12 American military prisoners in World War II are ordered to infiltrate a well-guarded enemy château and kill the Nazi officers vacationing there. The soldiers, most of whom are facing death sentences for a variety of violent crimes, agree to the mission and the possible commuting of their sentences.
In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of twelve convicted murderers facing execution are offered a chance at freedom. They must undertake a perilous mission: parachute behind enemy lines and assassinate a group of German high-ranking officers during a strategic retreat. Led by the hardened Major Reisman, the condemned soldiers must overcome their own resentments and the strict military discipline to execute this near-suicidal operation.
The Dirty Dozen was a commercial success and received positive reviews from critics, who praised its action sequences, gritty tone, and ensemble cast. While some critics noted its violence, it has since become a cult classic and is regarded as one of the great war films.
Google audience: Audiences generally loved the film's intense action, compelling story, and the performances of its star-studded cast, particularly Lee Marvin. Many viewers appreciated the film's gritty realism and its unique premise of sending criminals on a suicide mission.
Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for Lee Marvin.
The original script called for the film to end with the Dozen successfully assassinating the German generals. However, director Robert Aldrich decided to add a dramatic twist in the final act, where the surviving members of the Dozen fight their way out of the chateau, creating a more explosive and unexpected climax.
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