The 'Virgin Soldiers' movie was quite a frank piece of theatre. It contained all of the usual pathos of the book, but seemed to go more for a 'straight' piece of entertainment rather than a comedy.
Nigel Davenport carries a very strong character, enduing his roles with genuine gravitas. Here, he brings a sense of military authority to the often chaotic incursions of the far-east. By the end of the second-world-war, Britain was a spent Imperial force. This was obvious to ordinary squaddies long before it dawned upon the high command. Daveport's jaded but determined character here is perfectly believable as the conscientious sergeant looking-out for his green recruits. In fact, I find the movie far more plausible than many of the American Vietnam war movies, but that may be just a cultural interpretation thing.
The original novels were a lot more bawdy and a great deal funnier than the events depicted in the movie. In fact, I think 'Onward Virgin Soldiers' is still one of the funniest books I have ever read. Some of the narrative had me in stitches.
Watch the movie, by all means. But read the books as well.
Nigel Davenport carries a very strong character, enduing his roles with genuine gravitas. Here, he brings a sense of military authority to the often chaotic incursions of the far-east. By the end of the second-world-war, Britain was a spent Imperial force. This was obvious to ordinary squaddies long before it dawned upon the high command. Daveport's jaded but determined character here is perfectly believable as the conscientious sergeant looking-out for his green recruits. In fact, I find the movie far more plausible than many of the American Vietnam war movies, but that may be just a cultural interpretation thing.
The original novels were a lot more bawdy and a great deal funnier than the events depicted in the movie. In fact, I think 'Onward Virgin Soldiers' is still one of the funniest books I have ever read. Some of the narrative had me in stitches.
Watch the movie, by all means. But read the books as well.