Review of The Dirty Dozen (1967) by Stuart K — 01 Feb 2011

Directed by Robert Aldrich, this is one of the most iconic war films of the 1960's, and with a brilliant ensemble cast to boot. This film set the high-water mark for men-on-a-mission war films for years to come.

It begins in England in 1944, where Major John Reisman (Lee Marvin) is given an unusual task by Major General Worden (Ernest Borgnine), to recruit American criminals and whip them into shape for combat.

Reisman finds his team with 12 men. They are Joseph Wladislaw (Charles Bronson), Robert Jefferson (Jim Brown), Victor Franko (John Cassavetes), Pedro Jiminez (Trini López), Archer J. Maggott (Telly Savalas), Vernon Pinkley (Donald Sutherland), Samson Posey (Clint Walker), Milo Vladek (Tom Busby), Glenn Gilpin (Ben Carruthers), Roscoe Lever (Stuart Cooper), Tassos Bravos (Al Mancini) and Seth Sawyer (Colin Maitland).

After weeks of training, and being dubbed The Dirty Dozen, after their refusal to shave or wash in cold water, they are assigned on a life or death mission, to capture a château near Rennes, France, used for senior Nazi officers.

Can they succeed?? It's a suspenseful and exciting war adventure, the final raid is gripping. The cast are brilliant, and play off each other brilliantly. You can see where QT ripped it off for Inglourious Basterds.

:P.