The Dirty Dozen (Widescreen)

The story is constructed brilliantly, beginning with an introduction to the assignment and the dirty dozen, detailing their training, showing their first "mock" operation, and climaxing with their final mission. The cast is a superior mix of established stars and then-newcomers, including Ernest Borgnine, George Kennedy, Charles Bronson, Trini Lopez, Jim Brown, Clint Walker, Telly Savalas, and Donald Sutherland. Special cudos go to Lee Marvin, who is terrific as the renegade Major, and John Cassavetes as the rebellious Franco; Cassavetes received his first Oscar nomination for the role (he later received one for writing and one for directing his own films).

Director Robert Aldrich does his best-ever work (he was nominated for best director by the Director's Guild of America), building on such earlier hits as "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" and "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte." His skillful direction manages to make us care deeply and root for a collection of violent offenders. Overall, "The Dirty Dozen" is a first-rate action movie - one of the most enjoyable ever made.

Extras: Included is a fascinating short (9:15) featurette, which was made at the time of release for promotional purposes. The short film presents the actors making the film and then relaxing in "swinging" London, shopping on King's Row, and so forth. A most fascinating time capsule! The building of the chateau for the film is also detailed; it was one of the largest sets ever built for a movie and was blown up for the climatic scene.


The Dirty Dozen   November 27, 2003
parabolak (Boston, Massachusetts)
In WW2, tough Major John Reisman (Lee Marvin) is assigned to train twelve convicted war criminals (whose sentences range from 20 years of imprisonment to death by hanging) into a fighting team that will go behind enemy lines in order to infiltrate a French ChA teau full of German officers. In this, the criminals will be let off the hook and will be returned to their official ranks and duties. During training, Reisman argues with his rival Col. Breed (Robert Ryan) who believes that his squad, and not misfit criminals should be given the privilege to carry out this mission. The dirty dozen includes characterizations by John Cassavetes, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, Trini Lopez, Telly Savalas (in a sadistic role), Donald Sutherland, Clint Walker, Tom Busby, Ben Carruthers, and Colin Maitland.

Though some of the character development is inconsistent, the film is nevertheless an extremely entertaining war movie that was original for it's time. There is humor, drama, and an explosive hit-and-run finale, making The Dirty Dozen a largely appealing war film. Biblical analogies and contradictory (if thats the right word) aspects of the mission are interesting as well.

Overall rating: 4.8 stars (Rounded to 5)

If you like this film, I would also recommend "Where Eagles Dare"

This film is not rated: there is violence, moderate vulgarity, and intensity.