The Rear Column
1980, English. Directed by Harold Pinter.
The slow descent into madness of a group of British Army officers abandoned in the Congo.
Set in the jungle of the Congo Free State in 1887–88, the story begins after explorer Henry Morton Stanley, has gone to relieve Emin Pasha, governor of Equatoria, from a siege by Mahdist forces. He leaves behind him a 'rear column' with supplies at the Yambuya camp on the Aruwimi River and instructs them to wait until the Arab slave trader, Tippu Tib, has brought 600 more porters before following on to Equatoria. The play follows the story of the men left waiting in the camp. The officers depicted in the play are based on historical figures.
- Runtime
- 3h 27m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch The Rear Column
The Rear Column isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 1 October 1980.
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Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 1 October 1980
- Written by
- Simon Gray
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The Rear Column: quick answers
Is The Rear Column worth watching?
The Rear Column doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Rear Column?
The Rear Column runs 207 minutes (3h 27m).
Does The Rear Column have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Rear Column. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Rear Column parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Rear Column yet.
Which OTT platform is The Rear Column on?
The Rear Column isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 1 October 1980. (Checked 10 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Rear Column?
If you liked The Rear Column, try White Mischief, The Last King of Scotland, Dark of the Sun.
Who directed The Rear Column?
The Rear Column (1980) was directed by Harold Pinter and stars John Horton, Michael Forrest, Alrick Riley.