Stalag 17 v King Rat?

[Mock Turtle]

I love both of these films, but perhaps have seen the first many more time than the second, since it is so often on British TV. Both have some great acting, especially from leads William Holden (seldom making a bad film perhaps) and from George Segal, but perhaps what separates the films more than anything is the humour in Stalag 17, which can't be said much about King Rat. Both involve individuals making the most of their abilities to survive, whether honourably or not. They of course do show different areas of conflict - one whilst being held captive by the Japanese, and the other by the Germans, but both depict what is likely to happen in such scenarios, even if the Japanese experience was likely to be much more deadly than the German one. Apart from William Holden (and of course Otto Preminger in an acting role), perhaps the most actors going on to greater things came from King Rat. And both films being in B&W. The two are well worth seeing if one hasn't already done so.

Comments?

 

[PureX]

Having read the book "King Rat", I wasn't that impressed with the movie, as often happens. But it's been a very long time since I've seen either. They are both story lessons from a time and a generation that we have forgotten, and will pay a dear price for having done so, I fear.

 

[Stevicus]

I love both of these films, but perhaps have seen the first many more time than the second, since it is so often on British TV. Both have some great acting, especially from leads William Holden (seldom making a bad film perhaps) and from George Segal, but perhaps what separates the films more than anything is the humour in Stalag 17, which can't be said much about King Rat. Both involve individuals making the most of their abilities to survive, whether honourably or not. They of course do show different areas of conflict - one whilst being held captive by the Japanese, and the other by the Germans, but both depict what is likely to happen in such scenarios, even if the Japanese experience was likely to be much more deadly than the German one. Apart from William Holden (and of course Otto Preminger in an acting role), perhaps the most actors going on to greater things came from King Rat. And both films being in B&W. The two are well worth seeing if one hasn't already done so.

Comments?

I've seen King Rat only once, and I thought it was okay. I've seen Stalag 17 a few times, and I thought it was a great film. More often than not, I see Stalag 17 compared with The Bridge on the River Kwai, as both movies had William Holden, and both were about WW2 POW camps.

Another good POW-related movie was Von Ryan's Express with Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard.

Then of course, one of my all time favorites was The Great Escape.

There were some elements of comedy in all of these movies, but they were mostly serious. However, The Secret War of Harry Frigg was a POW comedy of sorts, not to mention Hogan's Heroes - which featured Richard Dawson, who also appeared in King Rat, btw.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Having read the book "King Rat", I wasn't that impressed with the movie, as often happens. But it's been a very long time since I've seen either. They are both story lessons from a time and a generation that we have forgotten, and will pay a dear price for having done so, I fear.

Not read the book so can't compare but King Rat seems to get good reviews via comments on the internet, if that means much. The two seemed to be quite comparable for the lead roles more than anything, and no doubt what did occur in such situations. Plenty of good opportunities for others acting too though. I'd probably go for Stalag 17 as being the stayer - and given that it seems so popular in the UK

 

[Mock Turtle]

I've seen King Rat only once, and I thought it was okay. I've seen Stalag 17 a few times, and I thought it was a great film. More often than not, I see Stalag 17 compared with The Bridge on the River Kwai, as both movies had William Holden, and both were about WW2 POW camps.

Another good POW-related movie was Von Ryan's Express with Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard.

Then of course, one of my all time favorites was The Great Escape.

There were some elements of comedy in all of these movies, but they were mostly serious. However, The Secret War of Harry Frigg was a POW comedy of sorts, not to mention Hogan's Heroes - which featured Richard Dawson, who also appeared in King Rat, btw.

All great films mentioned. Another in the Japanese area of conflict was Empire of The Sun, but being rather different.

 

[MNoBody]

read king rat decades ago....had to think a bit to recall.....well written, the guy has real talent for illustrating with words.....purex nailed it. people have really forgotten the hells their forbears went through and the hard lessons learned.....and we will all pay for that...apparently.
never saw the movie, or the other one either.

 

[Stevicus]

All great films mentioned. Another in the Japanese area of conflict was Empire of The Sun, but being rather different.

A lot of movies covering the Pacific Theater were focused on naval combat, although another TV show I just remembered was Baa Baa Black Sheep about a Marine fighter squadron stationed in the Solomon Islands.

The miniseries War and Remembrance also has some Pacific naval battle scenes, along with most of episode 3 being devoted to the Battle of Midway (and was better than the movie Midway, which kind of sucked).