"Down to the road block..."

Rating: 9/10 (6 December 2017)

THE DIRTY DOZEN is a war action film that, in an unconventional and violent way, but with a lot of emotions, glorifies a group of criminal soldiers. This story is very brutal and perverted with a single sadistic note, but it is not irresponsible. It is based on E. M. Nathanson's novel of the same name that was inspired by a real-life group called the "Filthy Thirteen".
Major Reisman is assigned to coordinate a suicide mission on a French château held by top Nazi officers. He is to train a small band of the Army's worst convicts (selected for him) and turn them into commandos to be sent on a virtual suicide mission. After witnessing a hanging in a military prison, Reisman meets his 12 convicts (the 'Dirty Dozen'), all either serving lengthy sentences or awaiting execution. He visits them individually in their cells. Some details of their crimes are revealed and he uses a different approach with each in an effort to gain their cooperation. After being forced to construct their own living quarters, the 12 men are trained in close combat by Reisman and gradually learn how to operate as a group...
Simply, it is difficult to imagine such a situation and conditions, but the plots are very exciting. The characters have an anti heroic mood, which corresponds to their harsh habits and indiscipline. This story does not resist various forms of sadism and morbid situations. Mr. Aldrich has made a trap, as he has managed to bring the army and the criminals into an imaginary line. This may be somehow absurd, however, given the conditions of warfare, that makes sense. Simply, in this movie, they are all rough, crazy and incapable for something.
The characterization is not bad, but dialogues are pretty poor.
Lee Marvin as Maj. John Reisman is an impolite and ruthless but very brave colonel. Charles Bronson as Joseph Wladislaw is a silent and staid killer. John Cassavetes as Victor R. Franko is a psychopathic rebel, who has a strange desire to prove to himself. Telly Savalas as Archer J. Maggott is a sexual maniac under the guise of a religious fanaticism. He is, probably, the most striking character in the movie. Jim Brown as Robert T. Jefferson is an athlete who seems to be in a wrong place. Donald Sutherland as Vernon L. Pinkley is a good-natured laddie with a mild form of mental retardation.
Other actors respond well to their roles This war experience is quite exciting and morbid to some extent.