I just rewatched this film and now consider it a classic. It's hard to understand some of the dialogue, but if you listen carefully you'll get it all. My comment is that I wish they they cut out the last minute of the film; would have had a much more positive impact. Any thoughts?
For who would bear the whips and scorns of Hollywood... (;-p)
I saw it for the first time today and loved it. Looking forward to seeing it again.
Exactly where do you wish the film had ended? Before they attacked Williams and ruined their chances to be believed?
BTW, if I hadn't used captions, I'd have missed most of the dialogue.
Yes, exactly. Would have been a much better ending had Williams been taken away by the authorities.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of Hollywood... (;-p)
I think the point of the ending was to suggest that this kind of dehumanising treatment is still inherent in our military establishments (and other institutions?) today - or at least in 1965 when the film was released. Sanctioned and unchallenged authority will nearly always prevail no matter how inhumanely it behaves and leave little room for those at its mercy to effectively fight back. When, as in the case of King and McGrath, the oppressed are pushed beyond breaking point their actions are likely to be self defeating and destructive (the murderous beating of mini tyrant Williams) and, in the eyes of the law at least, their rebellion is invalidated. You can just imagine the tabloid headline 'Cowardly army deserters and lead swingers kill serving prison camp officer!"
shareThe ending was perfect, I felt, as it places the movie as a tragedy. Williams being caught and prosecuted would smack of a happy ending. I suppose the message was that you can't beat the Army.
I understood all of the dialogue, but I am British and I have a decent knowledge of the UK military. I can understand how some might find the dialogue to be challenging - the usual problem of tricky accents and language specific to the 1940s British Army.
"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."