Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsSXSW Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Play Dirty

  • 1969
  • R
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
4K
YOUR RATING
Play Dirty (1969)
During World War II in North Africa, a group of British commandos disguised as Italian soldiers must travel behind enemy lines and destroy a vital Nazi oil depot.
Play trailer2:51
1 Video
99+ Photos
AdventureDramaWar

During World War II a group of British commandos in North Africa disguised as Italian soldiers must travel behind enemy lines and destroy a vital German oil depot.During World War II a group of British commandos in North Africa disguised as Italian soldiers must travel behind enemy lines and destroy a vital German oil depot.During World War II a group of British commandos in North Africa disguised as Italian soldiers must travel behind enemy lines and destroy a vital German oil depot.

  • Director
    • André De Toth
  • Writers
    • Melvyn Bragg
    • Lotte Colin
    • André De Toth
  • Stars
    • Michael Caine
    • Nigel Davenport
    • Nigel Green
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • André De Toth
    • Writers
      • Melvyn Bragg
      • Lotte Colin
      • André De Toth
    • Stars
      • Michael Caine
      • Nigel Davenport
      • Nigel Green
    • 47User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Top cast24

    Edit
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • Captain Douglas
    Nigel Davenport
    Nigel Davenport
    • Cyril Leech
    Nigel Green
    Nigel Green
    • Colonel Masters
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • Brigadier Blore
    Patrick Jordan
    Patrick Jordan
    • Major Watkins
    Daniel Pilon
    Daniel Pilon
    • Captain Attwood
    Martin Burland
    • Dead Officer
    George McKeenan
    • Corporal at Quayside
    Bridget Espeet
    • Ann
    Bernard Archard
    Bernard Archard
    • Colonel Homerton
    Aly Ben Ayed
    • Sadok
    Enrique Ávila
    Enrique Ávila
    • Kafkarides
    • (as Enrique Avila)
    Mohsen Ben Abdallah
    • Hassan
    Mohamed Kouka
    • Assine
    Takis Emmanuel
    Takis Emmanuel
    • Kostas Manou
    • (as Takis Emmanouel)
    Scott Miller
    • Boudesh
    Michael Stevens
    • Captain Johnson
    Anthony Stamboulieh
    • Barman
    • (as Tony Stamboulieh)
    • Director
      • André De Toth
    • Writers
      • Melvyn Bragg
      • Lotte Colin
      • André De Toth
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews47

    Featured review

    A young Michael Caine at his best.

    "Play Dirty" is one of those rare films that reassures you that some filmmakers are willing to try something different with a tired genre. The World War Two epic has been done a thousand times, but this one is different. Michael Caine is his brilliant self, supported ably by Nigel Davenport and Nigel Green in this film which has drawn comparisons to the "Dirty Dozen" but, I believe, strikes ground of its own. Andre de Toth directs with a style that was well before its time, giving this film something others lack - longevity. A top flick worth seeing. *Three and a half stars*
    • Davros-4
    • Nov 25, 1998
    • Permalink

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:51
    Trailer

    Photos142

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 136
    View Poster

    More like this

    Too Late the Hero
    6.6
    Too Late the Hero
    Dark of the Sun
    6.8
    Dark of the Sun
    Hannibal Brooks
    6.6
    Hannibal Brooks
    The Reckoning
    6.8
    The Reckoning
    The Counterfeit Traitor
    7.4
    The Counterfeit Traitor
    The Black Windmill
    6.3
    The Black Windmill
    Malta Story
    6.5
    Malta Story
    Castle Keep
    6.1
    Castle Keep
    The Battle of the Rails
    7.0
    The Battle of the Rails
    Murphy's War
    6.7
    Murphy's War
    The Ipcress File
    7.2
    The Ipcress File
    Bitter Victory
    6.7
    Bitter Victory

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sole writing credit of Lotte Colin, mother-in-law of producer Harry Saltzman. When she was younger she had wanted to be a screenwriter, so director André De Toth gallantly ceded his writing credit to her. Six weeks later she died from a brain tumor, but enjoyed her brief notoriety.
    • Goofs
      When filling jerry cans at the oasis as Italians the cans wouldn't have been labeled W for water and P for petrol.
    • Quotes

      Capt. Douglas: ...How did the other English officers die?

      Capt. Cyril Leech: Unexpectedly.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Once Upon a Body (1969)
    • 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

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ13

    • How long is Play Dirty?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 15, 1969 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Ein dreckiger Haufen
    • Filming locations
      • Desierto de Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain
    • Production company
      • Lowndes Productions Limited
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Play Dirty (1969)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Play Dirty (1969) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.