YOU CAN'T WIN 'EM ALL

US, 1970, 97 minutes, Colour.
Charles Bronson, Tony Curtis, Michele Mercier, Gregoire Aslan, Patrick Magee, Tony Bonner.
Directed by Peter Collinson.

You Can’t Win ‘Em All was originally called The Dubious Patriots. However, that would be too serious a name for this rather comic book adventure film. It combines the styles of Charles Bronson and Tony Curtis for an expected kind of mercenary adventure. Filmed in Turkey and with attractive wide screen locations, the dialogue is of the comic book style with a touch of satire. It is so broadly done that many more sophisticated audiences would find it too dull and - somewhat stupid. It was made by Peter Collinson who has turned his hand to all kinds of styles with varying successes, from Up the Junction through the Italian Job to Fright, Open Season and And then there were None.

1. The appeal of this popular kind of adventure?

2. The original title was 'The Dubious Patriots’. The present title emphasises the irony and the humorous side of the adventure. Which title is more appropriate?

3. The importance of the background of the film, Turkey, the atmosphere of Greece and the Aegean, the use of colours, landscapes etc.?

4. The background of 1922, the warfare and oppression, social situations, mercenaries etc?

5. How seriously did the film take the wars, social oppression? The presentation of mercenaries, their motives and way of behaviour, lack of loyalties? Money? Mercenaries and their attitudes to the real social events? How important was this for the film?

6. The importance of the characterization of Josh and Adam? Their clashes with each other and their co-operation? The humour and the significance of the opening, each wary of the other, humorous double-crossing? The incident with the ship, the encounter in the bar, their arrest, the jewels? How well delineated were their characters? American types? Their amiable natures, cracks? Their presentation as heroes? Their decision to go to Turkey, their arrival, their being taken over by the army, their work for protection, double- crossing the Colonel, being arrested by the General, the ending?

7. The presentation of Colonel Eloi as the villain? His hold over the two, his sinister plans for the robbing of the jewels? His death?

8. The character of Aila? Helping the men? The death of Colonel Elci?

9. The impact of the General at the end? His own ambitions and goals? His attitude towards the ace?

10. Why the appeal of such mercenary adventures? Do such films rely on presuppositions about values, right and wrong?