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War Movie: The Dirty Dozen (1967)Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson Star in WW II Film
Lee Marvin leads a group of G.I. convicts on a suicidal mission in Nazi-occupied France in The Dirty Dozen. Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson and Jim Brown co-star.
Director Robert Aldrich's The Dirty Dozen invaded movie theaters in 1967. Lee Marvin stars as Major Reisman, the officer in charge of leading a band of misfit G.I.'s behind German lines in World War II. Ernest Borgnine plays a general, with Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes and Robert Ryan in strong support. Based on the Novel by E.M. NathansonThe Dirty Dozen was based on the 1965 bestselling novel of the same name by E.M. Nathanson. Robert Aldrich had heard of the book while it was still in outline form, and had tried to buy the movie rights. But it was MGM who eventually garnered the property in May 1963. Screenplay, Director, MusicNunnally Johnson and Lukas Heller wrote The Dirty Dozen for MGM. Directing was Robert Aldrich, who two years earlier had directed The Flight of the Phoenix (1965). Frank De Vol created the music score. Performing the song "The Bramble Bush" was Trini Lopez. The Dirty Dozen CastTough guy actor Lee Marvin (1924-1987) had the role of Major John Reisman. Other cast members included Ernest Borgnine (Major General Worden), Charles Bronson (Joseph Wladislaw), former NFL star Jim Brown (Robert Jefferson), John Cassavetes (Victor R. Franko), Richard Jaeckel (Sergeant Clyde Bowren), George Kennedy (Major Max Armbruster), Trini Lopez (Pedro Jiminez), Ralph Meeker (Captain Stuart Kinder), Robert Ryan (Colonel Everett Dasher Breed), Telly Savalas (Archer Maggott), Donald Sutherland (Vernon Pinkley), Clint Walker (Samson Posey), Robert Webber (General Denton) and Tom Busby (Milo Vladek). John Wayne was first offered the role of Major Reisman. Filming LocationsThe Dirty Dozen was filmed on location in England. Ashridge Management College in Little Gaddesden served as Marston-Tyne Military Prison, scene of the army hanging and the recruitment of the dirty dozen. Art Director William Hutchinson and a crew of 85 constructed the faux French chateau, target of the dirty dozen. It measured 240 feet across and 50 feet high, and was populated with surrounding trees, shrubs, heather and ferns. Target: Nazi-Occupied FranceThe Dirty Dozen opens in pre-D-Day 1944 England, with a convicted U.S. Army soldier being hung for murder. Witnessing the exectuion is Major John Reisman. Reisman has been handed a hot potato of an assignment: Train and lead a group of largely psychotic, sociopathic soldier convicts in a suicidal raid against a chateau in Nazi-occupied France. Reisman selects his little band and puts them through a rugged course of training in the English countryside. Surly, distrusting and insubordinate, the temporarily reprieved army cons -- coined "you dirty dozen" by Sergeant Bowren -- sorely test Reisman and his training staff. Reisman and company later parachute into France, infiltrate the fortified chateau and begin carrying out their deadly mission to kill as many high-ranking German officers as they can. Release, ReviewsThe Dirty Dozen was released in the United States on June 15, 1967. "An exciting, well mounted and grimly realistic World War II drama..." opined "Murf" for Variety (6/21/67). Academy Awards, Box OfficeThe Dirty Dozen garnered four Academy Award nominations: Best Effects/Sound Effects (won), Best Supporting Actor (John Cassavetes), Best Film Editing, Best Sound. The Dirty Dozen grossed $20.404 million at the box office, good for the #5 position on the list of the top moneymaking films of 1967. The Dirty Dozen DVDThe Dirty Dozen is available on DVD from Warner Home Video (2005). "Shoot any officers you see in there," Reisman briefs his men before entering the German-held chateau. "Who? Ours or theirs?" Franko asks. Oh, boy...
The copyright of the article War Movie: The Dirty Dozen (1967) in War Films is owned by William J. Felchner. Permission to republish War Movie: The Dirty Dozen (1967) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Jul 4, 2008 1:55 PM
Barry M. Grey :
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