Update: Sunday Nite Movie: Anybody Remember 'King of Hearts' ??? - Seems Prescient These Days...

[WillyT]

Last edited Sun Apr 13, 2014, 08:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Sorry guys, full version is too dark on my end... Here's The Trailer:

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King of Hearts (original French title: Le Roi de Cœur) is a 1966 French comedy-drama film directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Alan Bates.

The film is set in a small town in France near the end of World War I. As the Imperial German Army retreats they booby trap the whole town to explode. The locals flee and, left to their own devices, a gaggle of cheerful lunatics escape the asylum and take over the town — thoroughly confusing the lone Scottish soldier who has been dispatched to defuse the bomb.

Charles Plumpick (Bates) is a kilt-wearing Scottish soldier who is sent by his commanding officer to disarm a bomb placed in the town square by the retreating Germans.

As the fighting comes closer to the town, its inhabitants—including those who run the insane asylum—abandon it. The asylum gates are left open, and the inmates leave the asylum and take on the roles of the townspeople. Plumpick has no reason to think they are not who they appear to be—other than the colorful and playful way in which they're living their lives, so at odds with the fearful and war-ravaged times. The lunatics crown Plumpick King of Hearts with surreal pageantry as he frantically tries to find the bomb before it goes off.

The film ends with the question of who is more insane, those in the asylum or those who create wars.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Hearts_(1966_film)

[Warpy]

1. I absolutely adored that movie when it came out

Who is showing it tonight? The usual suspects came up empty.

[WillyT]

3. pssst... that supposedly the full version in the OP...

Shhh....

[Warpy]

6. Thanks!

Shitty eyesight strikes again.

I'm amazed by the film library over at You Tube. I watched "Outrageous!" the other night. A lot of the stuff is pure fluff ("The Night They Raided Minsky's" and "Ballad of Cable Hogue" come to mind) but it's wonderful fluff.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Was it that long ago?? I remember it well. Loved it.

[WillyT]

4. I Loved It Too... Had NO IDEA It Was From 1966...

[Bluenorthwest]

5. A great film.

Alan Bates, worth the ticket.

[klook]

7. Brilliant movie

Saw it years ago -- thanks for the reminder. I'll have to watch it again.

This movie made a strong impression on my youthful mind.

[spanone]

8. saw it when it was first released....and recently...loved it then, loved it now.

[TNNurse]

9. Have not seen it in years

What a wonderful movie.

[gratuitous]

10. We had an arthouse repertory theater

It would show offbeat and unusual movies, as well as first run independent films. But one of their staples was billed as "everyone's favorite double feature," King of Hearts and Harold & Maude. I probably saw it half a dozen times living in the neighborhood.

Le chevalier frappe a minuit.

[eppur_se_muova]

11. Loved that movie; saw it at the LSC Classic Films Series at MIT.

psssst: change ( and ) in the link to %28 and %29 and the link won't break off ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Hearts_%281966_film%29

[likesmountains 52]

12. Loved it from the beginning..

[CBHagman]

13. One of the best offering at the student union theater when I was a university student.

The memory of the last few scenes of the movie unsettles me even now. War is the greatest madness of all.