The Dirty Dozen: Armed And Deadly - Part 1

The Dirty Dozen is a 1967 World War II war film directed by Robert Aldrich, based on the novel by E. M. Nathanson and starring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Telly Savalas, Charles Bronson and Jim Brown. This is The Making Of The Dirty Dozen.

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[CesMan83]

@cymru507

"It's a dirty and ugly film" -- That is essentially the point. Donald Sutherland said Robert Aldridge wanted to do a war film that was ugly. Even Lee Marvin himself hated the movie, proclaiming it as a "dummy money-maker." Indeed, the DD does not emphasize the sacrifices and heroism performed by our real American armed forces. However, I love this movie just for its artistic aspects, such as its writing, acting performances, and visual style. I see it as a well-done popcorn flick

[cymru507]

I too am a war movie buff. When I first saw The Dirty Dozen, I was 15 and was wept up in the action.Today, I am revolted by this movie and the dispassionate way it deals with human suffering. The scene where the Nazi general staff has gasoline poured on them and gredades dropped from above, is profanity at its worst. It glorifies barbarism in a way that few movies can match. It truly offends those who fought and sacrificed in so many ways and in so many theatres. It's a dirty and ugly film.

[RPenta]

@darkchococide My problem is that the moral viewpoint of the movie is ambivalent to say the least-if they had all been killed in the raid it would not have bothered me-and I suggest bizarre Hollywood liberalism was at work here with black man Jim Brown joining with the psycho piece of shit Major Reisman in blowing up the Nazis and their women. If I ever meet Jim Brown, I'd like to tell him that.

[darkchococide]

@RPenta I think you just made the point of the movie. It was supposed to be brutal and ugly. And take it from me, war is exactly that.

[CesMan83]

@CesMan83

And I have yet to see this movie, but I hear another great anti-war film is The Big Red One, one of Lee Marvin's last movies

[CesMan83]

True, the DD is an embellished war film; it didn't really paint the US Army in such a great way. Even Lee Marvin complained about it, having been with the Marines and serving in WWII. But personally, I don't think Robert Aldrich wanted to make a traditionally war film anyway. The DD was more of a military/action thriller.

I agree about Paths of Glory. In my opinion, it is Kubrick's best collaboration with Kirk Douglas

[RPenta]

@CesMan83 I think the Dirty Dozen is a despicable movie; someday I hope to devote a long essay about it which I hope will get posted on some film websites and blogs; I have a recurring issue with some film buffs that you do not wish to deal with the moral vision or political message of the film. I think most of the movies that to me are problematic deal with war. Of course the greatest anti-war movie ever filmed in English was Paths of Glory.

[CesMan83]

@RPenta

lol, I'm a film buff...anyone who especially loves classic movies should be able to tell the difference between an anti-war movie (Dr. Strangelove) and a pro-war movie (The Dirty Dozen), wouldn't you say?

Like I said, both films are part of my "Favorite 60s" movies list, regardless of their messages and themes...my other fave movies based on their eras follow the same pattern

[RPenta]

@CesMan83 Ok, as long as you know, pal.

[CesMan83]

@RPenta

I'm aware of that, pal...I was talking about my favorite movies of the 60s, i.e. that particular decade...their themes are irrelevant