Commandos (1968)

During WW2, an Italian-American commando outfit, disguised as an Italian Army unit, is parachuted behind Axis lines in North Africa.

Director:

Armando Crispino

Writers:

Menahem Golan (short story), Don Martin (story)

Stars:

Lee Van Cleef, Jack Kelly, Giampiero Albertini

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lee Van Cleef	...	MSgt. Sullivan
Jack Kelly	...	Capt. Valli
Giampiero Albertini	...	Aldo
Marino Masé	...	Italian Lt. Tomassini
Götz George	...	Oberleutnant Rudi
Pier Paolo Capponi	...	Corbi
Ivano Staccioli	...	Rodolfo - Radio Man
Marilù Tolo	...	Adriana
Joachim Fuchsberger	...	Oberleutnant Heitzel Agen - Professor (as Akim Berg)
Heinz Reincke	...	Offizier Hans
Helmut Schmid	...	Sgt. Miller
Otto Stern	...	Sgt. Braumann
Pier Luigi Anchisi	...	Riccio
Gianni Brezza	...	Marco
Duilio Del Prete	...	Bruno

Storyline

Sgt. Sullivan puts together a group of Italian-Americans into disguise as Italian soldiers in order to infiltrate a North African camp held by the Italians. After the soldiers have knifed the Italians in their beds, they find a hooker living at the camp. Sullivan's commandos are to hold this camp and its weaponry until an American battalion arrives, all the while these Italian-Americans pretend to be Italian soldiers, often hosting the enemy. Lt. Valli is a young, "green," by-the-book officer who constantly argues with Sgt. Sullivan, who tells his superior that he has no idea what he is doing. One man on the base, probably a touch from Argento, is an entomologist who is needlessly killed. Things go terribly wrong after that.

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Plot Keywords:

italian | soldier | commando | american | disguise | 

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Taglines:

Seven men who stood between Rommel's Afrika Korps and ultimate victory.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Italy West Germany

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

19 November 1968 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Sullivan's Marauders

Filming Locations:

Sardinia, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Central Cinema Company Film (CCC), G.G.I. SpA Rome, Produzione Intercontinentale Cinematografica (PIC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min 82 min (as Sullivan's Marauders)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Hopefully, they were wearing their Italian badges of rank more properly than than as yanks. Captains bars are never worn centered on the epaulet of a dress uniform. Only a General's star is ever worn centered at this location. All others are worn out on the sewed-down part. If Italians were dropped behind American lines as a "captain" was wearing his that way, they would have been suspect immediately.

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Alternate Versions

West German theatrical version was cut by approx. 26 minutes to tighten the pacing. The VHS release from Toppic was cut even more (additional 13 minutes) to use shorter (and thus cheaper) tapes.

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Connections

Referenced in Phenomena (1985)

User Reviews

Hidden gem of a war movie

I didn't know this movie existed until I accidentally ran across it at a retail store. Intense not so covert war action with good drama between characters and a few twists in the plot. The movie highlights the individual heroic efforts in battle, the insanity and randomness of events during conflict (and the responses by the players), and the disconnect between the battlefield and the strategic planners (both blind to each other).

Sergeant Sullivan (Lee Van Cleef) shows scares from previous conflicts, illustrating the personal side that never is far away from the professional. His past torments him throughout the film. The personal conflict and struggle between Sergeant Sullivan and Captain Valli (Jack Kelly) is constantly simmering and sometimes boiling over. Captain Valli, untested in battle, struggles to lead his newly appointed team on a very dangerous and unpredictable mission. At one point, he displays a dilemma in leadership, having to choose between his hard earned gains in the battle with his new team vs. new direction from above. The result of that decision has enormous consequences.

A very cool movie.