Rating: 
Summary: War and Killing as a Fun Video Game
Review: I have to register a dissenting opinion about this trivial parody of horrific WWII experiences. When this movie was recently shown on TCM it was stated that Clint Eastwood was unhappy with the cuts made after shooting. I found myself wishing they had made more cuts or scrapped the movie entirely. Donald Sutherland's character, as a 60's type hippie complete with a 60's type (not WWII military) hairstyle who was seemingly sent back in time to command a renegade tank group, was particularly painful to endure. Other anachronisms could be cited but are less important than the generally juvenile script which one had to put up with. I know Hollywood has been successful in marketing war as a fun game for the good guys with the bad guys as stereotypical straight men but children should outgrow their action figure toys at some point in adulthood and begin to see the world in a slightly more intelligent light than an impressionable juvenile. You could view the catastrophe of war as surreal or as a psychotic episode divorced from reality as in "Castle Keep" and some humor might work. This movie, I am sorry to say would inspire some to think that war is actually like a fun video game with tiger tanks being blasted in the ass with paint just for the hell of it before being finished off for real.
I guess I also don't understand the Clint Eastwood mystique. His perpetual semi-catatonic expression I suppose is considered macho but to be fair I have never really watched one of his movies and perhaps there are better ones than this. I actually found Telly Savalas as the most believable character in the movie was he seemingly attempts to maintain some small degree of reality to this disjointed mess. Carroll O'Connor also manages to parody a stereotypical Army General without crossing the line into childish fantasy. The culmination of fantasy is when the three unarmed renegades casually confront a tiger tank and without being machined gunned to death, as would occur in real life, convince the German tank commander to join them in robbing the bank he is supposed to be guarding. Really believable right? I suppose if your taste in literature consists of action comic books, you might enjoy this creation. There is also the possibility one might become interested in if the renegades actually succeed in their bank robbing goal and you might follow that action. However, there is so much in this movie that masquerades as believable and is not, that the movie does not engage one who cannot accept contrived situations and shallow characters.
Rating: 
Summary: "Always with the negative waves!"
Review: In 1968, director Brian G. Hutton came out with "Where the Eagles Dare", a cleverly written but ultimately stupid WWII war film featuring some of the absolutely worst and intellectually devoid ways in which German soldiers died. However, the film became a short-lived hit and gave Clint Eastwood some more exposure after the Spagetti Westerns era. Then two years later, Hutton came out with a follow-up piece: Kelly's Heroes.
The plot is simple, a bunch of GI's have three days R&R before they go back to the front lines, during which time they won't be bothered or inspected. But instead of playing cool, Kelly (Eastwood) decides to pull them together along with their commanding Sgt., a supply-man, and an oddball tank commander, appropriately named oddball. Combined with other memorable characters, they set out to go 30 miles beyond enemy lines. Though these guys aren't going to fight for glory or even the cause, they're going to rob a bank. A German bank, with 16 million dollars worth of gold in it.
This should be seen as a great companion piece to several other action movies made around the time. If you've seen "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly", you'll like Clint here. If you liked "The Dirty Dozen", you'll like Telly Savalas here too in the biggest of his movie roles. Don Rickles, well, is brought in as sort of the secondary comic relief. But Oddball, oh boy. The role of Oddball went to Donald Sutherland, otherwise seen in Robert Altman's "MASH". He's about as kooky, crazy, silly, and absolutely off-the-wall insane as you've ever seen anybody. Who knew a 1940's hippy could be straight off of Looney Tunes as well?
Despite the killing and drama associated with war epics, this is mainly a slap-stick comedy. Heck, Mel Brooks could've come up with this! From shooting tanks with paint-shells, to telling the Seregent outright that you've got the crabs, the jokes and one-liners in here are hilarious! The pantomimes, which are only just so subtle, clearly state out that Big Joe in particular is really not looking forward to this. This has to be Telly Savalas' best performance. There's a little joke near the end, mostly directed at Clint Eastwood, which makes a jab at his big western role. It's meant to be kind of a joke, but still makes for the coolest scene in the whole flim. Even the late Carroll O'Connor, aka Archie Bunker, has a pre-"All in the Family" role as General Colt, who has supposedly broken through Axis lines without even knowing it (it was actually Kelly).
In conclusion, this is very much a guy's film. Hardcore war action, tough guy star power, screwball comedy. Even kids should be able to enjoy it, as I did when I first saw it. If you want a little bit of everything, this is the one to see. And always remember:
"WOOF, WOOF, WOOF!"
Rating: 
Summary: Funny but "authentic"
Review: This is one movie that has stuck with me for a number of years and for several reasons.
First is the outstanding cast.Two is the concept.Three is the good script.And four is its' attention to detail in recreating WW2.
First and foremost it is a WW2 movie and is the very foundation upon which it is based and if the production hadn't done such a good job in its' recreation then all the rest would have been for naught.
The casting was quite inspired and each one does an excellent job in making their characters their own,thus giving more credibilty and believability to the movie.
Carrol O'Connor in one of his earlier roles gives a great over the top performance as General Colt.
As with Gavin McLeod who makes "Moriarity" quite the character to behold.
One criticism one may make of the film today is Donald Sutherlands' "Oddball" the tank commander.His portrayal is filled with all the 60s hippie lingo then extant.It was more relevant and understandable for audiences THEN than now but what still makes it able to go over today is that it is,as previously stated,a war movie and when all is said and done he does command a tank and can ably function in combat conditions(albeit not without his "moments"!) and secondly the other characters act in as much disbelief and dismay as the audience at the sight and sound of him.So even though the "edge" may be off it still sells.
Clint Eastwood fresh from his Sergio Leone spahgetti westerns puts in a good turn as Kelly,Telly Savalas is a one hard-ass Sargeant "Big Joe",Don Rickles turns in a credible performance and adds in some "schtick" from his then current comedy routines as "Crapgame" and Telly Savalas' brother George does a short but sweet turn as "Mulligan" in artillery.
The 60s and 70s were especially replete with war themed TV shows(12 O'Clock High,Merrills' Merauders,Combat,etc.) and movies(The Bridge on the River Kwai,Tora,Tora,Tora,A Bridge too Far,etc).
This movie was one of the better ones.Even though it was fully grounded in the war and even showed the bitter "reality" that was that conflict it is remembered by many for its comedic side.
It deftly hit the mark on BOTH counts.
A highly recommended movie.
Rating:
Summary: that's his other dog imitation!
Review: What an early Eastwood gem! Eastwood as Rowdy Yates rode off into sunset of Spaghetti Westerns in the 60's, but came back to start is long career in Hollywood movies with several quirky, oddball movies Two Mules for Sister Sara and Kelly's Heroes. This is a totally funny movie, with strong acting from an all star cast. HOWEVER - I really wish since we have DVD and can add so much, that they would put out the FULL LENGTH version of this movie. I have seen the longer version and it's so good. So many of the funny stuff was whacked out for length! WHY they did not do the longer version is beyond me!The heroes are not Kelly's, they actually belong to Big Joe (Telly Savalas) - well actually to Maitland, their absentee Capt. - and they are not heroes. You quickly learn from Oddball (Donald Sutherland in his pre-Hawkeye rebel role), that a hero is nothing but a sandwich to most of these guys. Maitland is the general's nephew who is more interested in looting the countryside, so he leaves the weary misfits under Big Joe's capable care. Only, Kelly (Eastwood) discovered there is a bank behind enemy lines with millions of dollars in gold bars. Kelly quickly decides a bank job that isn't a bank job is much better than just getting shot by Germans. Along for the ride is Sutherland's tank team - with Gavin Macleod as his second in command. Some of Sutherland's and Macleod's "making with them negative waves" banter is just so perfect! Then there is Cowboy (Jeff Morrsi and Willard (Harry Dean Statton, who actually gets to sing!) "Damn right!", Gene Collins' Pvt. Babra "Stop calling me Barbara!" and Don Rickles as Crapgame. Toss in scenes that are witty, a parody of Eastwood Spaghetti showdown, this is just brilliantly directed, paced, acted and written from beginning to end. Don't miss Sutherland and his dog imitations, the exploding shells of paint or Crapgame's encounter with the outhouse!
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