Better Late Then Never

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The studio sets at Elstree don't convince for a moment, but this soon ceases to matter as you get drawn into the drama; it certainly made me very relieved indeed that I've never had to take part in jungle warfare. Few actors divide opinion more than Laurence Harvey, and the fact that he took over a part created on the West End stage by Peter O'Toole hasn't helped estimations of this film. But I personally have always found Harvey compulsive viewing, and the fact that he was apparently a pain to work with on the set simply heightens the tension.

Most films made in the years after the Second World War focus on the heroism of the Allies as they battle against the odds; always united. This is different; set in the Burmese jungle it follows a patrol were insubordination is rife and there is constant arguing; largely due to Pvt. 'Bammo' Bamforth constantly questioning orders and having a go at the other members of the patrol. They are working with experimental psychological warfare equipment in an area they believe to be far from the Japanese but while sheltering from a shower they capture a Japanese soldier who has become separated from his unit. Now they have a dilemma; do they kill him or risk taking him with them as they try to return to base? Opinions are divided but the Sergeant decides the prisoner will be more useful alive. The situation changes after it becomes clear that the Japanese know where they are. Now the sergeant decides he will have to kill the prisoner who they have dubbed 'Tojo', although he will do it when they get to a more suitable location. The strongest voice against killing Tojo comes from Bamforth and he is determined to protect him; even when it is suggested he may have looted the bodies of British soldiers because he has a cigarette case marked 'Made in Birmingham'. As the film reaches its conclusion the patrol finds itself pinned down by the Japanese; an encounter not all of them will survive.While I think this was a good film I wouldn't say that I enjoyed it; few of the characters are particularly sympathetic, in fact the only one without obvious character flaws is the prisoner... and he doesn't speak a work of English. The acting was solid and features several well known actors including Richard Todd, Richard Harris and David McCallum. The jungle scenes were more believable than one might expect given that it was filmed at Elstree Studios; I suspect the fact that it is in black and white might help there. With its small cast the claustrophobia of the situation is obvious; it also means everybody is a 'main character' who is there for a reason; we have the bolshie Bamforth, frightened radio operator Whitaker and a corporal who is not only keen that Tojo should be killed but he is determined that he should be the man to do it. If you want to watch a war film that isn't the clichéd group of heroes fighting against the odds then I'd recommend checking this out; just don't expect a feel good ending.

An excellent character study of the effects of war on a small British patrol in the Burmese jungle during WWII. Things heat up when they capture a Japanese soldier and then find themselves pinned down by enemy troops. Sets are stagy but it's the acting and writing that carry this story. An all star British cast lead by Lawrence Harvey and Richard Todd are first rate.Todd is the no nonsense leader trying to get his men out of a potentially deadly situation. Harvey plays a hard case enlisted man whose fundamental decency gives the movie it's moral force. A young David McCallum (Man From UNCLE) plays a spineless radio operator in what must be his first role.And to top it off a theme song to rival the Bridge on the River Kwai. All in all a movie that should saved from obscurity because it's so good.

Having read the Willis Hall play with the school. I watched this film and saw that it was like watching the actual characters arguing. This shows how the different characters react to a war situation and this makes the combat scene at the end deeply moving because we get to know the characters as individuals as well as stereotypes. First class drama