The Dirty Dozen Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 535

Average Rating: 3.1/4

# of Ratings: 237

Theatrical Release Date: 06/15/1967

Language: English

Genre: War, Action

MPAA Rating: NR

Director: Robert Aldrich

Actors: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassevetes, Telly Savalas

Plot: A U.S. Major with a history of insubordination is given charge of a dozen convicted murderers to train for a dangerous mission to go behind German lines to assassinate a slew of officers on the eve of D-Day.

Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 09/16/2023

Essentially "The Suicide Squad" of war films.

mitchellyoung - wrote on 07/15/2011

Somehow, this brutal and nihilistic movie works, mainly because of the charisma and camraderie of the ensemble cast. The action-packed conclusion, which features assaults on defenseless men and women (albeit Nazis) is unsettling and sort of an antithesis to the often comic and entertaining training scenes that came before.

gideon43 - wrote on 06/03/2010

The ultimate "men on a mission" war movie, the Dirty Dozen is a brutal and action packed humdinger of a blockbuster. An almost legendary cast of Hollywood hard men (some of whom had actually fought in the war) have a blast as the murderers, rapists and psychopaths sent on a suicide mission behind German lines. Knocking all conformities into a hat, the Dirty Dozen betrays the heroics portrayed in earlier made American movies and introduces us to U.S soldiers as Ruthless and vicious as their German counterparts. Violent, cynical and anti establishment to be sure but also immensely energetic, bold and incredibly entertaining.

Gabe
Producer

Good War Film

Gabe - wrote on 10/19/2015

Lee Marvin is great as always as the leader of a group of convicted men to go on a dangerous and ultimately futile mission to kill a bunch of NAZI leaders. What I find interesting about this film is, you really don't learn anything special about these men. You learn what they did to be thrown in jail and that's about it. But, you don't really need that backstory because that's not the point. But, you would think that this is about that final, climatic battle at the chateau, but it's not really about that either. That final 20 minutes or so is a great set piece, but it doesn't matter. The film is about community building and building relationships between 13 individuals that should have nothing in common. Basically, what basic training is supposed to do in real life. It doesn't …

Daniel Corleone
Movie God

The Dirty Dozen review

Daniel Corleone - wrote on 03/13/2013

"You've seen a general inspecting troops before haven't you? Just walk slow, act dumb and look stupid!" It opens with an execution then 1944 in London, Major John Reisman (Lee Marvin) was assigned top-secret pre-invasion mission. Most interesting characters were Joseph Wladislaw (Charles Bronson) and the Major. The rest felt like fillers though the artists played their parts well. The soundtrack fitted the mood and action though some dull, were suffice. It's humor during the training seemed to lessen the thrilling final act during the invasion. Screenplay was well written with lines: "I never went in for embroidery, just results," "They got to function as a team." - Major Reisman and "This war was *not* started for your private gratification, and you can be damned sure it's not …

Yojimbo
Movie God

"The Dirty Dozen" by Yojimbo

Yojimbo - wrote on 03/25/2012

Lee Marvin stars as a maverick colonel who is "volunteered" for the task of whipping a dozen death row inmates into shape to attack a target behind enemy lines. On more than one occasion, female acquaintances have refused to watch certain films because they are "boy's films", something I find irritatingly dismissive. But where The Dirty Dozen is concerned, it's a case of guilty as charged. If Star Wars is the film that reminds me of being 8 again, this film takes me back to the 12 year old me, playing with my Action Man (GI Joe to you colonials...) Lee Marvin is at his gruff best, and Charles Bronson, John Cassavetes, Jim Brown et al dole out the testosterone soaked heroics to have at the dreaded hun. It's the kind of old fashioned boy's own war film that Aldrich excelled at, and a …