During World War I, Army Private Arthur James Hamp is accused of desertion during battle. The officer assigned to defend him at his court-martial, Captain Hargreaves, finds out there is more to the case than meets the eye.
Acting
Courtenay's trembling breakdown; Bogarde's thawing cynicism.
Direction
Losey's suffocating close-ups trap you in the trench.
Writing
Dialogue that weaponizes politeness into violence.
Director
Joseph Losey
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during the Vietnam War's escalation, Losey's WWI indictment felt dangerously contemporary; British military screenings were quietly discouraged.
The execution scene used live ammunition for authenticity; Courtenay's visible flinch is genuine terror.
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Sadly, running away from the enemy has to be a capital crime; otherwise many, many more soldiers would do that.
@davidrodgersNJ
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