The Inglorious Bastards (1978)

In 1944 France, a group of escaped American military prisoners en route to Switzerland volunteers to steal a Nazi V2 rocket warhead for the Allies.

Director:

Enzo G. Castellari

Writers:

Sandro Continenza, Sergio Grieco

Stars:

Bo Svenson, Peter Hooten, Fred Williamson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bo Svenson	...	Lt. Robert Yeager
Peter Hooten	...	Tony
Fred Williamson	...	Pvt. Fred Canfield
Michael Pergolani	...	Nick
Jackie Basehart	...	Berle
Michel Constantin	...	Veronique
Debra Berger	...	Nicole
Raimund Harmstorf	...	Adolf Sachs
Ian Bannen	...	Col. Charles Thomas Buckner
Flavio Andreini	...	Examination Corporal
Peter Boom	...	German Officer on Train
Vito Fornari	...	SS Officer
Manfred Freyberger	...	SS Commander
Joshua Sinclair	...	The Sergeant (as John Loffredo)
Mike Morris	...	Colonel Hauser

Storyline

In 1944, in France, the rogue American soldiers Lieutenant Robert Yeager, Private Fred Canfield, the murderer Tony, the thief Nick and the coward Berle are transported to a military prison. However, the convoy is attacked by the Germans and they survive and flee with the intention of cross the border of Switzerland. Along their journey, they fight against a German platoon and capture the German prisoner Adolf Sachs that offers to guide them to the Swiss border. When they meet a German troop, they kill them but sooner they discover that they actually were and American commando in a mission headed by Colonel Buckner to steal a German V2 warhead. Lt. Yeager, Fred, Tony and Nick offer to risk their lives to accomplish the mission.

---

Plot Keywords:

american | nazi | shootout | nude with a gun | skinny dipping | 

---

Taglines:

Together they take on Hitler's war machine

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | War

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Quentin Tarantino wrote Inglourious Basterds (2009), even though the plot is different, he bought the copyrights of this film so the title could be the same.

---

Goofs

When Nick played by Michael Pergolani is updating the paper work he uses 'Liquid Paper/Correction Fluid' to alter the document. Liquid Paper was not invented until 1951, and was only really widely available in Europe from the mid 70's onwards.

---

Quotes

[first title card]
Title Card: FRANCE 1944

---

Alternate Versions

A shorter version, cut for the blaxpoitation market, came out on VHS, called 'G.I. Bro'.

---

Connections

Referenced in Inglourious Basterds (2009)

User Reviews

Italian WWII action with a Dirty Dozen topping and insane body count

The Italian industry from the 50's to the late 70's thrived by imitating big Hollywood box office hits and even though The Inglorious Bastards came a good 10 years after the WWII action cycle of the 60's, it's still a welcome addition to the genre. Two years after his spaghetti western masterpiece Keoma, director Enzo G. Castellari gathers a cast of b-movie stalwarts spearheaded by Bo Svenson and Fred Williamson, a couple hundred disposable extras in Nazi uniforms and unleashes hell.

There's no sophistication or Spielberg-ian schmaltz here. It's an action-er through and through with a comedic touch and lots of gunplay. Castellari is no hack though and you can see flashes of his directorial brilliance in the slow-motion intercutting shots in the train, which rival anything Sam Peckinpah has done with the same technique. He knows he's not doing Citizen Kane though so he doesn't let his "artistry" get in the way of making an entertaining picture. Not a masterpiece by any means and it will probably seem outdated to anyone used to modern CGI work and Matrix stunts. This is old school action.

Tarantino is preparing a remake of sorts for 2009 but The Inglorious Bastards has enough going for it to warrant a watch not just so you can brag to your friends on opening day that you've seen the original. Action fans will get a kick out of it.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

English German French Italian

Release Date:

December 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deadly Mission

Filming Locations:

Barbarano Romano, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Concorde

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 90 min (cut) 76 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1