The Devil's Brigade |  | Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Actors: William Holden, Cliff Robertson, Vince Edwards, Andrew Prine, Jeremy Slate
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $6.39
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Rating:  42 reviews
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 131 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: 1003428
ISBN: 0792852524
UPC: 027616875778
EAN: 9780792852520
Theatrical Release Date: May 15, 1968
Release Date: May 7, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | William Holden gives a heroic, cool-under-fire performance as the leader of WWII's renowned 1st Special Service Force in this fact-based, battle-filled saga that also stars Cliff Robertson. System Requirements: Starring: Vince Edwards, William Holden, and Cliff Robertson. Running Time: 131 Min. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2002 MGM Studios. Format: DVD |
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| 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
Product Description
William Holden gives a heroic cool-under-fire performance as the leader of WWII's renowned 1st Special Service Force in this fact-based battle-filled saga that also stars Cliff Robertson.System Requirements:Starring: Vince Edwards William Holden and Cliff Robertson. Running Time: 131 Min. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2002 MGM Studios.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 027616875778 Manufacturer No: 1003428
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 42
 Great Movie July 1, 2009
KS Andy (Topeka,ks)
This is a great world war 2 movie, a must see. Good actors, good story line. Would defineatly recommend.
FUNNY AND SAD AS WARS ARE June 22, 2009
C. white (georgia)
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. a movie well worth watching.
GREAT ACTORS.
Oldie, but Goodie May 25, 2009
Mr. Neal A. Watt (Texas)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
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." I could name more feel good current Hollywood wanna be movies. It is not P.C. Nor is it an apology.
One of My Favorite WWII Films May 17, 2009
Gary P. Cohen (Staten Island, NY USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 '67, The Devils Brigade has always been dismissed as a Dirty Dozen ripoff (the similarity of the titles certainly didn't help.) This is a shame since I've always considered The Devils Brigade to be a better and more exciting film.
Firstly, The Devils Brigade has always had some truth behind it. There really was a First Special Service Force, led by a real Col. Robert T. Frederick (ably portrayed by William Holden in the film.) While I'm sure the Americans in real life weren't quite the goofoffs as seen in this film (any more than the real Black Sheep Squadron were the screw-ups as portrayed in the Robert Conrad TV series.) Still the teaming of the spit and polish Canadians and the less than spit and polish Americans and their subsequent training is very enjoyable to watch.
The cast led by the always-excellent Holden and Cliff Robertson as the Canadian leader is excellent with great support from Vince Edwards, Claude Akins, Andrew Prine, Richard Jaeckel, Richard Dawson and guest stars Carroll O'Connor and Michael Rennie, well cast as General Mark Clark.
The film was directed by action vet Andrew J. MacLaglen. It features 2 major excellent action sequences. First the quiet capture of a German-held Italian town by the brigade, without firing a shot. The second major sequence is the conclusion wherein the brigade scales a mountain to get behind and obtain the high ground on the Germans, who have their artillery trained in the opposite direction. This major action sequence is terrific. The excellent music score and terrific theme music, (one of my faves,) is by legendary music composer Alex North (the composer of the score from Spartacus, another one of my favorite movie scores.)
The DVD like many MGM/UA DVDs features no extras but the trailer. This film like so many others cries out for a retrospective. (The director of the film and several of the cast members like Robertson, Dawson and Andrew Prine are still around.)
In conclusion, this is a terrific large-scale war film that has for years been unfairly criticised. If you haven't seen it and enjoy this type of film, I suggest you do not read any reviews (except this one, of course) and see for yourself.
 Good war movie but not documentary. Some composite characters and scenes March 1, 2009
Thomas L. Bell III
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
(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 the war. This movie was a better war movie than Dirty Dozen.
That said, a check with books about the First Special Service Force will show you that most of the characters in the movie were fictional (with the exception of Col. Frederick and Sgt. O'Neill, the hand to hand combat instructor). And the attack on the town, where they capture an entire panzer regiment? Never happened. Not according to what I've read.
The attack on Mount Difensa DID happen and this part of the movie is excellent and an exciting climax. But that was just the start for the Devil's Brigade. They fought up the Italian boot, held a third of the line at Anzio, and ended up in southern France before being disbanded. None of this makes it into the movie.
Fine performances by William Holden as Frederick and Cliff Robertson as the fictional Major Crown. Carroll O'Conner does an early version of his Archie Bunker character as a fictional major general. And Richard Dawson wears a kilt before doing his Corporal Newkirk character on Hogan's Heroes. This stuff alone makes this war movie worth a watch.
I'd recommend the DVD over the VHS tape, the sound is better, particularly the drums when the Canadians march into camp.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 42
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