Play Dirty (1969)

The Dirty Dozen meet the Stiff Upper Lip. A British Petroleum executive (Michael Caine) is assigned to work with the British Army in North Africa handling port duties for incoming fuels. ... See full summary »

Director:

André De Toth

Writers:

Melvyn Bragg (screenplay), Lotte Colin (screenplay),

Stars:

Michael Caine, Nigel Davenport, Nigel Green

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Caine	...	Capt. Douglas
Nigel Davenport	...	Capt. Cyril Leech
Nigel Green	...	Col. Masters
Harry Andrews	...	Brig. Blore
Patrick Jordan	...	Maj. Alan Watkins
Daniel Pilon	...	Capt. Allwood (Blore's adjutant at Special Forces HQ)
Martin Burland	...	Dead Officer
George McKeenan	...	Corporal at Quayside
Bridget Espeet	...	Ann
Bernard Archard	...	Col. Homerton
Aly Ben Ayed	...	Sadok
Enrique Ávila	...	Kalarides (as Enrique Avila)
Mohsen Ben Abdallah	...	Hassan
Mohamed Kouka	...	Assine
Takis Emmanuel	...	Kostos Manov (as Takis Emmanouel)

Storyline

The Dirty Dozen meet the Stiff Upper Lip. A British Petroleum executive (Michael Caine) is assigned to work with the British Army in North Africa handling port duties for incoming fuels. This gives him the official rank of Captain in the British Army. The Colonel (Nigel Green) in charge of the Dirty Dozen is told he must have a British officer accompany his men on a dangerous mission 400 miles behind the German lines and is saddled with the Petroleum executive, who tries to argue his way out by saying that his contract states he is to only work port duties. That argument is lost on the Brigade Commander (Harry Andrews) who simply points out that the executive is wearing a British uniform. The real leader of the Dirty Dozen (Nigel Davenport), a released prisoner himself, doesn't need or want the British officer, who's supposed to be in charge, but he's promised an extra 2,000 British Pounds if he gets him back alive. Disguised as Italians, their trek across Rommel's Africa includes ...

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Plot Keywords:

british army | africa | world war two | commando | white flag | 

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Taglines:

Forget the medals, throw away the rule book, if you want to survive.... Play Dirty

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Arabic German

Release Date:

1 January 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

Det beskidte spil

Filming Locations:

Cabo de Gata, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lowndes Productions Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final credited official film of director André De Toth.

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Goofs

The dead "young lieutenant" brought in by Leech at the beginning of the movie can be seen breathing.

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Quotes

[Leech unexpected guns down a group of Bedouins]
Capt. Douglas: [startled but calm] What did you do that for?
Capt. Cyril Leech: I didn't like the tea.

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Connections

Referenced in Harry Saltzman: Showman (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Lili Marlene"
German Lyrics by Hans Leip
English Lyrics by The Personnel of the Long Range Desert Group and the Special Air Services
Music by Norbert Schultze

User Reviews

Superior war movie, fast paced and cynical

Somewhat similar to "The Dirty Dozen," in that its plot features a group of convicts recruited for a deadly mission during WW 2, this fast paced war epic is much more stylish and unpredictable than that crudely made, if undeniably entertaining, Robert Aldrich blockbuster. With great performances from Michael Caine and Nigel Davenport, as well as able support from a cast of fabulous British actors, the film features one terrific action sequence after another, with plenty of surprises in store. To say anything more would surely ruin many of those surprises for the unsuspecting viewer, but it should be noted that the story comes to a screeching halt with what is possibly the greatest and most hilarious "Ooops!" in film history.