A US Army lieutenant colonel is tasked with forming an elite commando-style unit from crack Canadian troops and the dregs of the US Army.A US Army lieutenant colonel is tasked with forming an elite commando-style unit from crack Canadian troops and the dregs of the US Army.A US Army lieutenant colonel is tasked with forming an elite commando-style unit from crack Canadian troops and the dregs of the US Army.
- Capt. Rose
- (as Harry Carey)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Devil's Brigade actually existed; its formal military designation was the First Special Service Force (FSSF), and alternatively known as the "Black Devils". It was indeed a joint American-Canadian unit, was comprised of three regiments of two battalions each, and was envisioned for difficult, cold-weather, mountain-warfare missions. The members were known as "Forcemen". Initially earmarked for Northern Europe, the FSSF was first sent to the Pacific, then to the Italian campaign, before finishing its service in southern France in 1944. During World War II, the brigade suffered casualty rates of 39%. Upon disbandment in 1944, each nations' Forcemen were incorporated into their national armies. Veterans of the Devil's Brigade have been meeting each year since 1945, in Montana, at the former training facility depicted in the movie, although in the movie, filming took place in Utah, as a stand-in for Montana.
- GoofsOn Colonel Frederick's office map, Poland has its post-1945 borders and Germany is divided into the postwar East Germany and West Germany.
- Quotes
Maj. Alan Crown: [after the Canadians finished singing a mocking version of 'Yankee Doodle'] Corporal Peacock, your stripes are not a licence to behave like an ass. There will be no more insulting or derogatory remarks about the Yanks, is that clear?
Cpl. Wilfrid Peacock: Yes, sir.
Cpl. Wilfrid Peacock: [addressing the Canadians] There will be no more insulting or derogatory remarks about the Yanks.
Pvt. Hugh MacDonald: Oh, would ordinary insults be acceptable, sir?
- Crazy creditsThe copyright date in the opening credits is MCMXLVIII, which would be 1948, not 1968, when the film was actually produced.
- Alternate versionsThe TV version of the film plays with subtitles for the Germans; the video version dosen't include subtitles.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Strange Report: REPORT 2493 KIDNAP 'Whose pretty girl are you?' (1969)
- SoundtracksYou Always Hurt the One You Love
(uncredited)
Words by Allan Roberts and music by Doris Fisher
Sung by Andrew Prine and Gretchen Wyler in the bar prior to the fight.
Their plots are similar in that they each involve a group of military delinquents being trained for a big mission and then the execution of that mission. They differ in that the 1st Special Service Force was comprised of both American and Canadian soldiers, rather than just Americans.
Although "The Devil's Brigade" is based more on fact it's still a very Hollywood-ized depiction of events. For instance, actual members of the unit objected to the way the film limits the groups warm relations with the locals of Helena, Montana, (the city nearest their training base) to a major brouhaha in a saloon.
The first half of the film takes place mostly at the dilapidated base near Helena, but was shot at a base in Lehi, Utah, which is a decent substitute since it's only 350 miles due south of Helena.
Generally speaking, "The Devil's Brigade" is not as good as "The Dirty Dozen", but that's only because the latter film is so great, plus it came first. Yet it has some aspects that are just as good in their own way and sometimes better. For instance, the final mission in "The Dirty Dozen" involves the unit's raid on an opulent German château, which -- while good -- is hardly a typical WWII combat scenario; the final mission shown in "The Devil's Brigade", by contrast, involves the brigade's taking of a German stronghold atop a rocky mountain in Northern Italy, an excellent battle sequence.
Although it's next to impossible to beat Lee Marvin as the commander of the unit in "The Dirty Dozen", William Holden is very strong in the counterpart role in "The Devil's Brigade". However, he was too long-in-the-tooth for the part as the real commander of The Black Devils was much younger, but that's not a big deal.
Despite the above criticisms of the saloon brawl, it is a highlight, as is the scene in the mess hall where a hand-to-hand combat trainer is introduced. It's an extremely well-staged sequence.
Claude Akins is great as the ape-like Pvt. Rockman, but his hysterics at the death of his Canadian comrade in battle is overly melodramatic. As if he wasn't prepared for the likely death of a fellow soldier in battle.
FINAL SAY: If you're in the mood for a late 60s war flick in the mode of "The Dirty Dozen", "The Devil's Brigade" is a quality option.
The film runs 130 minutes and was shot in Utah & Italy.
GRADE: B
- Wuchakk
- Nov 3, 2013
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $8,000,000
- Runtime2 hours 10 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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