Unbelievable but totally enjoyable

Rating: 10/10 (2 October 2018)

Sorry Yanks, but this is a British movie; even allowing for the presence of Clint Eastwood.
Brilliantly conceived, the screenplay is a cinematic version of the Commando war-story comics in which the Brits always outwit the thicko Nazis at every turn with guile, fists and incredible good fortune. How the Jerries ever got to take over mainland Europe is a mystery when two blokes can defeat a whole garrison of crack troops AND escape with a rescued (all right - fake) general and three spies
Never mind that the coincidences are broad enough to fly a JU52 through. Just enjoy the action. Marvel at Lt Schaeffer's unlimited ammo machine gun. Ponder over the fact that everybody speaks English. Gasp as the plot apparently changes direction three times in ten minutes at the hands and glib tongue of Major Smith.
Stereotypes? This film is crawing with them! Derren Nesbit is blonde, Aryan Gestapo officer Von Hapen. A role that would have been taken previously by Anton Diffring. But, joy of joys, Diffring is also here as SS Colonel Kramer who quickly tears a strip off Von Hapen for pinching his part!
It is impossible to take thi film seriously but that makes it no less enjoyable as a damn good adventure. I well remember the MAD magazine send-up of it, which opens with Major Smith arguing with the Admiral over how many German spies should be taken on the mission. Characters from the Guns of Navarone wander in thinking it's the same movie. Von Hapen is only concerned about who has dumped an old car over a cliff. Oh it's hilarious. Watch the movie as entertainment and you won't be disappointed.