Watch The Dirty Dozen

The Dirty Dozen is a thrilling war film from 1967 directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, and Charles Bronson. The movie is based on a novel by E. M. Nathanson, and the story is set during World War II. The plot follows Major John Reisman (Lee Marvin), who is tasked with assembling a group of twelve convicted criminals and turning them into a team of commandos to carry out a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. The mission involves infiltrating and destroying a heavily guarded Château in France, where a group of high-ranking German officers will be gathered.

The twelve men Reisman selects are all incarcerated for various crimes ranging from murder to rape to theft. Some are hardened criminals with no regard for authority, while others are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Reisman is tasked with training them to work together and complete the mission successfully within a limited timeframe.

The group is initially resistant to Reisman's authority, but he manages to break them down and build them up as a team. They undergo grueling training sessions, such as running obstacle courses, hand-to-hand combat, and marksmanship training. The men learn to put their differences aside and work together as a unit to achieve their goal.

Throughout the training, tensions rise between the inmates and their guards, who are equally as rough and tough as the inmates. Some of the inmates are quicker to bond with Reisman than others, particularly the quiet, brooding Charles Bronson's character, Wladislaw, who becomes a silent but deadly weapon.

The Dirty Dozen's crew finally reaches France and begins their dangerous mission. They are up against a well-fortified German force and face intense resistance while in the enemy territory. The tension is palpable as the group makes it through the various obstacles up to their final destination, the Château.

Once inside the Château, the team's carefully crafted plan runs into several unexpected obstacles, and the survival of both the group and the success of the mission become uncertain. The team must use their new-found solidarity to overcome these obstacles and complete their mission.

The Dirty Dozen is an entertaining and thrilling movie that was critically acclaimed upon its release. It was praised for its unique approach to the war genre, and for the performances of the ensemble cast, particularly Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson. The film's success eventually led to a series of sequels, spin-offs, and imitators in the years that followed.

Overall, The Dirty Dozen is a classic action-packed war film that stands the test of time, and is still enjoyed by audiences today. It's a tale of redemption and heroism in the face of adversity, and a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome even the most daunting of challenges.

The Dirty Dozen is a 1967 action movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7 and a MetaScore of 73.