First half of the movie is quite messy. Action is a bit rushed at times, characters are not very well portrayed, and dialog is too elliptic to grab the viewer's attention.The second half (from the attack of the 'prison') is better. Impressive climbing sequences, better interaction between the members of the squad, beautiful Mediterranean landscapes... Donnadieu, Brasseur and Anglade in particular do a much better job.Overall a good time-filler.But Giovanni has done far better. The movie was not very well received in France. With more depth, it would probably have been more memorable.

Entertaining, yet ultimately disappointing film from the famed crime author Jose Giovanni.It tells a story of a mismatched group of men trying to liberate a NATO politician from the hands of terrorist kidnappers.The dirty dozen this is not, yet it offers some thrills in the form of personality clashes within the group. Overall this one is rather dull and cliched take on the old standard. Contains some spectacular rock climbing sequences.Released on video in Finland in the early eighties.