So much I love - the rousing theme music, Biroc's fantastic photography, Henry Fonda in a cameo, the sweaty faces, Michael Caine at his most cynically cockney, a strong British support cast (Ronald Fraser, etc), Ken Takakura as a sympathetic Japanese officer, location filming in the Philippines, the sports contest nature of the finale with people running to safety (making for a tremendous finale).
It doesn't quite work. I think the concept was perhaps high concept enough - I mean, The Dirty Dozen is full of conflict but this is more stock: American joins British on patrol, where the officer has a bad reputation. That's not really a huge concept for a film - certainly not like a bunch of convicts being given a second chance.
It needed something else - like it takes place in the last week of the war (which would make the cynicism more believable), or the Americans have just bombed the Brits so the Brits hate Cliff Robertson, or Robertson is a woman because she's the only person who can speak Japanese or the whole patrol are planning on committing a robbery or something.
The story is too simple and liner - they go on patrol, squabble, achieve mission but accidentally find out some Big Secret, and rush back.
There's also too much silliness and lack of reality - talk of long hair conscientious objectors as if its 1968, Michael Caine surviving the dash at the end... then instead of passing on the information turning around and walking back into no man's land!!!!!
And Cliff Robertson looks bored. I know he clashed with Aldrich - and Aldrich was known to cut against actors he didn't like (ask Trini Lopez) but it does hurt the film.
Still, like I say, I do have affection for it. It might be better appreciated as a sports movie, with Cliff Robertson as a ring in for a British side, and the last act consisting of a big game.
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