The Bofors Gun – 1968 | 105 mins | Drama | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Jack Gold made an impressive feature film debut with this compelling and oppressive story of the inner conflicts and responsibilities of a British soldier serving in Germany ten years after the war. John McGrath’s talkative adaptation of his own play perfectly captures the brutalizing effects of the barrack room on National Service. There are many first-rate performances from the perilously indecisive David Warner and, in particular a convincingly abrasive Nicol Williamson. There are strong contributions from a near-perfect cast that includes Ian Holm, Peter Vaughan, John Thaw and Richard O’Callaghan.

Set in 1954, in at a British army camp in occupied Germany. Seven soldiers are given the futile task of guarding an obsolete World War Two Bofors anti-craft gun. Terry Evans (David Warner), prospective officer material, needs just one more incident-free evening before he returns home to England on leave. He nervously prepares to exercise authority for the first time as corporal of the guard room over six experienced soldiers eager to undermine his command. Chief amongst them is Danny O’Rourke (Nicol Williamson), an abrasive hard-drinking Irishman who hates himself and goads the Bombardier. O’Rourke and his partner-in-crime, Featherstone (John Thaw), escape the boredom of guard duty by slipping off for a drink in the Naafi and subsequently drunkenly create havoc around the barracks. O’Rourke eventually returns carrying an injury having attempted suicide by jumping from a window, and to cover-up his absence Evan’s sends him to the perimeter on guard duty.