The Devil's Brigade
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Movie Reviews of The Devil's Brigade
Movie Review: One of My Favorite WWII Films
Summary: 5 Stars
The Devils Brigade has always had a bad rap against it. Released in the summer of 1968, almost exactly one year later than The Dirty Dozen which was released in the summer of '67, The Devils Brigade has always been dismissed as a Dirty Dozen ripoff (the similarity of the titles certainly didn't help.) This is a shame since I've always considered The Devils Brigade to be a better and more exciting film.
Firstly, The Devils Brigade has always had some truth behind it. There really was a First Special Service Force, led by a real Col. Robert T. Frederick (ably portrayed by William Holden in the film.) While I'm sure the Americans in real life weren't quite the goofoffs as seen in this film (any more than the real Black Sheep Squadron were the screw-ups as portrayed in the Robert Conrad TV series.) Still the teaming of the spit and polish Canadians and the less than spit and polish Americans and their subsequent training is very enjoyable to watch.
The cast led by the always-excellent Holden and Cliff Robertson as the Canadian leader is excellent with great support from Vince Edwards, Claude Akins, Andrew Prine, Richard Jaeckel, Richard Dawson and guest stars Carroll O'Connor and Michael Rennie, well cast as General Mark Clark.
The film was directed by action vet Andrew J. MacLaglen. It features 2 major excellent action sequences. First the quiet capture of a German-held Italian town by the brigade, without firing a shot. The second major sequence is the conclusion wherein the brigade scales a mountain to get behind and obtain the high ground on the Germans, who have their artillery trained in the opposite direction. This major action sequence is terrific. The excellent music score and terrific theme music, (one of my faves,) is by legendary music composer Alex North (the composer of the score from Spartacus, another one of my favorite movie scores.)
The DVD like many MGM/UA DVDs features no extras but the trailer. This film like so many others cries out for a retrospective. (The director of the film and several of the cast members like Robertson, Dawson and Andrew Prine are still around.)
In conclusion, this is a terrific large-scale war film that has for years been unfairly criticised. If you haven't seen it and enjoy this type of film, I suggest you do not read any reviews (except this one, of course) and see for yourself.
Movie Review: Die Teufelsbrigade
Summary: 5 Stars
It is the height of the Second World War. Someone decided it was time to have a Joint Readiness Brigade. Many did not want to see it succeed so it was t consist of the bottom of the barrel US troops and crack Canadian troops. Naturedly to head this up was Lt. Col. Robert T. Frederick (William Holden), Maj. Alan Crown (Cliff Robertson), and Maj. Cliff Bricker (Vince Edwards).
The film is formula (a "Dirty Dozen" knockoff) where they must give a rag tag motley crew the incentive to become a cohesive fighting machine will a will to win in unorthodox ways. In the process they will become Die Teufelsbrigade or The Devil's Brigade.
I have to admit that this is fun to watch over again as we see the slow metamorphoses and ask what would I do in their shoes.
The Dirty Dozen (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Movie Review: A few fun facts about the film
Summary: 5 Stars
I thought that this film was knock off of the Dirty Dozen myself within the first half hour or so of the movie, but in all honesty I thought that it was a much better movie. And I have always liked the anti-hero image of William Holden. Or I should say the reluctant hero.
Ok, now for the fun facts, that are sports related. If any of you are Green Bay Packer fans, you will notice that one of the lumberjacks in the bar fight scene was played by none other than the Golden Boy, Paul Hornung! I do not think that Paul received any academy awards for his short role!
Also, Richard Jaekel was also in the Dirty Dozen, which the film has been compared to, and unfairly at that! Richard's son was also a top flight pro golfer and played on the PGA tour for many years!
Movie Review: The Devil's Brigade
Summary: 5 Stars
A timeless classic. This flick is one of my all time fav's, right up there with Heartbreak Ridge. Being a Canadian, I rarely see a movie that conveys the history of my countrymen, and it was refreshing to see a film that focus' more on fact than hollywoodism. It's great how the movie shows the bond that forms between the Canadian's and American's picked to form the special forces unit, and follows the creation of the 1st Special Service Force, to its near demise, to its operations in Italy. As a war flick, its powerful. It shows the great pains undertaken by the allies to win the war, and it shows the great respect the Germans held for allied units. Any war buff has GOT to add this to their collection, or miss out on a great movie. The Devil's Brigadah :)
Movie Review: I'm particular about war films
Summary: 5 Stars
There are MANY war flicks that I care little for but this is a good one. The first half of the movie brings together WW II American and British geurilla tactic trainees and, naturally, they fight amongst themselves at first -- but strong comradery ensues.
The filming of their primary mission (after they prove themselves in a preliminary raid, sort of like "The Dirty Dozen") to climb the backside of an impregnable mountain overlook and take out the Nazis and their fortifications is one of the great battle scenes I've seen in such films.
This one has been a sleeper as far as I'm concerned. Big stars who did a fine job and, here, Alex North ("Cleopatra") yields another fine entry with the filmscore. Don't let this one get by!