film is based on the 1962 novel of the same name by novelist James Clavell. He himself had been a prisoner for three years with a Changi camp.
• Bryan Forbes directed and even adapted the screenplay from Clavell’s novel.
• King Rat had two nominations at the 1966 Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction.

• Look out for the scene within a small room where King shows off his cooking skills while they try to keep the stew smells confined to the room. With the salivating faces of the dinner guests, it’s an extremely well acted scene.
• And yes there are rats to be seen in King Rat. Unfortunately KFR doesn’t have the same ring as KFC.

This is a deep, dark, delve into what means the human spirit will go to, to survive under horrific and challenging circumstances. It’s a clever film that makes you think what would you do in that situation? The ending is pretty powerful and thought provoking too. Of course all this has a rather depressing manner and it’s definitely not for everyone but hey this is a World War 2 prisoner of war film. So where you might get heroics, escapes and stiff upper lip from the likes of The Great Escape, The Bridge on the River Kwai etc in King Rat you don’t. It’s much more cynical look at life within a bleak POW camp. I would say it’s got more in common with Sidney Lumet’s The Hill that was released in the same year.

Thanks for dropping on by the yard, feel free to comment if you wish. To sing us out here’s UB40 and Rat In Mi Kitchen