slightlymad22 Kelly's Heores (1970)Plot In A Paragraph: A group of U.S. soldiers sneaks across enemy lines to get their hands on a secret stash of Nazi treasure.The best way to describe this movie is Kelly's Heroes is the 1970s version of the George Clooney flick Three Kings, except that movie updates it to a quartet of American Gulf War soldiers attempting to steal some of Saddam Hussein's gold reserves. It isn't a bad movie, but it's far from memorable. Despite a hist of well-known stars headlined by Clint, the film stumbled almost as much as it succeeds, It has an agonizingly long runtime and long periods where very little actually happens. The pacing is very slow in some parts, while in others it's ridiculously fast, The movie could stand a nice trimming of 30 or so minutes, because what works works very well and what doesn't hinders the movie so much that it affects its rewatchability Fortunately, the action is well staged and the cast is the film's real strength. Eastwood turns in a fine performance but not one that stands out within his greater body of work. He's his usual tough but quiet type here. Telly Savalis and Don Rickles are fine, but it's Donald Sutherland absolutely steals this movie, the movie is a lot more fun when he is around. A record was made of Clint Eastwood singing 'Burning Bridges', It was released single with the B-side of "When I Loved Her" also sung by Clint, and written by Kris Kristofferson. Kelly's Heroes grossed 5.2 million at the domestic box office to become the 24th highest grossing movie of 1970.

Brucey D Late on in WWII most soldiers just want to get to Berlin without dying; the last thing they want to be is 'heroes'. However when an opportunity is presented, in the form of gold bars worth 16 million USD stashed in a bank just behind enemy lines, some of them change their minds about taking risks. Soon a rag-tag group of U.S. soldiers is mounting a 'private war' through German lines to get their hands on the loot.This is a very well made film with a good script, an excellent cast, and fine photography. Made at the height of the Vietnam war, it is basically an anti-war satire. However, considering its comedic intentions, many of the battle scenes are as realistic and as bloody as those in many 'proper war movies'.The film was made in Yugoslavia (the part which is now Croatia). The Yugoslavian countryside passes very well for rural eastern France and (to a non-expert such as myself) all the military equipment looks very realistic. At the time the film was made the Yugoslavian army were still using military equipment with WWII origins, and from both sides. This must have eased the film's equipment logistics considerably.They blow/smash a lot of stuff up in this film and they blow/smash it up for real. Even at Yugoslavian prices it must have cost a fortune! The three Tiger Mk1 tanks in this film look very realistic. I wondered about this (I later discovered that there aren't three working Tiger Mk1 tanks anywhere) until I found out that they were modified T34 tanks. The Yugoslavians had already converted them (to a very high standard, although the gun turret is unavoidably further forward than it should be) for a domestic film production and they were made available for this film.The version of this film (which is also available on DVD and Blu-Ray) which has been most recently broadcast on UK TV runs to over 2-1/4 hours. Unlike earlier broadcasts which were doctored for 4:3 screens, you are likely now to see the film as it was intended, in 2.35:1 aspect ratio, even on TV. It looks so much better now I barely recognise it as the same thing I saw for the first time back in the 1970s, when it was 'a big film on TV' one Christmas.If, when watching the film, you wonder if there isn't a back story missing from some of the characters, you'd be right to; there was another 20 minutes or so to this film which was cut before release. Whilst they probably did the right thing in some respects (it would have been too long for cinema release). I like this film enough that I'd sit through a longer version quite happily.Some folk might now only watch this film because it is 'a period piece'; and it is one. But it is also a good film in its own right and (violence asides perhaps) I would heartily recommend it to anyone.

wes-connors Credits roll as The Mike Curb Congregation perform their catchy "Burning Bridges" during a thunderstorm punctuated by fiery explosions. Believe it or not, it's 1944 and the Germans are bombing Americans stationed in France. While future "Kojak" TV detective Telly Savalas (as Big Joe) barks orders, rugged box-office star Clint Eastwood (as Kelly) saunters on screen. After inquiries about liquor and loose women, Mr. Eastwood discovers gold in a German prisoner's possession. Even better, a $16 million fortune in gold is stored in a bank vault, just behind enemy lines. "Beach Party" series adult and insult comedian Don Rickles shows interest. Future lovable bigot "Archie Bunker" Carroll O'Connor joins the fun. Eastwood organizes "Kelly's Heroes" and a cast of dirty dozens in an attempt to infiltrate German territory and steal the gold...Writer Troy Kennedy Martin and director Brian G. Hutton may have been trying for satirical comedy with this one, but "Kelly's Heroes" fails to thrive in its World War II setting. They should have set the story in (then) present-day Vietnam; the situation, that of a heist, hints at imperialism and flirts with anti-war sentiments. The most obviously inappropriate character is pseudo-hippie Donald Sutherland (as Oddball), but Don Rickles and others area also misplaced. The action consists of character actors shouting their lines amid explosions, to which Eastwood plays straight man. A sequence involving land mines, including a gun battle, is very skillfully done; momentarily, the film is lifted. It does get back to basics, those being loud character actors and fiery explosions. In a film like this, loud character actors and fiery explosions are gold.****** Kelly's Heroes (6/23/70) Brian G. Hutton ~ Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles

fltelepath-1 It's hard to believe that Troy Martin wrote this. As far as I know he was never in combat. He was born in 1932. Possibly Korea. But not listed in his bio. Martin must have know someone who lived it because it is far too accurate. The motivations are spot on. It's funny and serious and for me this movie works. Most war movies are hard to watch because the characters are written by people who haven't lived it. It's either strained or silly. Not this movie. This film really gets the hierarchy of the combat arms service-Army and Marines, correct. The There are those taking the brunt of the terror in the front, "We're point section for the whole damn army." That line just about sums it up.