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The Long and the Short and the Tall poster
6.7 / 10(29 votes)IMDbNR19611h 50mUnited Kingdom

The Long and the Short and the Tall

“Raw emotions bared !”

Synopsis

Based on a play by Willis Hall. A troop of British soldiers are out in the jungle to record jungle noises and troop noises in the jungle so that the recordings can be played back by other troops to divert the enemy to their whereabouts. As they progress to what they think is closer to the base camp they find themselves farther and farther from radio range until the only channel they can get clearly is that of a Japanese broadcast. They now realize they are probably only 10 to 15 miles from a Japanese camp! The tension is added to by rowdy and openly admitted "non-hero" Private Bamforth who has nothing good to say about anyone and especially Corporal Johnstone (who holds an equal dislike for Bamforth). When a Japanese soldier is taken as their prisoner, the true colours of each man comes to the surface

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

March 14, 1962

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Leslie Norman
Screenplay & Story
Wolf Mankowitz
Original Title
The Long and the Short and the Tall
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 50m
Production Studios
Michael Balcon Productions

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Leslie Norman

Screenplay & Story

Wolf Mankowitz, Willis Hall

Director of Photography

Erwin Hillier

Producers

Michael Balcon

Department Leadership Roster

Leslie Norman

Director

Wolf Mankowitz

Wolf Mankowitz

Screenplay

Erwin Hillier

Erwin Hillier

Director of Photography

Michael Balcon

Michael Balcon

Producer

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

Primary: NR

NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.

International Certification Matrix

United Kingdom (BBFC)U

Universal — Suitable for all audiences.

United States (MPAA)NR

Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Long and the Short and the Tall.

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Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Long and the Short and the Tall.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Long and the Short and the Tall

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is The Long and the Short and the Tall about?

Based on a play by Willis Hall. A troop of British soldiers are out in the jungle to record jungle noises and troop noises in the jungle so that the recordings can be played back by other troops to divert the enemy to their whereabouts. As they progress to what they think is closer to the base camp they find themselves farther and farther from radio range until the only channel they can get clearly is that of a Japanese broadcast. They now realize they are probably only 10 to 15 miles from a Japanese camp! The tension is added to by rowdy and openly admitted "non-hero" Private Bamforth who has nothing good to say about anyone and especially Corporal Johnstone (who holds an equal dislike for Bamforth). When a Japanese soldier is taken as their prisoner, the true colours of each man comes to the surface

Who directed The Long and the Short and the Tall?

The Long and the Short and the Tall was directed by Leslie Norman.

Who stars in The Long and the Short and the Tall?

The principal cast of The Long and the Short and the Tall includes Laurence Harvey, Richard Todd, Richard Harris, David McCallum, Ronald Fraser.

When was The Long and the Short and the Tall released and how long is it?

The Long and the Short and the Tall was released in 1961 with a total runtime of 1h 50m.

What is the age rating and content advisory for The Long and the Short and the Tall?

The Long and the Short and the Tall holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).