The Dirty Dozen

Rating: 7/10 (27 September 2007)

For a World War II film, this is much more unconventional than most, because this is one of the only ones with rebelling soldiers in an army. Basically, Major Reisman (Paint Your Wagon's Lee Marvin) has a bad attitude problem is assigned to a military base holding 12 prisoners, all facing death or long terms. His job is to train them to obey him and fight for a dangerous and suicidal mission into German territory. It takes them a while to cooperate and behave, but after some mucking around and some strict consequences explained, Reisman convinces them to help him. The first check up Reisman took their side and held the Colonel and other officers up, and then a test operation sees the boys steal a military hospital jeep, but the next one is for real. Learning a rhyme about how to invade the German mansion, they prepare for the real mission to kill all German soldiers. In the end, only one of the "Dirty Dozen" survives, but they will all be remembered for losing their lives fighting for their country, and the survivors probably got credit too. Also starring The Flight of the Phoenix's Ernest Borgnine as General Worden, The Great Escape's Charles Bronson as Joseph Wladislaw, Mars Attacks!'s Jim Brown as Robert Jefferson, Oscar and Golden Globe nominated John Cassavetes as Victor Franko, Richard Jaeckel as Sergeant Bowren, Cool Hand Luke's George Kennedy as Major Max Armbruster, Trini López as Pedro Jiminez, Ralph Meeker as Captain Stuart Kinder, Robert Ryan as Col. Everett Dasher Breed, Telly Savalas as Archer Maggott, Donald Sutherland as Vernon Pinkley, Clint Walker as Samson Posey, Robert Webber as General Denton, Tom Busby as Milo Vladek, Ben Carruthers as Glenn Gilpin, Stuart Cooper as Roscoe Lever, Robert Phillips as Corporal Morgan, Colin Maitland as Seth Sawyer and Al Mancini as Tassos Bravos. Another good example of a boys own adventure film, with some great stars, some memorable moments of rebellion, quite a lot of fun. It won the Oscar Best Sound Effects, and it was nominated for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. It was number 27 on The 100 Greatest War Films, and it was number 65 on The 100 Greatest Films. Very good!