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King Rat

Released Oct 27, 1965 2h 13m War List
100% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Screen adaptation of James Clavell's best-selling novel about a group of English, American and Australian prisoners in a Singapore POW camp during World War II. When an American officer bribes the Japanese camp commanders to provide him with better living conditions, tension arises between him and his fellow prisoners.
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King Rat

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It did poorly at the box office even though most critics liked it. Rated: B- Jan 14, 2022 Full Review Scott Nash Three Movie Buffs A cynical look at what humanity will do to survive under extreme circumstances. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 23, 2015 Full Review Chuck O'Leary FulvueDrive-in.com Rated: 4/5 May 7, 2007 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jun 7, 2005 Full Review Shane Burridge rec.arts.movies.reviews In this environment, a hustler like King is sure to thrive, just as any resourceful rat would Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (70) audience reviews
James J Must see a real eye opener realistically shows just how barbaric the Japanese solders really were and what prisoners had to go through to survive! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/14/24 Full Review Fred W The best POW movie yet made. It shows realism, not a hyped up escape. A societal class study underlays the plot to give some depth. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/11/24 Full Review rob L One of the best movies iv ever had the pleasure to watch Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/01/24 Full Review Audience Member Film making at it's best. Clovell's skill as a writer allowed him to capture the essence of his personal experience as a POW of the Japanese. The film, in turn, captures the essence of that great 'novel's. George Segal, James Fox, and all the minor leads are outstanding; surely Segal's best performance on film. Segal contrast of Anerican transactional philosophy with Fox's British relational philosophy is a commentary on how the world changed after the war ended. You can feel the heat, the hunger, the despair. Yes, you say to yourself, that is what it was like. That is what happened. The Japanese surrender statement is worth listening to, several times. A film they will be watching while there are people to watch films. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review s r This had potential to be a great portrayal of the book, but it fell short of the mark for entertainment and well captured symbolism. Regardless, it tried something different. Saw on TCM. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review kevin w An unusual entry into the numerous WW2 prisoner-of-war outings, this picture distinguishes itself by its focus on how traditional hierarchy gets tossed aside, and even nationalistic concerns are nothing (duh, of course) when survival is the trump card in the deck. George Segal and James Fox give their best performances ever as an American and a Brit who become friends in the worst of circumstances to the point of shining. It's a great film in an overcrowded field, so don't miss it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
King Rat

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Cast & Crew

King and Country 89% 80% King and Country The Victors 20% 78% The Victors Von Ryan's Express 90% 82% Von Ryan's Express Never So Few 40% 34% Never So Few Hell to Eternity 83% 44% Hell to Eternity Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Screen adaptation of James Clavell's best-selling novel about a group of English, American and Australian prisoners in a Singapore POW camp during World War II. When an American officer bribes the Japanese camp commanders to provide him with better living conditions, tension arises between him and his fellow prisoners.
Director
Bryan Forbes
Producer
James Woolf
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Coleytown
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 27, 1965, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2010
Runtime
2h 13m
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