Kelly's Heroes (1970)

During the waning days of World War II, a group of American soldiers find themselves without a leader nor a mission so they decide to sneak behind enemy lines to attempt to steal a hidden cache of gold which even most Nazi's are aware of.  Clint Eastwood (who plays the titular Private Kelly) leads an all-star cast including Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Donald Sutherland, Carol O'Connor, and Harry Dean Stanton.  Directed by Brian G. Hutton (Where Eagles Dare), this is as much of a comedic heist film as war movie, let's see how they pull off their mission. 

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Transcript

KELLY’S HEROES – 1970

Directed by Brian G. Hutton

Starring Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Caroll O’Connor, Gavin MacLeod, Hal Buckley, Stuart Margolin, Jeff Morris, Richard Davalos, Perry Lopez, Tom Troupe, Harry Dean Stanton, Len Lesser, and Donald Sutherland

Genre: War Heist Adventure (Audio clip)

It's funny I only knew about this movie from the catchy Brit-pop single of the same name from Black Grape in '95...I loved that song, not sure why I waited 25 years to finally see the movie but I'm glad I did!

Certainly not a film meant to be taken seriously - it's literally wall-to-wall gunfire and explosions and yet it's firmly a PG movie...it pretty much takes place in the same WWII universe as Indiana Jones where there's a high body count but it's ok because they're mostly Nazi's. 😉 The pyrotechnics are impressive, the plot is straightforward, and there are some nicely done moments of tension but what sells this is the cast...

Eastwood at the ripe young age of 40(!) playing it relaxed and cool almost seeming like he could have walked onto the set of Ocean's 11 ten years earlier and fit right in with Frank and the rest of the gang...Telly Savalas with just the right mix of gravitas and good humor....Don Rickles cracking wise yet holding his jwn with a machine gun...along with broadly entertaining supporting turns from a fun assortment of future TV stars: Carol O'Connor, Gavin McLeod, and - Uncle Leo from Seinfeld himself - Len Lesser. 🙂

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film): 

The music featured throughout this film is likely more a bit more playful and less bombastic than your typical World War II story from around this time period, even one more akin to a heist movie like this one.  And it comes to us from the immensely talented – STILL with us after decades upon decades of memorable scores and themes including previous episode Enter the Dragon AND the original Mission Impossible theme – straight out of Argentina, Lalo Schifrin. (Audio clip)  

Now as solid as the score is, there is ONE original song which we hear at both the beginning and end of the film….over the credits….but actually in a more inspired manner over the opening credits as it is preceded by a pretty clever cold opening scene….we’re in a rainy village during World War II I BELIEVE in Germany there’s a caravan of German military vehicles slowly proceeding through it…..cut to one truck stopped on a road which has a Nazi officer sitting in the passenger seat looking…..like he clearly doesn’t want to be there but is FROZEN with fear.  And next to him in the driver’s seat…..my man Clint.  With a grimace on is face as another officer outside approaches him….he simply grimaces some more and drives forward….. (Audio clip) 

With Clint’s Kelly plowing forward and just NOT giving a care, he knocks over the side of canopies where German soldiers are holding up, races through puddles splashing water on those standing nearby….it’s goofy, funny, and a pretty bad-ass intro to both the movie and his character.  And the gleeful song we hear over this featuring a boisterous female chorus, it comes to us from the Mike Curb Congregation…I know pretty BIZARRE name but it was just more of a side project produced by Schifrin at the time as Curb himself was also the President of MGM records.   The song is the undeniably catchy, “Burning Bridges.” (Audio clip) 

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film): 

One guy who steals the show is the LEGENDARY Donald Sutherland who sadly left us just about a year ago at the age of 88.  This came out relatively early in his storied career as Sutherland did a TON of memorable stuff from the early ’60’s all the way up to just a couple of years ago….more than 200 acting credits in both film and TV.   Truly an AMAZING career delivering strong performances in a variety of genres, he just never disappointed….even made full-on meals of smaller roles – maybe just one scene – in movies like Backdraft, National Lampoon’s Animal House, AND he pretty much STOLE previous episode JFK with the all-time conspiracy monologue to end ALL conspiracy monologues. (Audio clip)  

Yeah are we seeing a pattern here?  He was one of our ULTIMATE scene-stealers.  Sutherland brought an intelligence and urgency to every character he played, often elevating even the PULPIEST genre films he was appearing in from The Hunger Games to the 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers to helping bring more passion to material on paper which might come off as more stuffy….like Best Picture-winner Ordinary People or the film version of Six Degrees of Separation or the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice.  He was truly a master of all trades and here, his character Seargeant Oddball is extremely anachronistic but damn entertaining...Sutherland was also in MASH the same year (1970) as this and this is basically just a more beatnik version of Hawkeye Peirce. He kinda feels at times like he's in a different movie just by the way he talks and swaggers...but his chemistry with Eastwood and Savalas is still strong. (Audio clip) 

Rest In Peace Donald Sutherland and here’s hoping that you still have a rapturous audience watching you deliver stirring monologues….wherever you are. (Audio clip) 

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

And speaking of Sutherland’s Oddball….he also happens to lead what is very likely this film’s standout action sequence which occurs about halfway through and if you’ve listened to previous episode Fury, you KNOW that I’m a sucker for an effective sequence utilizing a tank.  Now this isn’t even approaching the grim vibe or realism of that film’s action though it is STILL very well shot.  And it all comes down some of our gang traversing to the gold in a Sherman tank which just happens to be at the right place at the right time. (Audio clip) 

They’re working their way through a railroad tunnel….when suddenly they realize that on the other side of that tunnel JUST outside of the exit is a SIZEABLE Nazi encampment.  So with everybody onboard READY to just let loose once they hit the light, they just trudge out guns blazing.  It’s pretty much in line with the lighthearted tone of the movie though played a bit more ironically with relatively lighthearted music playing in the background, apparently diegetically from someone’s radio.   And they pretty much lay waste to this band of Nazi’s….what’s clever about this sequence is how much the camera stays at the POV from the main cannon of the tank, this was definitely ahead of its time thanks to innovative cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa. (Audio clip) 

MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film):

Honestly considering the setting, the disparate cast, and a BIT of an unwieldy story which on paper seems very far-fetched….this movie works WAY better than it has any right to, it’s a cohesive story always entertaining and over 140 minutes, it BUILDS to a very satisfying climax which is both funny and suspenseful. (Audio clip) 

It came to us from a director/actor/plumber from New York City who only helmed a few other films including a more serious version of a unique World War II ensemble mission movie which came out just a couple of years prior……and ALSO starring Clint Eastwood, that was the widely acclaimed Where Eagles Dare.  For a few years, this guy just had the touch and he clearly was adept at building strong chemistry with his actors.  For pulling off the rare ensemble war heist which WORKS…..and on a shoe-string budget for this type of movie no less….., director Brian G. Hutton is the MVP. 

Final Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 

All in all just a fun Dad movie even if you're not a dad or in the presence of one...kinda shocking they haven't remade it by no.  Though HOW could you TOP this cast??  Fun irreverent take on the Greatest Generaation and extremely rewatchable- feel free to check it out this Memorial Day!  And of course, a special shout-out to all of the brave men and women who serve this country….THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. 

Streaming on Prime Video

And that ends another BURNING BRIDGES LOST FOREVER MORE review!