Dirty Dozen, The
MGM (1967)
Action, War
In Collection
#3837
0*
Seen ItYes
012569507920
IMDB   7.8
2 hr 29 mins USA / English
DVD  Region 1   NR
Lee Marvin Maj. Reisman
Ernest Borgnine Gen. Worden
Charles Bronson Joseph Wladislaw
Jim Brown Robert Jefferson
John Cassavetes Victor Franko
George Kennedy Maj. Max Armbruster
Richard Jaeckel Sgt. Bowren
Robert Ryan Col. Everett Dasher-Breed
Trini Lopez Pedro Jiminez
Ralph Meeker Capt. Stuart Kinder
Telly Savalas Archer J. Maggot
Donald Sutherland Vernon L. Pinkley
Clint Walker Samson Posey
Robert Webber Brig. Gen. Denton
Tom Busby Milo Vladek
Director
Robert Aldrich
Producer Kenneth Hyman
Raymond Anzarut
Writer Nunnally Johnson
E.M. Nathanson
Cinematography Edward Scaife
Musician Frank De Vol


Director Robert Aldrich took what he considered a hopelessly old-fashioned script by Lukas Heller and Nunnally Johnson and fashioned The Dirty Dozen into one of MGM's biggest moneymakers of the 1960s—and the sixth highest-grossing film in the studio's history. Lee Marvin plays Major Reisman, assigned to coordinate a suicide mission on a French chateau held by top Nazi officers. Since no "normal" GI can be expected to volunteer for this mission, Reisman is compelled to draw his personnel from a group of military prisoners serving life sentences. This "dirty dozen" includes a sex pervert ( Telly Savalas ), a psycho ( John Cassavetes ), a retarded killer ( Donald Sutherland ), and the equally malevolent Charles Bronson , Trini Lopez , Jim Brown , and Clint Walker . On the dim promise of receiving pardons if they survive, the criminals undergo a brutal training program, then are marched behind enemy lines dressed as Nazi soldiers, the better to overtake the chateau and kill everyone in it—including the innocent wives and mistresses of the German officers. It says something about Aldrich's skill as a director that he has us cheering on this motley crew as it accomplishes its coldblooded mission. Three of the "dirty dozen" survive, but you'll have to see the film for further details. Though it might be hard to believe, the novel by E. M. Nathanson from which this film was adapted was even more bloodthirsty than the film itself. — Hal Erickson
Edition Details
Distributor Warner Home Video
Chapters 32
Release Date 2002
Packaging Keep Case
Screen Ratio Widescreen 1.77:1 Color
Subtitles English; French; Spanish
Audio Tracks ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Surround [CC]
FRENCH: Dolby Digital Surround
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
No. of Disks/Tapes 1

Features
Interactive Menus
Theatrical Trailer
Scene Access