![]() ![]() ![]() Now, granted, you don't always sympathize with Willard. The relationship between the boy and his rodents is admittedly touching, and the head rats Socrates and Ben are very well trained (as well as rats can be trained). It's not hard to see why "Willard" would have connected with audiences back in 1971. Willard soon becomes able to get the rats to do his bidding, which comes in handy in such matters as revenge. He even gives the two most dominant characters names: "Socrates" is a gentle white rat, "Ben" a more aggressive brown rat. He has zero friends in the world, until he decides to take pity on the scores of rats infesting his property. Willard Stiles is a wimpy, awkward doormat of a man, regularly chewed out by his demanding boss Martin (Ernest Borgnine) and harangued by his clingy, equally demanding mother Henrietta (Elsa Lanchester). Bruce Davison memorably portrays the title character in this entertaining animal-themed thriller that was a big hit back in its day. ![]()
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