Fast-taking wheeler-dealer Corporal King (George Segal), in a Malaysian P.O.W. camp during World War II, uses bribery and larceny to take de facto control of the camp from his senior officers.
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Title: King Rat (1965)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| George Segal | ... | Corporal King | |
| Tom Courtenay | ... | Grey | |
| James Fox | ... | Marlowe | |
| Patrick O'Neal | ... | Max | |
| Denholm Elliott | ... | Lt. Col. G.D. Larkin | |
| James Donald | ... | Dr. Kennedy | |
| Todd Armstrong | ... | Tex | |
| John Mills | ... | Smedley-Taylor | |
| Gerald Sim | ... | Jones | |
| Leonard Rossiter | ... | McCoy | |
| John Standing | ... | Daven | |
 |
Alan Webb | ... | Brant |
|
|
John Ronane | ... | Hawkins |
|
|
Sam Reese | ... | Kurt (as Sammy Reese) |
| Michael Lees | ... | Stevens | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (36) »
Storyline
When Singapore surrendered to the Japanese in 1942, the Allied P.O.W.s, mostly British, but including a few Americans, were incarcerated in Changi prison. This was a P.O.W. camp like no other. There were no walls or barbed-wire fences, for the simple reason that there was no place for the prisoners to which to escape. Included among the prisoners is the American Corporal King (George Segal), a wheeler-dealer who has managed to established a pretty good life for himself in the camp. While most of the prisoners are near starvation and have uniforms that are in tatters, King eats well and and has crisp clean clothes to wear every day. His nemesis is Lieutenant Robin Grey (Sir Tom Courtenay), the camp Provost who attempts to keep good order and discipline. He knows that King is breaking camp rules by bartering with the Japanese, but can't quite get the evidence he needs to stop him. King soon forms a friendship with Lieutenant Peter Marlowe (James Fox), an upper class British officer who ... Written by garykmcd
Plot Keywords:
prisoner of war | malaya | prisoner of war camp | based on novel | army |Taglines:
He entered WWII a soldier... and left a King. See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
27 October 1965 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El caudillo de los desalmados See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Peter Marlowe: Not bad. Not bad at all.
Cpl. King: [Looking slightly offended] What the hell are you talking about? The egg ain't been laid that tastes better than that.
Peter Marlowe: Don't get excited, Fortnum. When we say "not bad", we don't mean "not bad". We mean it's bloody marvelous.
Cpl. King: Yeah? What do you mean when you say "it's bloody marvelous"?
Peter Marlowe: Bit dicey.
Cpl. King: Forget it.
See more »
It is set in Changi Jail Singapore, in 1945
The Japanese did not have to guard Changi as a normal prison 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. See more »
(uncredited)
Written by Frederick Oakeley (1841)
Variation sung in distant background by POWs
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Due to the cast and director and setting, this is often assumed to be a British movie, but it was entirely filmed in California. See more »Goofs
At the end of the beginning credits, a medic folds the arms of a newly-deceased prisoner and covers his face with his blanket. As the medic does so, the dead prisoner moves his own fingers as his hands are placed on his upper arms. See more »Quotes
Cpl. King: [Having served Marlowe a fried egg] How 'bout that?Peter Marlowe: Not bad. Not bad at all.
Cpl. King: [Looking slightly offended] What the hell are you talking about? The egg ain't been laid that tastes better than that.
Peter Marlowe: Don't get excited, Fortnum. When we say "not bad", we don't mean "not bad". We mean it's bloody marvelous.
Cpl. King: Yeah? What do you mean when you say "it's bloody marvelous"?
Peter Marlowe: Bit dicey.
Cpl. King: Forget it.
See more »
Crazy Credits
[Prologue] 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 prison 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. See more »
Soundtracks
Adeste Fideles(uncredited)
Written by Frederick Oakeley (1841)
Variation sung in distant background by POWs
See more »
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This film, the best of 1965, was tough and disturbing and seriously under-rated. Great performances and a haunting soundtrack. George Segal, one of the best actors of the 60's and 70's creates an insidious yet charming character who runs things in the camp. James Fox (excellent actor who quit for many years on some kind of spiritual journey) is superb as is Tom Courtney and even Patrick O'Neal (who has never been impressive in any other film I can think of) delivers a punch as Max the stooge.
Bryan Forbes created a somber world of dog eat dog that should have been up for a host of awards. Throw in John Mills, James Donald and other familiar faces and you have a near-classic. A 9 out of 10. Best performance George Segal. Well worth your time.