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King and Country

King and Country

War · Drama · 1964

During World War I, Army Private Arthur James Hamp is accused of desertion during battle. The officer assigned to defend him at his court-martial, Captain Hargreaves, finds out there is more to the case than meets the eye.

Movie details

King and Country

“Go ahead... kill him - you're the only friend he has!”

1964 War · Drama 1h 25m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

During World War I, Army Private Arthur James Hamp is accused of desertion during battle. The officer assigned to defend him at his court-martial, Captain Hargreaves, finds out there is more to the case than meets the eye.

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 and Country?

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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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Joseph Losey

Written by

J.L. Hodson · A.E. Housman · Dirk Bogarde · Evan Jones

Dirk Bogarde

Dirk Bogarde

Capt. Hargreaves

Tom Courtenay

Tom Courtenay

Pvt. Arthur Hamp

Leo McKern

Leo McKern

Capt. O'Sullivan

Peter Copley

Peter Copley

Colonel

Barry Foster

Barry Foster

Lt. Webb

B

Barry Justice

Lt. Prescott

James Villiers

James Villiers

Capt. Midgley

Court is in session

Put King and Country 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.