THE DIRTY DOZEN: NEXT MISSION
US, 1985, 100 minutes, Colour.
Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Ken Wahl, Richard Jaeckel.
Directed by Andrew V. Mc Laglan.
The Dirty Dozen : Next Mission is a sequel (or rather repeat) of Robert Aldrich's original successful war thriller, The Dirty Dozen. The sequel came 18 years after the original. Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine and Richard Jaeckel reprise their original roles.
The film has an interesting basis. A German General wants to assassinate Hitler after the failure of the attempt of July 1944. However, the Allies consider that Hitler alive is a greater asset for winning the war than Hitler dead and strong Generals leading the army. They decide that the German General has to be assassinated.
Lee Marvin's Major is involved in a court martial for breaches of discipline (from the end of the original film). Ernest Borgnine's General, playing golf with allied leaders, realises that Marvin could repeat his Dirty Dozen-style mission. Once again Marvin goes to the prisons and there is the usual gallery of lifers and soldiers condemned to be executed. They are, as expected, surly and rebellious. Marvin lays down the law.
They go through an amount of training - and become surprisingly effective. As they go on their mission, there are unexpected and expected difficulties. They have to pose as German soldiers (a bit difficult for one of the black soldiers who has to be swathed in bandages). This means that their bus is pursued by a Gestapo chief and some forces. There are difficulties with rendezvous, the dozen want to rebel against Marvin, he has to persuade them with promises of loot. Finally when they are to achieve their mission, Hitler himself appears and the black sharpshooter is tempted to kill Hitler himself. However, the target is killed, there is a fight on the airfield, several take off - the sharpshooter dying in the plane and three and Marvin come back to safety. Their records are made honourable.
The film highlights the same characters and themes as the original - although this film is geared, and is more moderate in its violence and heroics, for the wide television audience. Direction is by Andrew V. McLaglen?, director of action features including many John Wayne westerns, The Devil's Brigade and the sequel to Cross of Iron, Breakthrough.
