Watch The Long and the Short and the Tall

The Long and the Short and the Tall is a British war film from 1961, directed by Leslie Norman and based on a play by Willis Hall. The movie takes place in the jungles of Burma during World War II, where a group of British soldiers are on a mission to destroy a Japanese radio outpost. The film stars Richard Todd, Laurence Harvey, and Richard Harris.

The movie begins with the British soldiers, who are tired and hungry, marching through the jungle when they stumble upon a Japanese prisoner of war. The soldiers, led by Sergeant Mitchem (Richard Todd), take the prisoner with them as they continue on their mission. Along the way, they come across a deserted village and decide to set up camp there for the night.

As the night wears on, tensions rise among the soldiers as they begin to question each other's motives and loyalty. Private Bamforth (Laurence Harvey) in particular, who has a reputation for being a troublemaker, antagonizes the other soldiers with his sarcastic comments and derisive attitude. However, when a group of Japanese soldiers attacks the camp, Bamforth proves his bravery by holding off the attackers.

The rest of the film follows the soldiers as they make their way to the Japanese radio outpost, facing obstacles and challenges along the way. The Japanese prisoner, who speaks English, becomes a valuable asset to the soldiers as they try to navigate the unfamiliar terrain.

The Long and the Short and the Tall is a tense and suspenseful film, with strong performances from its ensemble cast. Richard Todd is especially good as the stoic and no-nonsense Sergeant Mitchem, while Laurence Harvey shines as the cynical and sarcastic Private Bamforth.

One of the film's strengths is its exploration of the psychological toll that war takes on soldiers. The soldiers are shown to be exhausted, hungry, and constantly on edge, their nerves frayed by the constant threat of attack. This environment leads to a breakdown in civility among the soldiers, as they turn on each other in their desperation.

The film also touches on broader themes of loyalty and duty. Sergeant Mitchem is portrayed as a dedicated and capable leader who is determined to complete the mission at all costs. Private Bamforth, on the other hand, is initially portrayed as a cowardly troublemaker, but ultimately proves his worth to the unit through his bravery and ingenuity.

Overall, The Long and the Short and the Tall is a gripping and intense war film that explores the psychological toll of combat on soldiers. With its strong performances and tense atmosphere, it remains a powerful and thought-provoking film more than 50 years after its initial release.

The Long and the Short and the Tall is a 1961 war movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.