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IMDbPro

The Dirty Dozen

  • 19671967
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
72K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,436
142
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Watch ’Official Trailer’
Play trailer3:36
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • War
During World War II, a rebellious U.S. Army Major is assigned a dozen convicted murderers to train and lead them into a mass assassination mission of German officers.During World War II, a rebellious U.S. Army Major is assigned a dozen convicted murderers to train and lead them into a mass assassination mission of German officers.During World War II, a rebellious U.S. Army Major is assigned a dozen convicted murderers to train and lead them into a mass assassination mission of German officers.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
72K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,436
142
  • Director
    • Robert Aldrich
  • Writers
    • Nunnally Johnson(screen play by)
    • Lukas Heller(screen play by)
    • E.M. Nathanson(from the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Lee Marvin
    • Ernest Borgnine
    • Charles Bronson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Aldrich
  • Writers
    • Nunnally Johnson(screen play by)
    • Lukas Heller(screen play by)
    • E.M. Nathanson(from the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Lee Marvin
    • Ernest Borgnine
    • Charles Bronson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 208User reviews
    • 94Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 4 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:36
    Official Trailer

    Photos149

    Muhammad Ali and Jim Brown in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    John Cassavetes and Lee Marvin in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    Lee Marvin in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    John Cassavetes and Lee Marvin in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    Charles Bronson and Robert Aldrich in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Richard Jaeckel, Lee Marvin, and Robert Webber in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    Charles Bronson and Robert Ryan in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    Jim Brown in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    The Dirty Dozen (1967)
    Lee Marvin in The Dirty Dozen (1967)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lee Marvin
    Lee Marvin
    • Major Reismanas Major Reisman
    Ernest Borgnine
    Ernest Borgnine
    • General Wordenas General Worden
    Charles Bronson
    Charles Bronson
    • Joseph Wladislawas Joseph Wladislaw
    John Cassavetes
    John Cassavetes
    • Victor Frankoas Victor Franko
    Jim Brown
    Jim Brown
    • Robert Jeffersonas Robert Jefferson
    Richard Jaeckel
    Richard Jaeckel
    • Sergeant Bowrenas Sergeant Bowren
    George Kennedy
    George Kennedy
    • Major Max Armbrusteras Major Max Armbruster
    Trini López
    Trini López
    • Pedro Jiminezas Pedro Jiminez
    • (as Trini Lopez)
    Ralph Meeker
    Ralph Meeker
    • Captain Stuart Kinderas Captain Stuart Kinder
    Robert Ryan
    Robert Ryan
    • Col. Everett Dasher Breedas Col. Everett Dasher Breed
    Telly Savalas
    Telly Savalas
    • Archer Maggottas Archer Maggott
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Vernon Pinkleyas Vernon Pinkley
    Clint Walker
    Clint Walker
    • Samson Poseyas Samson Posey
    Robert Webber
    Robert Webber
    • General Dentonas General Denton
    Tom Busby
    Tom Busby
    • Milo Vladekas Milo Vladek
    Ben Carruthers
    Ben Carruthers
    • Glenn Gilpinas Glenn Gilpin
    Stuart Cooper
    Stuart Cooper
    • Roscoe Leveras Roscoe Lever
    Robert Phillips
    Robert Phillips
    • Corporal Morganas Corporal Morgan
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • Nunnally Johnson(screen play by)
      • Lukas Heller(screen play by)
      • E.M. Nathanson(from the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lee Marvin referred to this movie as "crap" and "just a dummy moneymaker", although he enjoyed the film. The movie has nothing to do with war, he stressed, and he was very pleased that he got to do The Big Red One (1980), which mirrored his own wartime experiences. Marvin also said many of the actors in this film were too old to play soldiers.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 35 mins) During WWII no Black man could have attained the rank of major in an all white outfit so he would not have fooled the doctor or ambulance driver. Someone else should have been chosen as the leader of that unit for it to work.
    • Quotes

      Pinkley: [impersonating a General] Where are you from, son?

      Soldier: Madison City, Missouri, sir!

      Pinkley: Never heard of it.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits don't occur until 10 minutes into the film. While it is common nowadays for films to have a pre-credits sequence, it was considered innovative in 1967.
    • Alternate versions
      In Germany, in the German-language dubbed version, audiences saw only Jim Brown throwing hand grenades into the airshafts at the chateau. The scenes showing grenades being dumped into, and gasoline being poured into, the airshafts were cut.
    • Connections
      Edited into Hogan's Heroes: Hogan's Double Life (1971)
    • Soundtracks
      The Bramble Bush
      Music by Frank De Vol

      Lyrics by Mack David

    User reviews208

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A well structured and interesting story, although poorly edited in the final act
    It's difficult when you approach an old movie to see it for the first time and you have to try and drop all the baggage associated with it from reviews and analysis over the years. The Dirty Dozen is such a movie. I just watched it for the first time last night on TV, clipped though it was for those smaller brained people among us who don't like to see dark bits at the top and bottom of their screens.

    It's interesting that there are three real character acts to this movie. There's the dark opening and character introduction, the fun act where the characters meld together into a team, and the closing act where the mission, and the war, become a stark and deadly reality. That last act is dark too, although there a couple of accidental laughs in there for the worst character expression at a death ever, and one particularly bad death scene.

    What does strike you about the opening is how really dark it all is. We're talking about murders who are looking at to be retrained. Indeed one is a rapist with a serious God complex who is bordering on utterly insane. They are about to be hanged for their crimes, but have one last chance. Poor Major John Reisman has no say in the matter, he has his band and has to make them work.

    It's well filmed for the first two character acts, and the acting is very good. John Cassavetes and Telly Savalas are wonderful in their roles. In fact it's a surprise to see Savalas in such a role and shining so brightly. Donald Sutherland also shows he has some excellent character acting in him. The rest are far from bad, but you can see a lot of typecasting for them.

    The movement from the dark opening to the more jovial training act is interesting to watch, as this is exactly how many of the characters are seeing it, as a bit of fun. What they aren't expecting is the third character act, that of the actual war itself, and for some this proves too much.

    The difficulty I had with the final act is only in the filming. There are premature cuts, awkward angles and jumping storytelling. So much is missed by the camera, and it doesn't feel like it's there to let your imagination run, it seems like someone has cut the film deliberately, and quite badly. There are quite a few scene transitions that just don't work at all.

    However, where it doesn't fail is bringing the characters to their ultimate journey, that of redemption and a renewed desire to fight for their Major, and their fellow men. They become soldiers, and indeed heroes.

    It's a good war film to watch, very well structured and reflective of the characters journeys. It's just that final act for me which spoiled my enjoyment, and purely in the filming of it.
    helpful•50
    21
    • PyrolyticCarbon
    • Feb 20, 2005

    FAQ10

    • What happened to Posey after the remaining troops boarded the truck to escape the chateau?
    • What is 'The Dirty Dozen' about?
    • Is 'The Dirty Dozen' based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 22, 1967 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • French
      • Spanish
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Dvanajst žigosanih
    • Filming locations
      • Ashridge Management College, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • MKH
      • Seven Arts Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,400,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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