CERT 12A
104 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate bad language, sex references
Well, that is weird. Alan Bates speaking French to a town full of asylum escapees.
Actually, that's the least of it. Philippe de Broca's movie is as mad as a box of frogs but rather disarming to boot.
King Of Hearts is Pythonesque before Monty Python teamed up and has more than a hint of Oh, What A Lovely War.
It is set during the First World War in a town in France which the Germans booby trap before retreating.
Bates plays an English army private who specialises in looking after carrier pigeons and is tasked with infiltrating the town to see what is going on.
Fears of the explosion send the residents into hiding but prompt the escape of those locked away in the asylum.
These were the days before political correctness so they are portrayed as joyous but nutty as fruitcakes, announcing Bates' character as their king of hearts.
From then on, the movie is a colourful and surreal litany of misunderstandings and love-ins with a huge dollop of satire.
Apparently, King Of Hearts was not successful at the box office at the time of its initial release in 1966 but began to develop a cult following in America four years later.
This may have been down to its mockery of war during the time of significant protests against the conflict in Vietnam.
It is a cross between theatre, circus, carnival and war and is certainly unique.
De Broca's film even has Derbyshire boy Bates speaking very passable French.
In my view bits of it worked and bits of it didn't but I was certainly glad of the chance to catch up with it.
Reasons to watch: Pythonesque movie - years before python
Reasons to avoid: Will be far too surreal for many
Laugh: A couple of chuckles
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: Briefly
Overall rating: 6.5/10
The big question - Could Alan Bates really speak fluent French?
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