The Dirty Dozen
Directed by Richard Aldrich. UK. 1967. NR. Running time: 145 min.
- Sun, Jun 15, 2:00 pm
If you like your anti-heroes really anti-, then this is the movie for you. With a starring cast the likes of Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Robert Ryan, Donald Sutherland, Ernest Borgnine, and Jim Brown, there’s more testosterone here than a truckload full of steroids. The plot, though simple (suicide squad of military felons and sociopaths gets an offer they can’t refuse, goes through tough training, and rides out to murder the Nazis’ top brass), is one that results in an incredibly entertaining roller-coaster ride of a film. (Note: John Wayne was offered the lead role, but withdrew to make The Green Berets; Jack Palance turned down the part that went to Telly Savalas; and Jim Brown actually ran for his life in the explosive climactic sequence – because no available stunt double could run as fast as the former pro football star.)