King and Country (1964)
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King and Country was adapted by Evan Jones from John Wilson's play Hamp. Misfit World War I British soldier Tom Courtenay, on trial for desertion, is defended by martinet officer Dirk Bogarde. Disgusted by the assignment, Bogarde wearily asks the dullwitted Courtenay the reasons for his actions. Courtenay replies that, after being the sole survivor of a battle and discovering that his wife had been cheating on him while he was serving his country, he didn't see any purpose in going on; thus, he "went for a little walk". Bogarde's dislike of his client melts into sympathy, which in turn leads to temporary indignation over the manner in which the average enlisted man is treated by his aristocratic superiors. Despite his pleas for leniency, Bogarde's client is sentenced to be shot; after all, an example must be made. On the day of the execution, the men on the firing squad are so drunk that they're unable to carry out the sentence. Once more incensed by the "rabble" that he's forced to deal with, Bogarde takes the law into his own hands. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Dirk Bogarde - Capt. Hargreaves
- Leo McKern - Capt. O'Sullivan
- James Villiers - Capt. Midgley
- Barry Justice - Lt. Prescott
- Jeremy Spenser - Pvt. Sparrow
- David Cook - Private Wilson
- Jonah Seymour - Cpl. Hamilton, M.P.
- Derek Partridge - Captain at Court-Martial
- Terry Palmer - Soldiers in Hamp's Platoon
- Tom Courtenay - Private Hamp
- Barry Foster - Lieutenant Webb
- Peter Copley - Colonel
- Vivian Matalon - Chaplain
- James Hunter - Pvt. Sykes
- Larry Taylor - Sergeant-Major
- Keith Buckley - Corporal of the Guard
- Brian Tipping - Lieutenant at Court Martial
- Director(s):
- Joseph Losey
- Writer(s):
- John Wilson, James Lansdale Hodson, Evan Jones
- Producer(s):
- Joseph Losey, Norman Priggen
- Closed Captioning:
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- Subtitles:
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- 1964 - King and Country - Venice International Film Festival - Volpi Cup for Best Actor
