I too saw this movie on one of the days I went AWOL at school as a 15 year old in Sunderland, U.K.1t has always stuck in my mind as a film that moved me because of its human interaction and stirring heroic scenes of a struggle against the odds.I remember distinctly having unexpected feelings of frustration and a little anger at the futility and injustice of the soldier's plight and came out of the theatre puzzled as to how this seemingly average ,unheralded B movie, could affect me so much ! I have since had similar emotions with only a few films during my movie lifetime with "one flew over the cuckoo's nest" and "Midnight Express " springing immediately to mind. I would like to see this film again just to confirm that it really had the qualities that I remember. Maybe it was just a shallow story ,poorly acted and which fooled an impressionable lad. In any case I am sure that it was more memorable than anything that I would have been bombarded with at school that day.

Like your other reviewers, I remember this film from my childhood. The Plot was stirring, the plight the soldiers found themselves in was gripping yet desperate, and the music both haunting and memorable.I can only recall the scenes mentioned by other reviewers, such as the tortured soldier, who's life was ended by a bullet from Granger, with the approval of his comrades in arms, yet none of them would have shown the strength of personality to perform the act.I only wish that this film was available on DVD or other media to relive again. If anyone knows whether it is due for release, I am sure I will be one of many who would be glad to know.

I saw this film in 1962 when I was 14 years old here in the UK, it was shown as a B film, but I enjoyed it but more so I really enjoyed the film soundtrack, suddenly this film became very cool with my contemporaries and the theme tune was re recorded by some UK band and became a hit for several weeks, but the original theme was called Concerto Disperato and was recorded by a brilliant trumpeter called Nino ROSSO, this also became available in The UK from Duram records, since then with the advent of CD I have really struggled to locate this sound track, meanwhile I often wish I could see the film again. The plot as I recall involved The Foreign Legion being tasked to rescue an Algerian and return him in one piece, everything possible happens to the soldiers and a lot is revealed about the main star Stewart GRAINGERs character.

For the most part this is a standard, but good, action movie. But there is one moment where it truly shines as something better.Captain Le Blanc has a little problem that he has been hiding from his men. The bottle.At one point one of his men is captured by the rebels and being tortured. He is screaming in agony. The captain, shoots him to end his suffering because there is no way they can rescue him. Trembling, without thinking, he reaches for his hidden bottle and uncaps it. He then remembers were he is. He tries to stash the bottle and turns to look at his men. It's no use. They all saw. But they aren't surprised or mocking. They always knew about his little problem. But it never diminished the love and respect they have for him. There is nothing in their faces but compassion. They know that the value of this man is so much more than his deepest, darkest secret. Go on, sir, they say. But their respect and compassion give him the strength to put the bottle down.