Kelly's Heroes

release year: 1970
genre: WWII action/adventure
viewing setting: home DVD 8/3/22 and 1/12/05

synopsis: During World War II, a group of American soldiers goes behind enemy lines to rob a bank full of German gold.

impressions: This was a pretty good little caper. The protagonists are varied enough, and quirky enough, to make them worth caring about. There's plenty of action and also some comedy.

things to watch for: The attack on the town containing the bank full of gold.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A hippie tank chief.

acting: Clint Eastwood is the man with the plan. Telly Savalas is his superior officer, who gets talked into the plot. Don Rickles is a desk jockey who gets involved and provides some comic relief. Donald Sutherland is irritating as the aptly-named "Oddball" (the character overuses the words "mother" and "beautiful" to the point of annoyance.) Carroll O'Connor is a U.S. general who has no idea what's going on, and makes you laugh at his actions.

final word: Good action movie with a good mix of seriousness and comedy.

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