Rating: NR
Genre:
Drama
Release Date: 05/06/2003
SubTitles: English/Japanese
Dubbed: English
Sound: DD
Run Time: 134 Minutes
Flags: Not For Children
Distributor/Studio: Columbia TriStar
James Clavell incorporated a few of his own experiences as a British POW in his novel
King Rat.
Bryan Forbes' film version stars
George Segal as the mastermind of all black market operations in a Japanese prison camp. He is called "King Rat" because of his breeding of rodents to serve as food for his emaciated fellow prisoners; the nickname also alludes to
Segal's shifty personality. British officer
James Fox helps
Segal expand his operation to include trading with the Japanese officers. Though on surface level a thoroughly selfish sort,
Segal saves the ailing
Fox's life by wangling precious antibiotics from the guards.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide