Watch Stand Up Virgin Soldiers
- 1977
- 1 hr 27 min
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4.7 (198)
Stand Up Virgin Soldiers is a British comedy film from 1977, directed by Norman Cohen and starring Robin Askwith, Nigel Davenport, and George Layton. It is the third and final installment in the "Virgin Soldiers" series, which comprises of "The Virgin Soldiers" (1969) and "Privates on Parade" (1977). The film follows the antics of a group of rookies who are sent to the Malayan jungle during the communist insurgency of the 1950s.
The story is centered around the characters of Brigg (Askwith), Whitaker (Layton) and Raskin (Anthony Andrews), who are enlisted in the British Army as National Servicemen. They are then sent to Malaya, where they are supposed to be trained in jungle warfare by the grizzled Captain Rose (Davenport). However, their immediate concern is less about guerrilla tactics and more about their own sexual desires.
As they make their way through the jungle, the group finds themselves in a variety of humorous situations, such as accidentally landing in the middle of a terrorist training camp, getting lost in the jungle, and dealing with the cultural differences with the local population. In one particularly memorable scene, the group becomes convinced that they have contracted leprosy and set up their own makeshift quarantine camp in the jungle, hilariously mistaking harmless insect bites for deadly diseases.
Despite the comedic tone, the movie is also known for delicately addressing the tensions and racial prejudices that existed between the British soldiers and the local Malay population at the time. The soldiers struggle to connect with the locals, and their ignorance leads them to make mistakes that have serious ramifications, particularly when they enter a village and accidentally offend the local sultan.
Throughout the film, the three main characters are constantly in search of romantic relationships with the local women, but their naivety and inexperience with relationships often end up causing trouble for the group. Meanwhile, the cynical Captain Rose serves as a foil to their attempts at romance, often mocking their attempts at courting the local women.
The movie is a classic example of British comedy and features many funny moments, lewd jokes, and slapstick humor. It also touches on the harsh realities of war and the difficulty of bridging cultural divides. The film's soundtrack, which features classic hits from the 1950s, adds a nostalgic touch to the proceedings and captures the mood of the era.
Overall, Stand Up Virgin Soldiers is an entertaining and lighthearted movie that combines humor, romance, and social commentary in an enjoyable manner. Although the film may not be as well-known as other classic British comedies, it offers a unique perspective on the British experience in Malaya during the insurgency and provides an amusing insight into the lives of young soldiers during a tumultuous time in world history.
Stand Up Virgin Soldiers is a 1977 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7.