So much average

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

In 1966 when this film had just recently premiered, though I was only fifteen, I was told by some of my most trusted friends that I MUST go ASAP and see it. I did, and they were right. To this day imho, it remains one of the three best films of all time! A legend, a fable, a realistic view and absurd impression of 'ultimate' realities; combined perfectly and performed by an ensemble of utmost excellence... Anyone with half a brain should be warmed, deeply touched, inspired, and nearly breathless after viewing King of Hearts (aka "Le Roi de Coeur"). Though it did not win very many awards it was on numerous critics "Best" lists and in some cinema houses ran for many many years.

Anti-war comedy that takes place in 1918 during World War 1 in France. Private Charles Plumpick (Alan Bates) is sent to a small French town to dismantle a bomb that the Germans put there. Unknown to him the residents of the town have all left and the insane asylum has been left wide open. The inmates take over the town and Plumpick can't figure out why people are acting so strangely.This was ignored when it came out in 1966 but acquired a cult following soon after. The movies message is VERY anti-war and college students responded to it (the Vietnam war was in full swing when this came out). At one theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Central Square Theatre) it played for 5 YEARS with college students seeing it again and again. I was only a kid when this came out and didn't catch it until the 1980s when I was in college. Brattle Theatre (also in Cambridge) played it quite a bit with another college cult movie "Harold and Maude" and I saw it every time it played (which was quite often).While I don't disagree that the movie is simplistic and VERY dated I still loved it! The humor in this comes mostly from the antics of the inmates but also shows the German and British armies as being run by total idiots. The humor is not in your face--it's very gentle and sweet but works. The anti-war message is subtle but I think it's easy enough for anyone to get. The acting was good by the whole cast--especially Bates (his reactions to the antics of the inmates is priceless). Supposedly most of the people reviewing this who loved it saw it as children in the 1960s and have fond memories of it. Younger reviewers seem to hate it. Well I didn't see it till I was in college and loved it! Not for everybody but for those who like off beat foreign movies this will be a treat! I give it an 8.

I originally saw this film the year it was released in the USA. I laughed like crazy the first time, though I knew the film was much deeper. When I returned for a second time I bit my tongue and concentrated on the real message, a very powerful one, indeed. It remains my favorite film. Have I seen better films? Sure, but this one touched my heart. It was the right film at the right time at the right place.In the beginning, it's a real treat to see the communications specialist wandering into the recently abandoned French town carrying a cage of pigeons. This is Pvt. Plumpick, played by the late, great Alan Bates. Well, he finds the town isn't exactly abandoned and gets chased into the town's insane asylum, hiding with the patients. When he gives his name as King of Hearts (the previous name was the Duke of Clubs)the delusional patients are overjoyed to see the king return. The Germans who chased him are spooked by the crazy people and leave. Plumpick leaves the asylum and proceeds to check out the town. He sends a two part (two pigeon) message, but one bird doesn't make it through. Then he gets knocked out by a falling pole. When he awakes the town is busy with people, but as he wanders around he sees some very odd things. His messages are equally odd and confuse the already confused British general. What they do manage to deduce is that there probably is some kind of bomb set to go off at midnight. Finally Plumpick finds out it's the asylum patients who have come into the city and assumed roles. Of course, they are thrilled to find the King and the fun really begins. Some comments focus on the patients not being really insane, but in those days, unless the family was very rich, anyone in the family who was "off" usually got packed off to an asylum to avoid stigmatizing the family. Plus most families expected their children to work and those "off" kids were of little use to them. Also,lots of people believed insanity might be a transmittable disease. We know better these days.The inmates have their time in the city in their various roles. They are still delusional and mostly act like children with new toys. Look for Michel Seurralt as the hairdresser, who will play Albin/Zaza in the La Cage aux Folles films. When I watch the film now -- I've watched it so many times I've lost count -- I like to focus on specific characters, and have grown to love everyone in the town.Things move along and, of course, this dreamland can't last forever. But if you think the wonderful part about the patients running the town was theater of the absurd, just wait, the best of that is yet to come. And I can't imagine any other way the film could have ended. A very powerful conclusion adorned by the insanity of theater of the absurd. Ionesco has nothing on De Broca! Just a beautiful film that occupies a permanent space in my heart and mind.

One of the best films I have ever seen. I was a child when I saw it and I still remember how it touched me.Alan Bates is superb and I found Genevieve Bujold very pretty and talented.I can't remember details, but I'm sure I could not take my eyes off the screen.I went with my parents and my sister and we kept talking about the film for almost a week at dinner time.After seeing this film I tried to keep track of Alan Bates and I was never disappointed. I remember him in " Zorba " with Anthony Quinn. I have been trying to find the DVD to rent, but I couldn't find it anywhere in Brazil. I also tried to follow Genevieve Bujold's career , but the last time I saw her act was In " Twins " with Jeremy Irons. I recommend ' The King of Hearts " to all people and I sometimes mention it to my students.