The Long and the Short and the Tall is a 1961 British war film directed by Leslie Norman, based on a play by Willis Hall. Set in the Malayan jungle during World War II, the film tells the story of a British army patrol assigned to record and identify enemy noises in the jungle. The patrol comprises of Sgt. "Mitch" Mitchem (Richard Todd), Cpl. Johnstone (Richard Harris), Privates Bamforth (David McCallum), Macleish (John Meillon), Smith (Kenji Takaki), and Evans (Robert Brown).
As they progress through the jungle, tensions rise among the soldiers due to the claustrophobic jungle environment and their increasing proximity to enemy territory. Compounding the situation is the presence of Private Bamforth, a non-heroic soldier who openly mocks and taunts his comrades. The tension reaches a boiling point when the patrol captures a lone Japanese soldier, whom they plan to interrogate for information.
However, as the night wears on and their effort to extract information from the prisoner leads to brutal violence, the true nature of each soldier is revealed. Bamforth reveals himself to be more than just a loudmouthed coward, Johnstone is revealed to have a dark past, and Mitchem questions his own authority as the patrol's leader.
The Long and the Short and the Tall is a tense and gripping war film that examines the complexities of soldiering during wartime. The film's tight script, excellent performances, and claustrophobic setting effectively portray the psychological stress and moral struggles that soldiers experience in combat situations.