THE LONG & THE SHORT & THE TALL (AKA JUNGLE FIGHTERS, 1962, starring Richard Todd, Laurence Harvey and Richard Harris)

A strong, anti-war message permeates this fine film, based on the play by Willis Hall.

Chances are most of you have never even heard of this one, or if you have, you’re wondering how on earth I found it. Cinema Classics in New York dubbed this from a U.K. release. That’s why the Great Britain release title is used. The film was released in the U.S. as JUNGLE FIGHTERS.

Laurence Harvey was an incredibly versatile actor. A Lithuanian Jew, born in South Africa, Harvey was one of the great British matinee idols of the 1950s. He went on to star in many Hollywood films, including THE ALAMO and THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE. He was also a highly-touted stage actor, with Shakespeare credits (including a great success as Henry V) and a decent crack at King Arthur in CAMELOT on the London stage in the mid-sixties. Harvey plays the loud-mouthed Pvt. Bamforth, who constantly spouts insubordination and bitterness (i.e. the British Angry Young Man in the army).

A small number of WWII British soldiers have undertaken a rather unique mission in the jungles of Burma. They are to record jungle and troop noises to use in diverting the enemy from actual troop whereabouts. Richard Todd is the tough-as-nails sergeant, and Richard Harris is the corporal who has it in for Bamforth. The rest of the small group includes David McCallum and Ronald Fraser.

The film is essentially a character study, with action effectively kept to a minimum. The examination of a diverse group of soldiers (mirroring the melting pot of England) in a high-pressure situation has been done before, but this film competes with the best of them and offers a few striking touches of originality. When a Japanese soldier is taken prisoner, the conflicts between the men are heightened, most interestingly when Bamforth defends him against accusations of looting. It is clear that Bamforth, the outsider, identifies with the Japanese soldier, both as one outside the group and as a sort of prisoner of circumstances.

The film is taut, dialogue heavy and purposely claustrophobic. It is shot in striking black and white and provides yet another moving testament to the tragedy of war. Made just before the U.S. commitment in Vietnam, it reminds the viewer of the oppressive heat and potential paranoia that are a part of jungle warfare.

Action film fans probably will not favour this film (for its lack of action). And it is a disservice and downright misleading to describe it solely as a war film. Character comes first.

But for those who have the patience, THE LONG & THE SHORT & THE TALL is a rewarding experience. The ensemble acting is especially good, with each British actor doing a distinctly different accent.

The film is intelligent, thought-provoking and a reminder of how good Harris, Harvey and Todd were. The 1960s saw new intensity in screen acting. Here is a rare little example of a film that exemplifies this growing trend toward cynical realism.

Chances are the only way you’ll get to see this film is by purchasing it. If you are a collector of ‘war’ films (albeit with an emphasis on character) or any of the principal actors, it is well worth the price.

Let’s not forget that Richard Todd landed at D-Day and brings a soldier’s sensibility to his performance. Richard Harris, when he was young, ate up the screen as if his life depended on it, and Harvey, as already mentioned, was simply brilliant.

THE LONG & THE SHORT & THE TALL bristles with British acting at its finest.

Jon Ted Wynne