The Dirty Dozen (1967) This is a war action movie. Truly one of the first of its kind to concentrate on the action, with a sprinkling of comedy via the burgeoning brotherhood of the men. A prominent Major trains a small band of the Army's worst convicts to be sent on a virtual suicide mission. The cast includes Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Telly Savalas, Robert Webber, and Donald Sutherland. The film is based on the novel of the same name. It was inspired by a real- life group called the "Filthy Thirteen". On release, the film was picked apart for its level of violence, but was a massive commercial success. It presently holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for four Academy Awards. It spawned numerous sequels, copycats, and was the inspiration for many subsequent movies in the genre. This is a classic American film of the era, and a must watch for the action enthusiasts.

What surprised me the most about this movie is that my Liberal, forthright politically correct Mother loved this film. Then I realized the Lee Marvin Character's name in the story is Major John Reisman. That's my Mom's maiden name. Britain 1944 a few months before the D-Day Invasion, A.S.C.D.Advance Section Communication Zone a branch of the U.S. Army under the direction of Major General Sam Borden (Ernest Borgnine)who has special orders for Major Reisman. General Worden assigns Major Reisman a very unusual mission, Codename, "Amnesty", involving the Dregs of the military in a suicide mission somewhere in France. Reisman Has to train some of the worst convicts ever assembled selected especially for him. After Reisman Witnesses a hanging in a British prison he meets with the 12 convicts some have lengthy sentences with (hard labor) others by hanging. Reisman has the Dozen construct their own barracks and training facilities. Each man had a special characteristic as Franco John Casavetes was the loudest of the bunch complaining about lack of water during training as the group would be called the "Dirty" Dozen. Telly Savalas plays a twisted mentally unstable rapist named Maggott,The semi-cowardly Posey (Clint Walker), A tower of a man who killed a man with his bear hands is reluctant to fight Reisman in a training exercise but gets knocked down despite his size. Jefferson (Jim Brown) shows his athleticism as he displays his speed setting off hand grenades. Charles Bronson plays Wladislaw who ends up pairing with Reisman as German Officers during a the attempted raid on the Castle. The Training went on as Reisman whipped those malcontents into shape as they proved they could handle any mission thrown their way from War Games to actual war time the Dirty Dozen was prepped and ready for action. I loved the symbolism as the boys have their meal before their final mission which looks like the portrait of Jesus with all his apostles around. The catchy rhyme the 12 recite so things go right on that ominous night.HEY, THAT RHYMES!!One of the few times in American films you witness American soldiers committing war crimes against the German's. Just a macho movie for the guys to enjoy.

I loved this. Right up there with my favourite Aldrich films (though maybe 'Kiss Me Deadly' is still my number one), and of the greatest performances of both Lee Marvin and John Cassavetes (who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at both the Golden Globes and Oscars for his work here).This hearkened back to the heady times when if you got a great cast and director together, you were virtually guaranteed you'd come out of it, because of comparatively little studio interference, with a bonafide classic piece of cinema. People thought the studio system was broken and needed fixing, by films such as 'Easy Rider'? THIS, along with other fine Aldrich works from this period, age a lot better and hold up much finer today than Dennis Hopper's so-called 'masterpiece' and its ilk.

There are very few movies that I'll watch over and over again...and, this is one of them.In many ways, this movie is much like "Kelly's Heroes" (another movie I can watch over and over) in how it's a war movie, but, there are many comical parts.There are a lot of great actors in the cast of this movie as well. Veteran greats such as Lee Marvin; Ernest Borgnine; and, Robert Ryan; as well as soon-to-be greats such as Charles Bronson; Donald Sutherland; and, Telly Savalas.Spoiler alert - After all of the clowning-around and funny parts in this movie; and, how many of "The Dirty Dozen" are thought of as 'nice guys,' and, they are - the ending may be a tad hard for many people to understand in the way that it's conceived by many as cruel. So was the incendiary bombing of Dresden; and, the bombing of London, Warsaw, Stalingrad, and, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In war, many people die in many terrible ways, and, these guys didn't have a lot of time and had to do their job quickly and efficiently, and, then, get away.I've always loved this movie, and, I watch it whenever it's on. I just saw it again this past 2015 Memorial Day Weekend...I still love it! :)