King & Country

"King & Country," directed by Joseph Losey and released in 1964, is an unrelenting look at war. The World War I drama concerns a young soldier (Tom Courtenay) who is being tried for desertion. It's evident that, after his whole battalion was lost, that the boy was shell-shocked. A Captain Hargreaves (Dirk Bogarde) is brought in to defend him.

The film has actual photos of dead bodies from the London War Museum throughout the movie. The setting is freezing cold, wet bunkers with lots of mud. The men have been jaded to death and suffering and at times act brutally.

The end of the film is particularly awful, that's the only word I can think of. Not awful as in it's a bad movie, but awful in the situation.

Tom Courtenay does an excellent job as a wide-eyed young man who really doesn't realize what he did or what may happen to him as a result; Leo McKern turns in an excellent performance as a no-nonsense officer. Dirk Bogarde is wonderful as the captain who goes to the mat for his client and comes up against a cruel system that seems to have no understanding of or compassion for human frailty.

Lots of gross stuff in this movie - imagine actually having to endure it. Excellent directing job by Losey, and a thought-provoking film that you won't forget quickly, even though you want to.

Tom Courtenay plays Private Hamp, he is the lone survivor of his battalion having volunteered in 1914 – some three years prior, the rest whittled away by the arbitrary wantonness of war. He has been accused of desertion and is facing a court martial. Under martial law he is allocated an officer to represent him – this falls to Captain Hargreaves (Dirk Bogarde). What follows is the trial set amidst the rain and mud just behind the allied front line.

Courtenay plays the gullible soldier to a tee, he is basically an innocent lad who is probably suffering from PTSD or shell shock as it was sometimes referred to back then. Bogarde who was always exceptional plays the officer class perfectly with palpable changes in his attitude as the case unfolds. There is also a magnificently pompous portrayal of a disinterested Medical Officer from Leo McKern who steals the scene.

This was made in 1964 and was done for a shoe string budget – that apparently it never made back and that was despite winning awards and being critically acclaimed. However, recent renewed interests might just get this hidden treasure of British cinema some of the wider recognition it so richly deserves – massively recommended

King & Country is directed by the American Joseph Losey and stars Tom Courtenay as a young soldier in the Great War, shell shocked and facing a court martial for desertion.

Dirk Bogarde plays the officer whose duty is to defend him, at first he seems to be reluctant in his dealings with him, viewing him as a working class imbecile and cowardly to boot. However once he gets to know him a little, Bogarde discovers that many of Courtenay's friends and comrades in his battalion have died, he takes the case more seriously especially as he will be executed if found guilty.

The film is very much a stage play but is also arch as well as having a stylistic template with actual photos of dead bodies from the Imperial War Museum. The set tries to recreate the trenches with a cold, damp, dank setting.

The film has a grim atmosphere as displayed by the foot soldiers and Courtenay is one of them, a soldier who does not realise what he has done and the trouble he is in.

The film highlights the class aspect of the war as the officers have little compassion for the lower ranked soldiers and show no mercy for those driven to despair or madness.

It is 1917, and Arthur Hamp is a volunteer Private with the British Army. After the rest of his company are killed, Hamp decides to "go for a walk," with the deluded intention of making it home to Old Blighty from Belgium on foot. He is caught and put on trial under charges of desertion. If found guilty, Hamp will surely be executed. It is up to Captain Charles Hargreaves to defend the man and prove he was a victim of shell-shock, not a coward. Will Hargreaves be able to save Hamp's life, or will the young man face the firing squad?

Directed by Joseph Losey from a screenplay by Evan Jones, and based on a play by John Wilson- which was, in turn, inspired by a J. L. Hodson novel- 'King & Country' is a devastating anti-war film up there with Stanley Kubrick's 'Paths of Glory.' A frightening depiction of the injustices faced by shell-shocked soldiers in The Great War, it boasts strong dialogue and characterisation, with a gritty narrative both engaging and affecting.

'King & Country' is not just an anti-war film, though. As Losey had done previously with 'The Servant,' the film skewers the British class-system, showcasing its inherent inequality. It portrays the officers as arrogant, aloof and detached from the reality of the war going on around them. They are also indifferent to the plight of the soldiers at their command, who are conversely shown to be loyal and compassionate, for the most part. The narrative also exposes the bias and cruelty of the military court, which disregards Hamp's mental breakdown, condemning him as a yellow traitor.

The film boasts striking black and white cinematography from Denys N. Coop, which enhances the despondent tone of proceedings. Coop uses high contrast, low angles and close-ups to accentuate the feelings and reactions of the characters, while his utilisation of low-key lighting and deep shadows heightens the tension and drama of scenes. Highly impactful, Coop's sterling work is one of the reasons 'King & Country' is so memorable.

Additionally, Richard Macdonald's atmospheric production design creates a damp and despairing environment that immerses the viewer in the harsh conditions of warfare. Macdonald uses realistic costumes, props and sets to recreate the look and feel of a rat-infested World War I trench. 'King & Country' was shot on location in a purpose-built pit near Shepperton Studios, enhancing the authenticity and intensity of the film. Furthermore, Larry Adler's haunting and melancholic score complements the narrative's mood and tone adroitly, lending the film additional power.

'King & Country stars Dirk Bogarde as Captain Hargreaves alongside Tom Courtenay as Hamp, supported by Peter Copley, Leo McKern and Barry Foster. A nuanced and sensitive actor, Bogarde never turned in a bad performance- even if he disputed that- and as Hargreaves he delivers a multifaceted masterclass. He displays the characters' arc- from cynic to compassionate crusader- astutely, while co-star Courtenay is heartbreaking as the innocent, naïve Hamp; a gentle man for whom the endless slog of war proved to be too much. Moreover, Copley and McKern are both brilliant as arrogant officers, while Foster steals his short scene as the unbiased Lieutenant Webb with ease.

A strongly acted, well-written treatise on the class system, Joseph Losey's 'King & Country' is a powerful and poignant anti-war film that ranks alongside the very best of the genre. Boasting stunning cinematography, rich production design and a stirring score, it impresses on every level. Thought-provoking and intelligently made, 'King & Country' will linger with you long after the credits have rolled. It is- if you'd pardon the pun- a film that is absolutely fit for a king; and a country.

On a World War I battleground, British soldier Tom Courtenay (as Arthur Hamp) is arrested for desertion, after serving three years in combat. If convicted, the shell-shocked young man will be shot dead. He is assigned a military defense attorney Dirk Bogarde (as Hargreaves) who seems convinced Mr. Courtenay is guilty. However, as the trenches trial proceeds, Mr. Bogarde becomes more sympathetic regarding his client's extenuating circumstances. "King and Country" will either spare Courtenay, or kill him...

Producer/director Joseph Losey does a convincing job with this drama, though it moves somewhat slowly until the end. Courtenay comes across as a shell-shocked man who volunteered for the war, and could no longer do battle after seeing his entire unit wasted away. He's commendable and understandable, and this shows in Bogarde's astute performance. The film's point is easily made, with Bogarde's character effectively leading doubters toward a shattering conclusion. The film, and both men, won award recognition.

******* King & Country (9/5/64) Joseph Losey ~ Dirk Bogarde, Tom Courtenay, Leo McKern, Barry Foster