On this day March 3 1989 the war drama Farewell to the King premiered in theaters. Directed by John Milius the film starred Nick Nolte Nigel Havers Frank McRae and Gerry Lopez. The story was based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Pierre Schoendoerffer which depicted an unusual tale of survival and leadership during World War II.
Nick Nolte played Learoyd an American soldier who deserts his post and ends up in the jungles of Borneo where he is embraced by a local tribe and eventually becomes their leader. As the war continues he is forced to choose between his new way of life and the demands of the outside world when British forces arrive seeking his help.
The film was made on a budget of sixteen million dollars but only grossed two point four million at the box office. Despite its commercial failure the movie was praised for its cinematography and Nolte’s performance as a reluctant warrior king torn between two worlds.
80s insight: Director John Milius was known for his love of war stories and previously wrote the screenplays for Apocalypse Now and Red Dawn both of which had similar themes of conflict and survival.
Nick Nolte played Learoyd an American soldier who deserts his post and ends up in the jungles of Borneo where he is embraced by a local tribe and eventually becomes their leader. As the war continues he is forced to choose between his new way of life and the demands of the outside world when British forces arrive seeking his help.
The film was made on a budget of sixteen million dollars but only grossed two point four million at the box office. Despite its commercial failure the movie was praised for its cinematography and Nolte’s performance as a reluctant warrior king torn between two worlds.
80s insight: Director John Milius was known for his love of war stories and previously wrote the screenplays for Apocalypse Now and Red Dawn both of which had similar themes of conflict and survival.
