Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Marva-nova Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

spam1-5 The movie is kind of a re-run treat. It very closely follows the true story of the First Special Service Force. The commander is correctly identified as Lt. Colonel Robert Frederick and it did consist of both US and Canadian troops - about 500 Canadians and 1200 Americans. All were volunteers. The American criminal contingent is all Hollywood although as with all volunteer forces there will have been some with checkered pasts.Training in the real unit was intense and the movie follows that training faithfully. The mountain assault really did happen that way. I have always considered the assault to be a highlight of cinematic combat action.About the only thing missing is their real moniker - the Black Devils. In German it was the "Schwarzer Teufel" so named because of the black face paint used in night raids. They would attack and then flee into the night as if they were literal devils. The unit was disbanded on December 5, 1944 after only two years. All US special operations combat forces are said to be descended from this unit.Cliff Robertson is masterful in the role of the Canadian commander. Jack Watson as Corporeal Peacock is one of my all time quirky characters.

Dalbert Pringle Released in 1968 - This expensive production set during WW2 may have featured a big-name cast headlined by William Holden, Cliff Robertson and Vince Edwards, but it lacked any real depth to its story and its characters were only regarded in the most superficial manner.It appeared to me that a good part of the time the actors seemed noticeably bored and distracted in their parts. And I could never say that a memorable performance was put in by any of its principle players.Often looked upon as a blatant rip-off of The Dirty Dozen (which was released one year earlier), The Devil's Brigade's story of uncommon heroism and valor was apparently based on fact. But, who can really say for sure? For the sake of dramatic effect, this film does leave one wondering to what extent fact was conveniently replaced by fiction.With its story taking place in rural Italy, Lt. Col. Robert Frederick is given the daunting task of melding a renegade group of American and Canadian recruits into a crack team of commando warriors. Once trained and ready for action these soldiers are assigned to attack and capture a strategic Nazi stronghold situated on a perilous mountain range.At an over-long running time of 130 minutes, The Devil's Brigade loses steam far too quickly and it contains one elaborately-staged brawl too many between the Canadians and the Americans.

zardoz-13 Critically drubbed as another "Dirty Dozen" clone during its initial release, director Andrew V. McLaglen's "The Devil's Brigade" is a factual World War II epic about the First Special Service Force. This exciting, flavorful actioneer about combat during the Italian campaign is representative of the big-budgeted movies about World War II produced in the 1960s. This was McLaglen's first major film without either John Wayne or James Stewart as the star. William Holden stars along with Cliff Robertson, Vince Edwards, Dana Andrews, and Claude Akins. You'll recognize lots of other character actors, such as Jack Watson, Richard Jaeckel, Richard Dawson, and Michael Rennie. Clocking in at 131 minutes, "The Devil's Brigade" covers a lot of ground from the formation of the unit to the rivalry between the American and Canadian soldiers,and finally their baptism by fire in Italy. Although women appear in the bar brawl and Holden has a scene with a general's matronly secretary, the opposite sex is pretty much relegated to the periphery of the action. McLaglen does a good job of keeping the lumbering action in motion and "Magnificent Seven" scribe William Roberts inserts an interesting line or two. Lenser William Clothier captures the combat in several rugged settings and provides this war story will a virile look, while Alex North contributes an inspirational score.An American Colonel Colonel Fredericks (William Holden of "Picnic") with no battlefield experience receives orders to train a unit of American misfits and snappy Canadian troops for a mission that he had derided earlier as insane. This qualifies as a more eloquent as well as palatable version of "The Dirty Dozen." The singular drawn-back is the tragic ending that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Nevertheless, the plot is never dull. Our spit and polish outfit completes their training only to learn to their chagrin that they have been relieved for mission in Norway for which they are designed. Momentarily, it appears that the Devil's Brigade will be broken up and the troops reassigned, but a determined Fredericks flies to Washington to see if he can keep the outfit alive. General Mark Clark (Michael Rennie of "Soldier of Fortune") takes them into his command and sends them out to capture German troops. Fredericks surprises not only Clark but also his second-in-command Major Generall Maxwell Hunter (Carol O'Connor)when he captures an entire village of Germans during an early morning raid.

maverick_man89 I don't care about what other people think. Those who gave a bad review of this movie are just too shallow to understand the MEANING of this film. It may not have all the flashy gun-play of newer films...Its the 1960's! Kay? I liked how the Canadians were showing the yanks up all the time, but MY ABSOLUTE favorite scene is the bar scene when the Canucks and Yankees finally became brothers. I almost cried at how touching the union was.This is among my favorite war movies because it shows how much Canada and the US can kick some serious ass! Talk about the ultimate killing machine. I tip my hat to the Devils.