King Rat (Columbia Pictures) (1965)

Review Bold and rare entertainment can be found atthe...... Theatre where “King Rat,” suspenseful new Columbia Pictures release starring George Segal in the title role, opened yesterday. A motion picture that retains all the exciting and thought-provoking elements of the best-selling novel on which it is based, while capturing with elaborate, graphic reality the manner in which human nature meets its sternest tests, “King Rat” serves as a vividly powerful introduction to Hollywood of the brilliant British writer-director Bryan Forbes. Forbes penned the screenplay for “King Rat,” based on the James Clavell novel, and directed the film with a cast which includes, in addition to Segal, Tom Courtenay, James Fox, Denholm Elliott, Todd Armstrong, Patrick O’Neal, James Donald and John Mills. All are familiar to London and Broadway playgoers, or to movie-goers around the world. “King Rat’ is the story of the notorious Changi Prison camp outside Singapore in the closing days of World War II, where 10,000 British and Australian servicemen and a_ sprinkling of Americans restlessly awaited the end of their imprisonment. Fascinating in narrative detail, “King Rat” traces the manner in which they raged and roared and cheated and clashed and dreamed and even hoped, with survival as the touchstone of their lives. Toughest of the lot is the man they called “King,” an American non-com. Produced by James Woolf, with music composed and conducted by John Barry, “King Rat” is a motion picture to feel good about, and one sure to be talked about for years to come. Writer-Director A one-time actor whose fulltime energies are now being devoted to writing screenplays and directing films, Bryan Forbes is writer-director of the dramatic “King Rat,” starring George Segal in the title role at the Theatre. Forbes made his London stage debut in “The Corn is Green.” After military service, he turned to acting in films, appearing in more than a dozen features before concentrating on his behindthe-camera work. Among his recent screenplays have been “The Angry Silence” and “Only Two Can Play.” The films he has directed include “The L-Shaped Room,” “Seance on a Wet Afternoon” and, now, “King Rat,” his first Hollywood motion picture production. (Mat IC; Still No. R517) George Segal, right, urges James Fox to join him in prison camp black-marketing, in "King Rat," new Columbia Pictures release with a cast headed by Segal, Tom Courtenay, Fox, Denholm Elliott. Todd Armstrong, Patrick O'Neal, James Donald and John Mills. Bryan Forbes directed. Page 10 (Mat 2B; Still No, NY 557) James Fox threatens mayhem with a Japanese bayonet while Denholm Elliott looks on in "King Rat,'' a Columbia Pictures release with George Segal in the title role and also starring Tom Courtenay, Fox, Elliott, Todd Armstrong, Patrick O'Neal, James Donald and John Mills. "King Rat" is based on the James Clavell best-seller and the screenplay was written by Bryan Forbes, who also directed. General Advance A motion picture audiences are sure to feel good about, and one which is bound to be talked about for years to come, “King Rat” opens at the Theatre with George Segal in the title role and a cast that includes some of the finest character actors and stars of England and America. “King Rat” is a Columbia Pictures release, based on an international best-seller, produced by James Woolf and directed by Bryan Forbes from his own screenplay. Start with the novel, a story of the notorious Changi Prison camp outside Singapore in World War II, where some 10,000 young British and Australian servicemen, with a handful of Americans, raged and roared and cheated and clashed in their efforts to survive. The toughest of them, an American non-com, was “King.” “King Rat,” by James Clavell, has been translated into nine languages and remains a best-seller in some 21 different countries. James Woolf, producer of the Columbia release, has been associated with such films as “The African Queen,” “Moulin Rouge” and “Life at the Top.” Bryan Forbes also directed “The LShaped Room” and “Seance on a Wet Afternoon” to name but two of his recent screen triumphs; and he wrote the screenplays for such other pictures as “The Angry Silence” and “Only Two Can Play.” Segal is a comparative newcomer to the screen, a handsome young actor who first attracted attention in “The NEW Interns” and then appeared triumphantly in “Ship of Fools’ with its spectacular international cast of stars. Also starred in “King Rat” are Tom Courtenay, voted “Best Actor” at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in “King and Country”; James Fox, who was so sensational in “The Servant,” and Denholm Elliott, who is a Broadway and London stage star. Todd Armstrong had just achieved screen stardom when he went into the army and Patrick O’Neal is a Broadway star who was cast importantly in “The Cardinal” and in “In Harm’s Way.” James Donald, the sardonic Scots actor who was the doctor in “Bridge on the River Kwai,” also is starred in “King Rat,” as is John Mills, one of England’s best-known actors. James Fox James Fox, handsome young Englishman with reddish-blonde hair, twinkling blue eyes and a strong sense of humor, figures importantly in “King Rat,” exciting new Columbia Pictures release at the Theatre with George Segal starred in the title role. Fox made his screen debut in “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.” Tom Courtenay who starred in that film, also stars in “King Rat.” Fox’s work attracted the attention of Dirk Bogarde, and the young actor was signed to play the master dominated by Bogarde in “The Servant.” Following the success of “The Servant,” the 25-year-old Fox received offers from producers all over the world. But his agent, Robin Fox, who happens to be his father, turned them all down until the right film role came along. The proper deal, in this instance, was a stellar role as a young British pilot in “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.” While he was making this film in London, Columbia offered Fox the role of Marlowe, King’s closest friend in a Singapore prisoner-of-war camp in “King Rat.” Produced by James Woolf, from a screenplay written by director Bryan Forbes and based on the best-selling novel by James Clavell, “King Rat’ also stars Denholm Elliott, Todd Armstrong, Patrick O’Neal, James Donald and John Mills. Tom Courtenay The word “meteoric” has been used many times to describe the career of a new actor. But probably never has the description been more applicable than in the case of Tom Courtenay, young British star who makes his Hollywood film debut in the James Woolf production of “King Rat,” bold new Columbia Pictures release at the ...... Theatre with George Segal in the title role. “King Rat” is Courtenay’s fourth motion picture role. The other three, “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner,” “Billy Liar’ and “King and Country,” all were made in England and Courtenay not only received star billing but his sensitive and emotional portrayal of an inarticulate private soldier in the last named film won him the Venice Film Festival “Best Actor” Award. In “King Rat,” for which director Bryan Forbes also wrote the screenplay based on James Clavell’s best-selling novel, Courtenay plays a provost marshal determined to catch Segal violating prison camp rules. Courtenay more or less hit the theatrical jackpot when he followed Albert Finney in the title role of “Billy Liar” on the London stage. When the film version of the stage hit was made, Tom was given the screen role. Others in the cast of “King Rat” are James Fox, Denholm Elliott, Todd Armstrong, Patrick O’Neal, James Donald and John Mills. Bryan Forbes Bryan Forbes is one of the few motion picture writer-directors with complete artistic control over his films. It is an honor and privilege that the versatile, sensative young Britisher, who has yet to celebrate his 40th birthday, earned in England with such widely-aclaimed successes as “The L-Shaped Room” and “Seance on a Wet Afternoon.” His autonomy of operation was extended across the Atlantic Ocean, where he directed his first Hollywood-made feature, “King Rat,” produced by James Woolf for Columbia Picture release and starring George Segal in the title role of the new film at the Sisters Theatre. Columbia studio executives gave him a free hand in every way. No one even suggested a single change in the script he himself had written, based on the James Clavell novel. Neither did anyone attempt to dictate or influence his casting. Forbes’ reputation as a filmmaker and the importance of “King Rat” led several boxoffice stars to seek roles in the film but Forbes ruled them all out on the grounds that their wellknown personalities might get between the audience and the story. “King Rat” concerns the rise and fall of an American noncom in a predominantly Britishfilled Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. Starred with Segal are Tom Courtenav, James Fox, Denholm Elliott, Todd Armstrong, Patrick O’Neal, James Donald and John Mills. James Woolf produced “King Rat” and the music for the film was composed and conducted by John Barry. James Woolf A son of C. M. Woolf, one of the pioneers of the British film business, James Woolf has been associated with some of the international screen’s finest pictures; latest of these is “King Rat,” the Columbia Pictures release starring George Segal in the title role at the ...... Theatre. Among other pictures with which Woolf has been associated have been “The African Queen,”’ “Moulin Rouge,” “Room at the Top,” “The L-Shaped Room” and “The Pumpkin Eater.” “King Rat,” story of the notorious Changi Prison camp near Singapore in World War II, also stars Tom Courtenay, James Fox, Denholm Elliott, Todd Armstrong, Patrick O’Neal, James Donald and John Mills. Based on the best-selling novel by James Clavell, the screenplay was written by Bryan Forbes who also directed. (Mat 1B, Still No. NY 536) George Segal fights off a masked prison camp assailant in "King Rat,"’ the Columbia Pictures release with Segal in the title ‘ role and also starring Tom Courtenay, James Fox, Denholm Elliott, Todd Armstrong, Patrick O'Neal, James Donald and John Mills. (Mat IA; Still No. NY 576) George Segal as he appears in the title role in "King Rat," thrilling Columbia Pictures release which also stars Tom Courtenay, James Fox, Denholm Elliott, Todd Armstrong, Patrick O'Neal, James Donald and John Mills. Film is based on the best-seller by James Clavell. George Segal To George Segal, dynamic new screen personality whose virility, talent and magnetism mark him as Hollywood’s new “male sex symbol,” the business of acting has always been a feast or a famine. Right now, he is starred in the title role of “King Rat,” dramatic new Columbia Pictures release at the Theatre, and the first film to be made in Hollywood by director Bryan Forbes. Forbes also write the screenplay based on the bestselling novel by James Clavell. Earlier, of course, Segal made a smash hit in “The NEW Interns,” and then followed up with a vivid performance in Stanley Kramer’s “Ship of Fools.” At Haverford College near Philadelphia, he created “Bruno Lynch and His Imperial Jazz Band.” “Bruno Lynch” was the banjo-playing George Segal, who thought the name sounded a little more like show business than his own. Years later, indeed, he was professionally advised that no actor with a name like his would have a chance. After his discharge from the army, Segal tackled a theatrical career under his own name. He was the ticket-taker, usher, soft drink salesman and janitor at one off-Broadway theatre, and even worked up to general understudy. Much later, he got a chance to appear before an audience, at another off-Broadway theatre where he appeared with Peter Falk in Moliere’s “Don Juan.” There followed a long succession of off Broadway plays, one of which caught the attention of Frederic March, who recommended Segal for a role in his picture, “The Young Doctors.” This film brought him to a cameo spot in “The Longest Day” and suddenly, the rough ride was a thing of the past — producers and directors came looking for George Segal. Others starred in “King Rat” are Tom Courtenay, James Fox, Denholm Elliott, Todd Armstrong, Patrick O’Neal, James Donald and John Mills. Advance Notice “King Rat,” dramatic new Columbia Pictures release written for the screen and directed by Bryan Forbes, opens ...... at the Theatre. Starred are George Segal in the title role, Tom Courtenay, James Fox, Denholm Elliott, Alan Webb, Todd Armstrong, Patrick O’Neal, James Donald and John Mills. The film is based on the best-selling novel by James Clavell, with music composed and conducted by John Barry. James Woolf produced the film.