Philippe De Broca’s sleeper hit received little fanfare in 1966 but when re-released to arthouses in the turbulent ’70s, it became a smashing success with its unique and whimsical attitude, carnival atmosphere and pointed commentary on war. Alan Bates plays a Scottish soldier sent to diffuse a bomb in a small French town during WWI, only to discover the lunatics of the local insane asylum now rule the area and they’ve named him the King of Hearts.
“Mr. De Brocca’s parable is a funny and touching experience.”
– Vincent Canby, The New York Times
