A tail-end entry in the 60s guys-on-a-mission cycle, this one has the bright idea of some American soldiers who, during the Normandy campaign during World War Two, decide to spend a few days robbing some gold from the Germans.
The idea is better than the resulting movie. I feel they could have done more with the soldiers as thieves - more conflict amongst the guys, more anti war, more satire, more twists... something. The Dirty Dozen really used the central concept, i.e. that they were ex-cons - played it out via conflict amongst the characters. But "soldiers as thieves" really gets raised at the beginning and the end and that's it.
There's lots of things you could've done - there's a soldier who wants to say report them for stealing and is going undercover, or some soldiers mutiny after it becomes apparent that this trip could get them killed, or authority figures genuinely figure out what's going on and try to stop/betray them. It lacks say the twists of Where Eagles Dare or Guns of Navarone.
There is some decent action - some scenes seem to have inspired the later Saving Private Ryan eg soldiers climbing up bell towers in French villages. I love the colour and the production design.
The cast is decent and have different types to play. Telly Savalas really makes an impression as a hard-arsed sergeant, Don Rickles is fun as a wheeler and dealer and Donald Sutherland hilarious as a hippy style tank commander. Clint Eastwood is always at home in this sort of material though to be frank he's overshone by those other four. His character isn't as outlandish or funny - we never get to know him much more than "he's cynical".
You'll also see people like Gavin Macleod and Perry Lopez in it and Carol O'Connor is funny as a general. Shame the French locals couldn't have played more of a role - this could've done with say a treacherous Frenchie, or some female parts.
The finale, which builds to a Leone style shoot out and ends with the Germans agreeing to help, feels like a cheat - I get the idea of it, just felt emotionally hollow. But the concept is so strong... I'd love for this to be remade.
No comments:
Post a Comment