The Long and the Short and the Tall [Jungle Fighters] *** (1961, Richard Todd, Richard Harris, Laurence Harvey) – Classic Movie Review 5153

‘Raw emotions bared!’

Director Leslie Norman’s 1961 British film version of Willis Hall’s classic 1959 stage play The Long and the Short and the Tall stars Richard Todd, Richard Harris, Laurence Harvey, David McCallum and Ronald Fraser.

It tells the story of a seven-strong patrol of British Army troops who get lost in the Malaysian jungle in World War Two wartime in 1942, shelter from the rain in a hut at an abandoned tin mine, and capture a Japanese soldier (Kenji Takaki), who stumbles across them, and then argue over whether or not to shoot him. The men are bickering, provoked by the bullying Corporal Johnstone or the mocking Bamforth, but tensions soar when the patrol’s radio malfunctions.

The play was a hit in the theatre for young Peter O’Toole, but producer Michael Balcon made the mistake of replacing him with the then more popular film star Laurence Harvey, a much less good or exciting actor, who gives a stiff and stilted performance as Private ‘Bammo’ Bamforth, a know-all, hard-case enlisted soldier who wants to spare the prisoner’s life through fundamental decency.

Norman directs diligently, trusting the play and letting the action and acting of the strong cast (Richard Todd, Richard Harris, Laurence Harvey, David McCallum, Ronald Fraser, John Meillon, John Rees) shine through. The faded material seems terribly dated, and the film ends up interesting, if not always involving. Todd is good as Sergeant Mitchem and so is McCallum as spineless radio operator Private Whitaker, while Harris stands out as the rowdy Corporal Johnstone, who despises Bamforth.

The Long and the Short and the Tall is directed by Leslie Norman, runs 110 minutes, is made by Michael Balcon Productions and Associated British Picture Corporation, released by Warner-Pathé Distributors (1961) (UK) and Continental Distributing (1962) (US), is scripted by Willis Hall (additional dialogue) and Wolf Mankowitz (screenplay), based on the play by Willis Hall, shot in black and white by Erwin Hillier, produced by Michael Balcon and Hal Mason (executive producer) and scored by Stanley Black, with Production Design by Terence Verity and Art Direction by Jim Morahan.

It was made at Associated British Elstree Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood.

Kenji Takaki who plays Tojo, is the only actor to act in both the film and original stage production directed by Lindsay Anderson, who was upset he didn’t get to make it as as feature film debut, retaliating by referring to Leslie Norman as a ‘hack’, incurring the wrath of his son, film critic Barry Norman.

Takaki was 66 at the time of filming, more than 40 years too old for a World War Two soldier.

The 1917 First World War song ‘Bless ‘Em All (The Long and the Short and the Tall)’ is by Fred Godfrey, Jimmy Hughes and Frank Lake and is performed by the cast. The song was first recorded by George Formby Jr in 1940 and became highly popular in the Second World War after it was also recorded by Vera Lynn.

The socialist Richard Harris did not get along with the conservative Richard Todd during filming. Todd was a vocal supporter of the British Conservative Party. Harris resented and despised Laurence Harvey, who did not get along with Richard Todd either. Todd had been impressed by O’Toole’s performance as Bamforth in the theatre production and was disappointed when O’Toole wasn’t cast for the film.

Todd loathed making the film: ‘I didn’t enjoy working with Laurence Harvey. I took it for granted that they would cast Peter O’Toole, who was marvellous on stage, but they said they wanted a “name”.’

Leslie Norman was unhappy Laurence Harvey was cast instead of Peter O’Toole, and later felt Harvey and Richard Harris ‘let the film down’. But Norman said: ‘I was very pleased with my side of the film in the end. It was all made in a studio. We never set foot outside for a month. I asked to go on location, but a jungle’s pretty claustrophobic, for sure.’

Harris claimed the 5′ 9″ Todd stood on top mounds of dirt to seem as tall as his co-stars. The Long and the Short and the Not So Tall then.

The film had an X certificate, thanks mostly its language: ‘bastard’ is heard several times.

The Long and the Short and the Tall stage cast.

For the original Royal Court Theatre in London in January 1959, Albert Finney was cast as the Northcountry Private Bamforth, but because of his appendicitis he was replaced by the unknown O’Toole, who turned the character into a Cockney and a success.

Michael Caine was Peter O’Toole’s understudy in the London stage production but he never appeared. But Caine later played O’Toole’s role on a Scottish tour of the play with Frank Finlay as Sergeant Mitchem and Terence Stamp as Whitaker.

The Long and the Short and the Tall was Lindsay Anderson’s first major production for the Royal Court, transferring to London’s West End in April 1959.

Leslie Norman (1911–1993).

Barry Norman died on 30 June 2017, aged 83.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5153

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