THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE

US, 1968, 130 minutes, Colour.
William Holden, Cliff Robertson, Vince Edwards, Andrew Prine, Jeremy Slate, Luke Askew, Claude Akins.
Directed by Andrew V. Mc Laglan.

The Devil’s Brigade looks like a variation on The Dirty Dozen. However it is based on a true story.

Commander William Holden gathers a rag tag collection of soldiers and along with a Canadian brigade welds them into special fighters. They are very successful in Italy. It is conventional war drama and certainly reflects the style introduced by The Dirty Dozen in which strange characters have some qualities drawn on - even though they may be mere rivalry and bring them then for the best in a war situation. Direction is by Andrew V. Mc Laglen who is more noted for his many Westerns with John Wayne and James Stewart.

1. An interesting and entertaining war film? A message war film, adventure?

2. The conventions of the war film? The setting of the scene and situation in World War II, problems? Anglo -American relationships, special training, the types of men recruited and the training and rivalry episodes? Battle sequences and heroism? Usual material, in what ways was it different?

3. Colour photography, location, widescreen? The war settings? Music and the rousing tone? Special war effects?

4. The credibility of the plot? Based on real experiences? How detailed a study and analysis, how much a pictorial adventure presentation? Frederick and his role, training, leadership? Crown and the Canadians? Bricker and his role in the brigade? The various ruffians and criminals, the Canadians and their combination? Harmony and enterprise? Their manoeuvres and success? The reaction of officialdom?

5. How well delineated were the principal characters? Credible in the war situation, strengths and weaknesses, heroism? Frederick and his narrative, confrontation of Mountbatten, exercising leadership and command, his relentlessness, using rivalries? Leadership in the manoeuvres, confrontation of authority, oven in refusing drinks at the end? His final comments on the deaths? The comparison with Crown and the professional soldier? The pathos of his death? The contrast with Bricker and his background in and out of camps? Ransome and his running away and joining the Brigade? Rockman and the clash and then the friendship with Peacock? The various soldiers, for example the man from the circus? A presentation of real soldiers or conventional characters?

6. The introduction to the situation, the parallel with the Dirty Dozen and the training of the men? Their human qualities, weaknesses, the using of these, for example the forced march and the running and the Americans beating the Canadians? Clashes and fights. free time? Their being welded together into a brigade and their success?

7. The crisis when their mission was called off and the transition to Italy? Their achievement?

8. Memorable war sequences? The Italian locations and the taking of the town without loss? The capturing of prisoners and the semi-humorous way in which they were taken, for example in the showers? The final climb and. the massacre?

9. Themes of war and heroism? Good and evil? Human capacities? Was the film too violent, appropriately violent? Its stance of being in favour of men fighting war and battles?