King and Country
| King and Country | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Joseph Losey |
| Written by | Evan Jones (screenplay) based on the play Hamp (1964) by John Wilson and the novel Return to the Wood (1955) by James Lansdale Hodson |
| Produced by | Joseph Losey Norman Priggen |
| Starring | Dirk Bogarde Tom Courtenay Leo McKern Barry Foster |
| Cinematography | Denys Coop |
| Edited by | Reginald Mills |
| Music by | Larry Adler |
Production companies | BHE Films (UK) Landau/Unger (US) |
| Distributed by | Warner-Pathé (UK) Allied Artists (US) |
Release date | September 1964, Venice Film Festival |
Running time | 88 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £85,785[1][2][3] |
| Box office | £117,358[4] |
King and Country is a 1964 British war film directed by
Plot
During the
Hargreaves is initially impatient with the simple-minded Hamp, but comes to identify with his plight. Following testimony from an unsympathetic doctor (
Cast
- Dirk Bogarde as Captain Charles Hargreaves
- Tom Courtenay as Private Arthur Hamp
- Leo McKern as Captain O'Sullivan
- Barry Foster as Lieutenant Jack Webb
- Peter Copley as Colonel
- James Villiers as Captain Midgley
- Jeremy Spenser as Private Sparrow
- Barry Justice as Lieutenant Prescott
- Vivian Matalon as Padre
- Keith Buckley as Corporal of the Guard
- Derek Partridge as Captain Court Martial
- Brian Tipping as Lieutenant Court Martial
Production
The novel had been filmed for Australian TV in 1962 as The Case of Private Hamp.
Reception
The film was re-released by American International Pictures (AIP) in 1966 and developed a cult following. However in 1973 Losey said that records had the film recording a loss.[2]
The New York Times called it "an impressive achievement," noting "As usual, Mr. Losey has drawn the best from his actors," and concluding that "Some of its scenes are so strong they shock. Those who can take it will find it a shattering experience."[8]
Awards
Tom Courtenay received the award for the Best Actor for his role as Hamp at the 1964
References
- ^ Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 360
- ^ a b Losey on 'broken promises' Barker, Dennis. The Guardian 1 Aug 1973: 6.
- ISBN 978-0-19-506410-0.
- ^ Caute p 146
- ^ "King & Country (1964)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016.
- ^ "Hamp | Samuel French". www.samuelfrench.co.uk.
- ISBN 9781317740636– via Google Books.
- ^ Archer, Eugene (24 September 1964). "Attack on War Seen at Philharmonic Hall:Tom Courtenay Excels in Role of Private". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "King and Country **** (1964, Dirk Bogarde, Tom Courtenay, Leo McKern, Barry Foster) – Classic Movie Review 2532". 28 May 2015.
- ^ "Film in 1965 | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.
External links
- King & Country at IMDb
- King and Country at Rotten Tomatoes
See also
- British Army during World War I