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| Average Rating: |
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| Sales Rank: | 222010 (lower is better) |
| Shipping: | Free Shipping on most orders over $25* |
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| Director: | Robert Aldrich |
| Binding: | DVD |
| ASIN: | B0001FYQ04 |
| Category: | DVD |
Actors and Actresses
Editorial Reviews and Product Descriptions
Amazon.com
A group of conscripted convicts, most already destined for death row, are drafted to go on a near-suicide mission with the understanding that if the Nazis don't kill them, the U.S. Army won't, either. In the hands of hardboiled director Robert Aldrich and a tough-as-leather cast headed by Lee Marvin (as a troublesome U.S. Army major), that's all the plot that's needed to make one rip-roaring World War II action flick. Marvin's mission is two-fold: first turn his dozen prisoners into a fighting unit and then turn them loose on a French chateau occupied by partying German officers. His crime-minded charges include John Cassavetes as a chronic malcontent, Telly Savalas as a ready-to-blow psycho, Donald Sutherland as a lame-brained lummox, and Charles Bronson and then-just-retired NFL superstar Jim Brown as a couple of clutch performers. The first half of the film allows the colorful cast of character actors to have their fun as they get their tails whipped into shape and develop shaky bonds with their commander. The second part is all action, as the culprit commandos wreck havoc and then run for their lives. Despite the fact that few of the "heroes" survive the bloodbath, the message here isn't that war is hell. Rather, it seems to be: war can be a hell of a good time... if you've got nothing to lose. --Steven Stolder
Customer Reviews
Excellent Blu package, includes a full-length 'The Next Mission' in DVD resolution as a bonus - Reviewed on 2008-11-07
1 customer found this review helpful.
The Dozen is one of the best 'guy' flicks ever made with 'Prison Break' probably the only contemporary challenge that may actually surpass it.
[Well, they are both on available on Blu so we can enjoy them both now :)]
The plot is very simple and, for a classic such as this one, I'm not sure it's worth discussing it. Okay: Lee Marvin prepares a dozen convicts of the worst kind for a mission to kill as many unsuspecting German officers - partying at a remote chateau - as possible so that the German army would have fewer officers to command it on D-Day. Lee Marvin is a tough guy but so are his trainees. In the end, the mission is accomplished and almost everyone dies.
I very much enjoyed this Blu-ray version of the movie. Of course, it's not perfect, there are (a few) artifacts and there are no surround sound effects but this is a clear improvement over the DVD version. The colors are sharp, the picture is steady, the sound is clear and, overall, it's a pleasure to watch. In fact, I've watched it 3 times already since we bought it, a few months ago.
The Blu-ray version, to my surprise, includes a second, DVD quality full bonus movie , the 1985 made for TV movie "The Dirty Dozen:Next Mission". Add to that a couple of great documentaries, including a contemporary one showing 'the making of', commentary sound track, a contemporary trailer, Dolby 5.1 sound and it adds up to more than I expected.
It's a good buy and a great Blu-ray packaging of a classic.
"Wreckless Redemption" - Reviewed on 2008-09-21
1 customer found this review not to be helpful.
After I read the book, I had to see this movie. How would this all- star cast of moviedom's all-time tough guys, Marvin, Bronson, Borgnine, Savalas, Casavettes, put on a production and not overshadow each other? Well, they did so beautifully, and we have an extremely entertaining movie, as Marvin who is trying to redeem himself with superiors is given a suicide mission that he must execute with a troop of dangerous criminal types and murderers. It is unforgettable and entertaining, to say the least.
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![The Dirty Dozen [Region 2]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41DD7RT192L._SL160_.jpg)
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