List Price: $14.98You Pay Only: $10.49 You Save: $4.49 (30%)Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
EAN: 9780792852520
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0792852524
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Region Code: 1
Release Date: May 07, 2002
Running Time: 131 minutes
Sales Rank: 9390
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Theatrical Release Date: May 15, 1968
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Editorial Review:
Description: They were misfits, rebels and heroes. Oscar(r) winners* William Holden and Cliff Robertsontopline this riveting World War II saga based on the true story of the First Special Service Force.Capturing the drama of combat with 'outstanding' cinematography and an 'exceptionally strong cast' (The Hollywood Reporter), The Devil's Brigade is a thrilling tribute to this renowned fighting unit. Lt. Col. Robert T. Frederick (Holden) takes on the daunting task of melding a renegade group of American and Canadian recruits into a crack team of commando warriors. Frederick's superiors doubt the rookies until Frederick volunteers them for a perilous attack on a Nazi stronghold in the mountains. His men will be outnumbered and outgunned, but that's a fair fight to 'the devil's brigade.'
Amazon.com: Dismissed in 1968 as a plodding rip-off of The Dirty Dozen--without that 1967 film's sardonic, antiestablishment satire--The Devil's Brigade now plays like a nostalgic last gasp of the sentimental World War II action genre. Celebrating the 1st Special Service Force (a commando-like unit formed to fight in Norway but ultimately deployed in Italy), this typically broad Andrew V. McLaglen production recounts the teaming of some miscreant GIs with 'the handpicked best of the best-trained army in the world'--the Canadians--under a U.S. officer (William Holden) who had never commanded men in combat. The first hour, heavy on machismo and low comedy, depicts the unit's training at an abandoned base in Montana, with nonstop international rivalry until Yanks and Canadians bond in a lusty saloon brawl. After that, the Germans are easy meat. Holden is solid, as usual, and so is the widescreen work of veteran cameraman William H. Clothier, impeccably rendered on the DVD. --Richard T. Jameson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Classic William Holden
Classic war genre movie, classic William Holden. It would be a good one to round out your collection.
Rating: - I'm particular about war films
There are MANY war flicks that I care little for but this is a good one. The first half of the movie brings together WW II American and British geurilla tactic trainees and, naturally, they fight amongst themselves at first -- but strong comradery ensues.
The filming of their primary mission (after they prove themselves in a preliminary raid, sort of like "The Dirty Dozen") to climb the backside of an impregnable mountain overlook and take out the Nazis and their fortifications is one of the great battle scenes I've seen in such films.
This one has been a sleeper as far as I'm concerned. Big stars who did a fine job and, here, Alex North ("Cleopatra") yields another fine entry with the filmscore. Don't let this one get by!
Rating: - The Devil's Brigade
This is a great WWII movie. It exploits the beginning of the current Rangers and Special forces that we have today. Any task that is given, the movie depicts that the task will be accomplished regardless of cost.
Rating: - A few fun facts about the film
I thought that this film was knock off of the Dirty Dozen myself within the first half hour or so of the movie, but in all honesty I thought that it was a much better movie. And I have always liked the anti-hero image of William Holden. Or I should say the reluctant hero.
Ok, now for the fun facts, that are sports related. If any of you are Green Bay Packer fans, you will notice that one of the lumberjacks in the bar fight scene was played by none other than the Golden Boy, Paul Hornung! I do not think that Paul received any academy awards for his short role!
Also, Richard Jaekel was also in the Dirty Dozen, which the film has been compared to, and unfairly at that! Richard's son was also a top flight pro golfer and played on the PGA tour for many years!
Rating: - Entertaining WWII movie about Special Unit
If you like vintage WWII action movies like The Dirty Dozen you will enjoy the Devil's Brigade. It tells the story of a commando type unit that fights in Italy. The story is pretty simple - a unit comprised of American misfits with Canadian hardcore soliders prepares for combat in Norway. William Holden is well cast as the unit's commander, and he does a solid job of keeping the story moving along.
The action scenes are well done, and the last assault on the German stronghold is pretty gripping. Although The Devil's Brigade does not have as many memorable lines as The Dirty Dozen, or as many stars as The Longest Day, it is still worth viewing if you enjoy vintage WWII movies.
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