Commando (1962)
"Marcia o crepa" (original title)

A French Foreign Legion commander is told to assemble a unit and capture an Algerian rebel leader. He gathers in his old unit, most of whom are no longer in top form. One is having ... See full summary »

Director:

Frank Wisbar

Writers:

William Demby, Mino Guerrini,

Stars:

Stewart Granger, Dorian Gray, Carlos Casaravilla

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stewart Granger	...	Captain Le Blanc
Dorian Gray	...	Nora
Carlos Casaravilla	...	Ben Bled
Ivo Garrani	...	Colonel Dionne
Alfredo Mayo	...	Mayor
Pablito Alonso	...	Arab Kid
Hans von Borsody	...	Fritz
Dietmar Schönherr	...	Petit Prince
Peter Carsten	...	Barbarossa
Fausto Tozzi	...	Brascia
Leo Anchóriz	...	Garcia
Maurizio Arena	...	Dolce Vita
Riccardo Garrone	...	Paolo
Guillermo Carmona
Jaime de Pedro

Storyline

A French Foreign Legion commander is told to assemble a unit and capture an Algerian rebel leader. He gathers in his old unit, most of whom are no longer in top form. One is having nightmares of past indiscretions, another is now drinking, another has lost his nerve. He takes them in captures the leader, but then is unable to make it to the pick up. He encounters a rebel patrol and is trapped unless they can escape before their water runs out.

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Plot Keywords:

intrigue

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Taglines:

With DANGER or a DAME they go where the action is HOTTEST!

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Genres:

War

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Details

Country:

Belgium Spain Italy West Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

14 November 1962 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Commando

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 447,785 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Midega Film, Monachia Zeynfilm, Tempo Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the film was not a cinema success the theme tune, by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino, became a successful hit after being covered by Ken Thorne and his orchestra, reaching number 4 in the UK charts in July 1963.

User Reviews

Was this the basis for the "Green Berets"?

Although I was only Four when I saw this I have never forgotten the premise or the last scenes and I hope to find it and see it again. A wonderful action adventure with believable characters, unlike The Green Berets, which I am sure ripped off the story. Actually, it seems a great irony that the story of Marcia o crepa portrays France's end days of Algerian Colonization realistically, while the Green Berets show America's failure in Viet Nam with such heroically, naive shlock.

Anyone who can tell me where I can find a VHS or DVD please write me.

Thankyou, Flash