World War II is underway, but here in the Japanese prisoner of war camp, the sounds of battle are not heard. Here, officers and soldiers wage their own war for survival in inhumane conditions. King, an American corporal, strives to dominate both captives and captors. His weapons are fearlessness and excellent knowledge of human weaknesses. He is willing to take every opportunity to expand his power and corrupt or destroy anyone who stands in his way. King resells the prisoners' valuables to camp guards for money that can be used to buy contraband food. This is against Japanese regulations and thus camp regulations, but most officers turn a blind eye to the trade. Robin Gray is an exception, and he sets out to catch King. In 1965, the novel “The Rat King” was made into a film of the same name, which was a great success. The role of King was played by George Segal (Oscar nominee and two-time Golden Globe Award winner), and Robin Gray was played by Tom Courtenay (two-time Oscar nominee).