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King Rat

King Rat

Drama · War · 1965

When Singapore surrendered to the Japanese in 1942, the Allied POWs, mostly British but including a few Americans, were incarcerated in Changi prison. Among the American prisoners is Cpl. King, a wheeler-dealer who has managed to establish a pretty good life for himself in the camp. King soon forms a friendship with an upper-class British officer who is fascinated with King's enthusiastic approach to life.

Movie details

King Rat

“They Made the Toughest Among Them... King!”

1965 Drama · War 2h 14m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

When Singapore surrendered to the Japanese in 1942, the Allied POWs, mostly British but including a few Americans, were incarcerated in Changi prison. Among the American prisoners is Cpl. King, a wheeler-dealer who has managed to establish a pretty good life for himself in the camp. King soon forms a friendship with an upper-class British officer who is fascinated with King's enthusiastic approach to life.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over King Rat?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Pork Chop Hill

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Bryan Forbes

Written by

Bryan Forbes

George Segal

George Segal

Corporal King

James Fox

James Fox

Peter Marlowe

Tom Courtenay

Tom Courtenay

Grey

Patrick O'Neal

Patrick O'Neal

Max

James Donald

James Donald

Dr. Kennedy

John Mills

John Mills

Smedley-Taylor

Denholm Elliott

Denholm Elliott

Larkin

Court is in session

Put King Rat on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.