benbaum-280-362993 Lt. Col. Fredrick is called upon by Army Top Brass to find a new way of breaking through the German lines in Norway. Fredrick recommends the creation of a new elite "special force" trained heavily in snow covered mountain combat. The brass agree and make Fredrick, an officer with no combat experience, its head. He accepts the task and brings Canadian troops fresh off the loss at Dunkirk together with outcast American troops, many of whom joined the new unit as an alternative to prison to form the first ever special force. The squad however, evokes no confidence from Command HQ and the Norway mission is called off but the unit before being totally disbanded, is allowed one chance to prove themselves in Italy. Great historical war film about the development of specialized infantry units in the US and Canadian armies.

screenman This movie arrived in the year following 'The Dirty Dozen'. The latter focuses upon a small team of misfits, each one a recognised Hollywood actor representing a typical characteristic. Lee Marvin plays the officer-with-attitude who must lead them on a suicide mission. It's a laugh, but it's pretty formulaic.The Devil's Brigade embarks upon a much more lavish production of what is basically the same idea. Many of the faces from 'The Dirty Dozen' reappear in this production, but there's a whole host of other blink-and-miss nobodies who are evidently inserted in the plot for the express purpose of dying dramatically.It's a do-or-die mission, yawn. And as I say, it's on a more lavish scale. But it doesn't seem to have learnt anything from its earlier inspiration. 'Based on a True Story' is a common excuse for making a turkey, and there's a few feathers lying around here. It's hard to decide what actually distinguishes a good movie from a mediocre one. If the formula could be isolated, then they'd all be good. This one's distinctly mediocre. There's a decent cast starring William Holden. Sometimes, he can be really great - check him out in 'Sunset Boulevard' or 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' - but here he's pretty wooden and unsympathetic.There's some great location choice, but camera-work is very unimaginative. The script certainly has nothing to recommend it. And the characters are all by-the-numbers. Plenty of pyrotechnics & slaughter, but the combat sequences are generally unexciting.All in all, it's a flat, formulaic and largely unengaging movie. Can't recommend it myself, though it clearly has fans.

vitaleralphlouis This is the true story of how a group of American misfits were mixed with a first rate Canadian outfit, and how the leadership of Col. Frederick molded them into one of World War II's most effective fighting forces. Col. Frederick (William Holden) is one of the most inspirational officers ever portrayed in film, and can serve as a great role model for anyone looking to mature. The film contains more positive American values than any I've seen lately. This is an excellent big-movie treatment to a story well worth the telling --- now on DVD.In 1968 I might have scored this movie slightly lower, but not anymore. Back in 1945 and well into the 1970's, Hollywood was loaded with real life war hero's -- both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Most pictures reflected positive values and could inspire the young as to how to live their lives.In contrast, in 2007 we have a pathetic bunch of airheads and drug-heads with no knowledge (or contempt for) mainstream American values, now generating at least 9 movies intended to give aid and comfort to America's enemies in wartime --- and trash the memories of those who died in the September 11th terrorist attack.Compare William Holden's inspirational role in Devil's Brigade to on-again-off-again drug abuser Charlie Sheen (his name stolen from Bishop Fulton J Sheen) dazed and confused on TV -- ranting about toy airplanes crashing the World Trade Center. Yeegads!

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.