The Virgin Soldiers

Not a normal war movie, this is a well acted study about the unpredictable fortunes of life. A British Army private in Singapore during the Malaysian uprising experiences the boredom of garrison duty, the search for sex and love, and finally the terror of combat. The movie has many interesting twists and turns that illustrate the random quality of luck. The private's girlfriend finally decides to surrender her virginity - only mistakenly offers it to the wrong soldier! Soldiers die accidently, without reason. And when the private panics, and flees combat, he ends up becoming a hero! At the end of the movie the private paraphrases his discoveries - "That's life, isn't it".

'The Virgin Soldiers' concerns a collection of new recruits (in national service) and their exploits in a far-off, exotic Singapore. Deals with the endless boredom, fear of fighting an enemy they had no knowledge or concept of (they were never meant to have seen any action) and the endless pursuit of sexual conquests. Sterling cast of Lynn Redgrave, Hywel Bennett and Nigel Davenport. Based on the highly successful novel of the same name.

I am just watching this again, only for the second time, since I first saw it in 1970 as a fresh faced 18 year old. It's on Movies 4 Men, which says something I think. It's amazing how many famous face are here. Hywel Bennett is the star in this movie. He was big in the 60's. The story covers the antics of young men doing their national service out in Singapore, with all of the angst that young men have about their sexuality and life in general. The soldiers are not front line infantry but clerks. Warren Clerk and Christepher Timothy stand out. Disgruntled NCO's and snotty officers are part of the background. It's not a great film but it's well made and interesting. I give it 7/10 because of the memories of sitting in a cinema and being able to smoke a cigarette with normal people. Never see those days again ....

So long since seeing this film I can hardly remember it. However, I have since learnt that a very young David Bowie has a tiny cameo. It's on Youtube if you're interested.

Having seen this again i must say it gets better. I view it from the perspective of a soldier serving in Malaya, as it was at the time, in the mid-1950's the period in which the film is set. So much of the behaviour is very true to the real thing. In fact i almost see it as a commentary on army life at the time. The plot is almost credible , you would have to have been there. The 'atmosphere' of the period and place is captured in the b+w format. If anyone wants to know what army life was like in mid 1950's Malaya then this film will tell you more than any academic study. It certainly reflects the peculiar fun and horrors of National Service life. The plot thins towards the end but what precedes it makes viewing worth while.