The Bamboo Prison
The Bamboo Prison is a 1954 American Korean War war–drama film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Robert Francis, Brian Keith, Dianne Foster and Jerome Courtland. The working title was I Was a Prisoner in Korea. The US Army denied their co-operation with the producers[1]
The Bamboo Prison | |
---|---|
Directed by | Lewis Seiler |
Produced by | Bryan Foy |
Written by | Edwin Blum Jack DeWitt |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Burnett Guffey |
Edited by | Henry Batista |
Production company | |
Release date | December 1954 |
Running time | 79 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Due to the clear communist sympathies within the film several US cities banned it, although it was said that Sgt Rand was actually a spy for the US pretending to be a sympathiser.[2]
Plot
A group of American soldiers are held in a prisoner of war camp in North Korea in the final phase of the Korean War.
Prisoners who show sympathy with the communist cause are given special privileges but are understandably hated by the other prisoners, who see them as traitors.
The camp "brain-washer", Comrade Clayton, is permitted to have his beautiful Russian wife, Tanya, live on camp. Sgt Rand one of the communist sympathisers (known as Progressives) falls in love with her, and his special prileges permit him to go to her house. However, she is not a communist sympathiser.
Meanwhile the camp priest, Father Dolan, is actually an impostor, trying to glean information through confession.
Despite their differences Rand helps his rival Cpl Brady to escape.
At the end of the war Sgt Rand stays in Korea as he is disillusioned with the capitalist system and its exploitation of the working man.
Cast
- Robert Francis as M/Sgt. John A. Rand
- Dianne Foster as Tanya Clayton
- Brian Keith as Cpl. Brady
- Jerome Courtland as Arkansas
- E.G. Marshall as Father Francis Dolan
- Jack Kelly as Slade
- Earle Hyman as Doc Jackson
- Richard Loo as Commandant Hsai Tung
- Keye Luke as Comrade-Instructor Li Ching
- Murray Matheson as Comrade Clayton
- King Donovan as Pop
- Pepe Hern as Ramírez
- Dickie Jones as Jackie
- Leo Gordon as Pike
- Weaver Levy as Meatball
- Robert "Buzz" Henry as a Progressive
- Eddie Ryder as Jones
- Aaron Spelling as Skinny
References
- p. 65 Young, Charles S. Name, Rank, and Serial Number: Exploiting Korean War POWs at Home and Abroad Oxford University Press, 1 Apr 2014
- Hollywood Diplomacy H S Chung