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Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes ... see more see more... , George Kennedy , Richard Jaeckel , Robert Ryan , Trini Lopez , Ralph Meeker , Telly Savalas , Clint Walker , Donald Sutherland , Robert Webber , Tom Busby , Ben Carruthers , Stuart Cooper , Robert Phillips , Colin Maitland , Al Mancini , Thick Wilson , Dora Reisser , Dick Miller , George Roubicek

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-... read more read more...-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. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Unrated, 2 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Robert Aldrich

Release Date: June 15, 1967

Keywords: action, war

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DVD Release Date: April 28, 1998

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Flixster Reviews (1,600)

  • blkbomb
    January 23, 2012
    blkbomb
    Major John Reisman: You know what to do, feed the French and shoot the Germans! 

    "Train them! Excite them! Arm them!... Then turn them loose on the Nazis!"

    The Dirty Dozen is one of the more interesting war films I have seen. It's madly serious, while being wildly silly. I can'... read moret help but compare this to a later film Robert Aldrich would direct, which wouldn't seem comparable; that being The Longest Yard. Both of these movies involve a leader having to train inadequate men to be great in order to beat the enemy. Here it is more serious, because it is a matter of life and death. But it is cool to see that Aldrich used basically the same formula for a football movie a little later in his career.

    The Dirty Dozen has a reputation as a guys film, and it is easy to see why. There's not a whole lot of femininity going on here. It's a lot of guns, tough talk, and fighting. It also has a reputation as being a fun film, which many war movies can't say. And this is a pretty fun movie. The characters, except for one notable exception, are easy to like. The cast shines.  And most notably, you have to love the ironic way the Americans kill the Nazis. There is a long line of these kill the Nazi movies. Of all of them I have seen this is probably my favorite, but I haven't watched Inglorious Basterds in awhile. 

    The story is about Major Reisman who is assigned a crap job. He must train convicted murderers, many of whom are going to be hanged, for a secret Nazi assassination mission. Most of the movie takes place in the training facility, where the Major must bring his men together. The film isn't all shoot em up, but the last 30 minutes or so are not lacking in suspense and action. 

    I guess the performances in this film is what sets it apart from other films of this genre. Lee Marvin as Reisman exerts a tough and excellent performance. It helps when you're backed up by Donald Sutherland, Jim Brown, Charles Bronson, Telly Salvalas, and John Cassavetes. The other actors whom I don't recognize are pretty good at bringing out the most in their characters as well.

    The Dirty Dozen is one of those must see movies. It is deservedly classified as a landmark film and the fact that it has held up so well to this point is a testament to Aldrich's terrific direction. 

    Joseph T. Wladislaw: Killin' generals could get to be a habit with me. 
  • SirPant
    July 8, 2011
    SirPant
    The Dirty Dozen is a classic blokes film. It's brash, clunky and hasn't washed behind the ears. It's pretty far from being the best WW2 film though, it's set during WW2 and they are WW2 soldier but somehow, it just isn't a WW2 film. It's about killing Nazis sure but there is no h... read moreistory here, just an idea set in a time period so calling it one of the greatest war films doesn't sit too well with me. I can help but think films like this influenced many a exploitation film in many ways, it certainly gave birth to the likes of Inglorious bastards. It's a great film though, not really my cup of tea but I can see why everyone likes it. The cast is fantastic, Marvin and Bronson are ace but for me Cassavetes steals the show - he was as good an actor as he was a director in my opinion.
  • fb732260458
    May 19, 2011
    fb732260458
    A humorous and engaging war-film with an all-star cast and well-paced direction from Robert Aldrich. It's so funny to see Donald Sutherland young again, and if you want to see the REAL origins of Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds - watch this film and glee. Unfortunately, t... read morehe hokey-looking violence just threw me out of the action in the second half.
  • allan913
    October 25, 2010
    allan913
    A classic action flick. It's a thrilling, wickedly funny and action-packed adventure filled with stars, excitement and a great story. It's The Expendables of the 1960's. A bold, fun, hard-boiled and tremendously entertaining movie that dose not get old. Lee Marvin is fantastic. T... read morehe entire cast shines with greatness. One of the best world war two action adventures ever made.
  • hobster1
    April 11, 2010
    hobster1
    The quintessential all male action-adventure film. 12 prisoners convicted of violent crimes, can save themselves by volunteering for a suicide mission. Innovative and influential, this war film was rather progressive for its time in both attitude and brutality. Actor Lee Marvi... read moren as Major John Reisman is not your typical OSS officer. Cynical and rebellious, he's placed in charge of a rag tag group made up of murderers and psychopaths that he champions. What's interesting is how director Robert Aldrich somehow manages to balance this depraved lot with enough good old-fashioned fun to make an entertaining bunch that we actually root for. The cast is uniformly excellent. John Cassavetes received the Oscar nomination, but Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, Trini López, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland and Clint Walker all contribute significantly to the film. A rousing adrenaline rush.
  • cosmo313
    April 1, 2010
    cosmo313
    If this isn't the definition of a 'man's movie', then I don't know what is. It's a rough, tough and entertaining story about a hard ass who trains a group of unruly death row inmates to take on a suicide mission on the eve of D-Day. Besides swimming in testosterone, this film is ... read morelittered with wry humor, and an anti-establishment attitude perfectly the era it was made during. Along with that are great perforances from one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled. Marvin, Bronson, and Sevalas are brilliant, Cassavetes, and Brown show their chops, and Sutherland steals the show with his wonderfully screwball characterization. The direction is incredibly strong, as are the camera work and editing. A lot of what is on display is pretty innovate and artistic for the time, and can be seen in many films to follow. I'm glad I finally got around to seeing this, because I now know where Tarantino gets much inspiration from, both in general and for his own WWII epic. Bottom line: go out and see this-it's hard to dislike.
  • ythelastman89
    March 23, 2010
    ythelastman89
    A great original war film from start to finish and a great ensemble cast. It has an amazing plot, prisoners forced to fight in order to escape death. It has a lot of different characteristics of different genres thrown together to make a really fun and suspenseful ride. John Cass... read moreavetes is such a great creepy character and so bizarre throughout the film, you have no idea if he's going to sabotage the mission or be it's lead into victory. However, the standout role in the film is clearly Charles Bronson who is probably one of the greatest tough guys in a war movie. He can not only lead his soldiers, but have some incredibly amazing character moments that make him unforgettable.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    August 12, 2009
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Feed the French, kill the Germans"

    A US Army Major is assigned a dozen convicted murderers to train and lead them into a mass assassination mission of German officers in World War II.

    REVIEW

    R... read moreefreshingly devoid of heroism (while remaining gleefully knee-deep in sensationalism), this movie honestly surprised me with it's depth. Lee Marvin is a marvel as a tough Army major assigned to whip a bunch of violent Army felons into shape for a covert mission in German territory. John Cassavetes and Charles Bronson, both smoldering, anchor the charismatic cast of convicts (half of whom remain rather anonymous, unfortunately), and Telly Savalas adds an addled charm as the psychopathic Pvt. Maggott even though his character's story arc is somewhat mishandled down the stretch. The film is rollicking at times but it remains clear-eyed throughout, and revels in the coldness of armed conflict as opposed to cheap dramatics it could have plumbed out of such a familiar story.
  • garyX
    January 13, 2009
    garyX
    Lee Marvin stars as a maverick colonel who is "volunteered" for the task of whipping a dozen death row inmates into shape to attack a target behind enemy lines. On more than one occasion, female acquaintances have refused to watch certain films because they are "boy's films", som... read moreething I find irritatingly dismissive. But where The Dirty Dozen is concerned, it's a case of guilty as charged. If Star Wars is the film that reminds me of being 8 again, this film takes me back to the 12 year old me, playing with my Action Man (GI Joe to you colonials...) Lee Marvin is at his gruff best, and Charles Bronson, John Cassavetes, Jim Brown et al dole out the testosterone soaked heroics to have at the dreaded hun. It's the kind of old fashioned boy's own war film that Aldrich excelled at, and a supporting cast also including comic relief from slow-witted "General" Donald Sutherland and a darker edge provided by religious psychopath Telly Savalas, it covers all possible bases. The bootcamp-maneuvres-mission formula has been copied umpteen times since and the broad comedy of the first half of the film contrasts with the Magnificent Seven style slam-bang finale behind enemy lines perfectly. It's huge fun if you like this type of thing, but it's definitely aimed at an XY audience.
  • sononothing
    September 26, 2008
    sononothing
    The Dirty Dozen is a war movie that was released in an era when the country was divided on the war in Vietnam and it shows. Much of the dialogue throughout The Dirty Dozen is filled with shots at the brass who are making stupid decisions and wasting lives. The film is about a reb... read moreel major (Lee Marvin in another bad ass role) who is volunteered to lead an assignment behind the lines as a prelude to D-Day. He is to put together a small unit of soldiers from men sentenced to death or decades in prison for an attack on a French chateau that's full of German high command.

    The film feels as if it's trying to be The Great Escape, but doesn't quite get it. Yes, Charles Bronson is back playing another Polish character. Donald Sutherland, Telly Savalas, and Jim Brown are the highlights of the dozen with Ernest Borgnine playing the general that sends Marvin on his mission and George Kennedy as the major that seems to be the voice of reason between Marvin's charcter and the brass. It's a great cast and a good script, though it seems to lull during the initial training phase the film builds up into a harrowing climax that leaves you on the edge of your seat as they take the chateau. It's this 20 minute sequences that real makes this a great film.

    The Dirty Dozen is one of those World War II films that raised its head from the pool of hundreds of WWII films that have been released during the last sixty years. The story is implausible, yet the characters are engaging with some wit thrown in for good measure. It may not be the greatest war film, but it deserves recognition as a film filled with action and a bit of sarcasm at the guys that make the decisions.

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Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson
March 18, 2011
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media

Aldrich manages to use his time well, focusing on character traits and never letting the pace become bogged down. Full Review

Tim Brayton
August 19, 2010
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

However trite the scenario looks now, it's still better than all but the best of its copycats. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 16, 2009
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Boasting an all-male star cast, headed by Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson, this funny, nasty and brutal WWII actioner is Robert Aldrich's most popular film, a cult classic that changed the conventions ... Full Review

Christopher Smith
May 2, 2007
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)

One of those movies in which you ask yourself, "So, who isn't in this movie?" The answer? Not many. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
February 4, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

It's a cholesterol-free action-packed war drama and not a tale about an unsanitary egg carton. Full Review

John J. Puccio
May 19, 2006
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...we expect action-adventure flicks to embroider reality. This one does so without stretching credibility to the breaking point and provides a good time in the process. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
September 16, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com

A macho male fantasy that still plays to the inner rebel in all viewers who harbor such a streak. Full Review

Steve Crum
May 31, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Classic and extremely popular WWII actioner directed by Robert Aldrich.

Alex Sandell
November 13, 2002
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Upped the level of violence in cinema by leaps and bounds, and was a great movie, to boot!

Scott Weinberg
July 29, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Classic all-star action. Just a whole lot of good, gritty fun.

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Facts

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    • Joseph Wladislaw: I wish I could read this. I think it's dirty.
    • Maj. Reisman: Any questions?
    • Archer Maggott: Suh? Do we have to eat with niggahs? [Jefferson jumps Maggot]
    • Sgt. Bowren: [as Reisman exits the room] : What's going on, sir?
    • Maj. Reisman: Oh, the gentleman from the South had a question about the dining arrangements. He and his comrades are discussing place settings now.
    • Maj. Reisman: Any questions?
    • Maj. Reisman: You know what to do, feed the French and shoot the Germans!
    • Archer Maggott: It's judgment day, sinners! Come out, come out wherever you are!
    • Vernon Pinkley: Very pretty, General. Very pretty. But, can they fight?
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The Dirty Dozen Trivia

  • "I don't think it'd pay to advertise the fact that one of the men that we're working for has to be a raving lunatic." Is a quote from which classic film?   Answer »
  • Name the movie in which a bunch of malcontents, murderers, thieves, and convicts were chosen to take a special mission in WWII for their freedom.  Answer »
  • Was the movie American Tiger ever released?  Answer »
  • which actors played in the dirty dozen  Answer »
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