IMDb > The Dirty Dozen (1967)
The Dirty Dozen
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Dirty Dozen (1967) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 3)
The Dirty Dozen (1967) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   19,001 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 54% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Nunnally Johnson (screenplay) and
Lukas Heller (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Dirty Dozen on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 June 1967 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Train them! Excite them! Arm them!...Then turn them loose on the Nazis!
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(17 articles)
Walter Hill: The Hollywood Interview
 (From The Hollywood Interview. 9 September 2009, 12:07 AM, PDT)

The Pleasures of Putting a Team Together
 (From IFC. 18 August 2009, 12:28 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Splendidly Produced; a Tough and Tough-Minded Film more (110 total)
US TV Schedule:

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
150 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.75 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Stereo | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)
Certification:
USA:Approved (certificate #20802) | Iceland:16 | UK:12 (2006) | West Germany:16 (f) | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG (cable rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1968) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | UK:X (original rating)
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Donald Sutherland was a late casting decision, replacing an actor who dropped out because he thought the role was beneath him. more
Goofs:
Continuity: During the "war games" sequence, some of the "Dozen" are shown to exchange their Blue Army armbands for the red ones worn by the opposing forces. But for the next few minutes of the film, they are still wearing their blue ones. more
Quotes:
Major John Reisman: What do you think, Sergeant?
Sergeant Clyde Bowren: I think you'll do just fine, sir.
Major John Reisman: [emphatically] Don't give me that! I said what do you think?
Sergeant Clyde Bowren: I think the first chance one of those lovers gets, he's going to shoot the Major right in the head... sir.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Best of Film Noir (1999) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree With Anyone Else But Me more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
32 out of 42 people found the following comment useful.
Splendidly Produced; a Tough and Tough-Minded Film, 19 June 2005
8/10
Author: silverscreen888

Many viewers of film, myself include, rate this as one of the most exciting "mission"'' stories of all time. Adapted from an intelligent but Freudian source novel, the plot theme is a subtle one for a movie; it's about convicted men in WWII being given odds for life in the form of a suicide mission that may wipe their slates clean-- or perhaps not... its main theme is self-assertion, set against its opposite, enforced repression. The key to every action men undertake in this very tough and and tough-minded Nunnnally Johnason and Lukas Heller script is: "Is that person dealing with the reality of the world of and his/her own responsibility to act?" From convict Telly Savalas' character, mystical murderer of women who claims a divine calling to punish their sexuality, to Charles Bronson and Jim Brown who reacted to persecutions and are innocent by reason of self-defense, to their leader, the mission's architect, Major Reisman, who wants his plan to go forward his way despite resistance from brass, every man of the outfit is tried against the same standard. Jimenez is climbing a rope and says he can't make the tower; Franco refuses to shave because the officers have hot water and he does not, Posey can't control his temper, control-freak Col. Breed hates any man who does not go by the book; etc. As a production, Robert Aldrich's direction is probably his masterpiece; the acting is far above average, especially Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Donald Sutherland, Clint Walker, Robert Webber, energetic John Cassevetes and Al Mancini; the inspired casting of powerful top-sergeant-level Ernest Borgnine as an obviously far-beyond-his element general works brilliantly. The art direction, special effects, sets, and music (by Frank de Vol) all complement a taut script filled with memorable terse dialogue. Entire sequences such as the selection interviews for the mission team, the building of the camp, a visit to Breed's hq, Breed's invasion of the camp, the training regimen, the "graduation party", Reisman's verbal defense of his men, the war games' challenge, preparing for the mission, the early invasion steps, Maggot's adlib, the attack by Reisman's team, the escape and the hospital climax and denouement--all these sections are made memorable to many admirers of this beautifully made and unusual story. As officers attached to the mission, George Kennedy, Richard Jaene-too-subtle secondary theme of the film is: the wrongness of arbitrary power in anyone's hands, including Nazis, US army officers or their brutal agents (such as Breed's men who beat up Charles Bronson for information). The film is about individuals who when they harm no one else and are effective human beings, men who can always get the job done, always control themselves. who need to be free to operate. Such men the film says are "heroes"--men with an unusual ability to create results on Earth; the sort of men films ought to be made about in a nation that talks individualism and claims to value capability. This is a great adventure, of enduring artistry, occasional brutality and intelligently-developed dialogue. It has logical actions, and spectacular physical performances and This is a strong and well-thought-out adventure film, one of the richest of its genre, to be watched many times.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (110 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
favorite dialogue? finngirl13
Two things that bug me about this AWESOME movie konover
Killing Innocent Women ntampapalms
Maggott character? adamjg
Dirty Dozen vs Saving Private Ryan okiejeep1986
jefferson wadaslaw mini psychic friends network onleft22-558-111411
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Longest Day Capitaine Conan Apocalypse Now Where Eagles Dare A Bridge Too Far
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Action section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.