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Devil's Brigade [VHS]
 
 

Devil's Brigade [VHS] (1968)

Starring: William Holden, Cliff Robertson Director: Andrew V. McLaglen Rating: NR (Not Rated) Format: VHS Tape
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)


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DVD $14.98 $9.49 64 used & new from $3.00
Video On Demand $2.99

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Product Details


Editorial Reviews

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

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Customer Reviews

42 Reviews
5 star:
 (23)
4 star:
 (14)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (42 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars There's a lot of truth between the fiction, December 4, 2001
By Eric Howard "veteran" (kansas city, mo. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This fact based WW2 film is one of the great whip 'em into shape movies. When the call went out for U.S. and Canadian volunteers for a commando unit many commanders used this as a oppurtunity to unload their trouble makers. Choir boys don't make good commandos so the right men were available for the job. This film shows the tough training that these men endured including skiing, mountain warfare and advanced hand to hand combat. I've read a few books on these men and the film accurately potrays the bonding developed between the US and Canadians as they teamed up in the local bars to fight lumberjacks and miners. After their harsh training the force is sent to Italy. The film makes no mention that the force's first mission was against the Japanese in the Aluetion Islands. The climax of the film is an assault on a mountain top in Italy. These scences are so well done that when I attended the USMC mountain warfare school at Bridgeport CA. they used this clip as a training tool. The film has a great soundtrack and lots of hero type actors. Just one problem-where did those red berets come from? Read the 2001 published book, "The Black Devil Brigade" told by the men themselves.
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32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally gets Deserved Homage on this Indelible DVD, December 15, 2002
This review is from: The Devil's Brigade (DVD)
At the time of the release of THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE it was unfairly compared to THE DIRTY DOZEN as being another copycat in the same genre. That was both inaccurate and unfortunate. THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE is a great film and an entity unto itself. The only similarity between the two films is the use of Army convicts to develop what would now be called a 'special forces' unit. The similarities end there. Robert Aldrich tries to imitate John Ford's directorial style with only partial success in THE DIRTY DOZEN. Aldrich tries to go for a type of realism throughout his film and doesn't really seem to know how to manage the fine balance between comic relief and drama. In THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE Andrew V. McLaglen certainly knows when to play it straight and when to lay on the heavy-handed comedy that was a John Ford trademark. John Ford no doubt influenced Andrew V. McLaglen the son of Victor McLaglen. Victor McLaglen was one of John Ford's favorite actors and was one of many influenced by this great director. The bawdy humor in THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE prepares us for the emotionally charged final confrontation with the Germans and makes the carnage all the more real for the viewer. There is exceptionally great depth to all the characters in THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE and McLaglen builds real camaraderie between them. The dialogue is very engaging with its shear magnetism and is never cynical. When these guys fight, kill and die in combat we really feel for them. We cheer them on and we cry when they fall. There is more than just the mission at stake. There are lives on the line. Lives that we grew to like and feel for. The final mission is just not a little sortie to attack a Nazi stronghold on a hillside precipice. It is an assault, which breaks out into a full-scale battle with deadly hand-to-hand combat and feats of genuine heroism. William Holden, Cliff Robertson, Claude Akins, Richard Jaeckel, Andrew Prine, Jeremy Slate, Jack Watson, Michael Rennie and Carroll O'Connor are all excellent in their roles. Alex North's fine score and theme have also never been given their due. This is a strong film that examines friendship, camaraderie, and teamwork. Its message is not one of cynicism but the good that can be found in the human spirit. You just have to stand up and cheer for this should-be-classic. Seeing this film's images in widescreen after all these years gives it even greater depth and shows how well a craftsman Andrew V. McLaglen really was. There are just so many scenes that have multiple images going on simultaneously that add richness and texture to the legend of these unsung heroes. My heart really goes out to this film and to the human spirit of the men that it eloquently captures so effortlessly but so indelibly. This is one of my favorite films of all time.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A darned good war flick about special ops., June 11, 2003
By Roger J. Buffington (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
This review is from: The Devil's Brigade (DVD)
William Holden, Cliff Robertson, and Vince Edwards turn in their customary fine performances in this excellent story about one of the early Special Operations units. The storyline is simple enough. A Special Ops unit is formed for a specific mission in Norway (the mission is eventually changed. Nice bit part by Michael Rennie as General Mark Clark). For reasons I was never quite clear on, the unit is comprised of equal parts of American misfits and Canadian elite troops. (This is said to be historically accurate). My favorite part of the movie is the interaction between the American rogues and the more cultured, but equally tough, Canadian troops. There are some hilarious scenes that take place during pre-combat training which show how the unit gelled together into an elite force.

The action scenes are very well done, and the attitude of the regular army units towards the unconventional Special Ops unit is true-to-life. Special Ops units have traditionally, at least until recently, been the orphans of the army, and that is brought out very well in this fine movie.

If you like a straightforward, well-acted war movie, this is one of the better ones.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie
This is a great world war 2 movie, a must see. Good actors, good story line. Would defineatly recommend.
Published 13 days ago by KS Andy

5.0 out of 5 stars FUNNY AND SAD AS WARS ARE
it made me see just what indiviualist we americans are. Like, a lovable loose cannon that can inflict pain if necessary. TCM ROBERT OSBORN SAID THIS WAS A TRUE STORY. Read more
Published 23 days ago by C. white

5.0 out of 5 stars Oldie, but Goodie
This is an oldie. It is about something that really happened in WW2. As opposed to "Band of Brothers," "Inglorious Bastards," and "Saving Pvt. Ryan. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Neal A. Watt

5.0 out of 5 stars One of My Favorite WWII Films
The Devils Brigade has always had a bad rap against it. Released in the summer of 1968, almost exactly one year later than The Dirty Dozen which was released in the summer of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gary P. Cohen

3.0 out of 5 stars Good war movie but not documentary. Some composite characters and scenes
(Spoiler Alert)

Funny how this movie took a backseat to the entirely fictional Dirty Dozen when it is about a real US-Canadian commando group that actually fought in... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Thomas L. Bell III

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic William Holden
Classic war genre movie, classic William Holden. It would be a good one to round out your collection.
Published 12 months ago by Photo Chick

5.0 out of 5 stars 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,... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Patrick W. Crabtree

5.0 out of 5 stars 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. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Ronald Fillingham

5.0 out of 5 stars 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. Read more
Published 22 months ago by John E. Smith

4.0 out of 5 stars 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. Read more
Published 22 months ago by D. Keating

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