The movie that defines comedy-adventure, Kelly’s Heroes mixes action, and intrigue from the front line perspective.  Directed by Brian Hutton who worked with Clint Eastwood on Where Eagles Dare and produced in the spirit of the foul mouthing Dirty Dozen, this concerns yet again another “behind the lines” escapade.  This time around a demoted officer talks a platoon of war weary GIs to steal thousands of bars of gold.

When I first saw it in the 1970’s it was a straight war movie.  Later, as I aged, I listened closer to the dialogue.  Therein were themes of war and peace that Big Joe (Telly Savalas) faced–desertion, dereliction of duty, corrupt and incompetent leaders, friendly fire, outright theft.

(During World War 2, after D-Day, the Western allies had a fantastic suppy service that was also equally corrupt—a snippet seen in Kelly’s Heroes)

Many talented actors beyond the big names grace the movie like Stuart Margolin, Gavin McLoed,  and Jeff Morris.  Finally the theme song is a rousing piece of work which plays at the beginning and end of the movie.

Produced at the insistence of Burton’s kid who wanted Pappy to do another adventure movie, Where Eagles Dare is the type of movie from the 60’s that is as good as it got back then.  There is a first rate cast–beyond Burton and Eastwood.  James Clavell and Alistair McLean developed the sharp script.  The film was shot on location and in winter.  The plot is cool, steadily developed with a top notch climax–Burton’s best in my opinion–and a fine postclimax.  Mary Ure and Ingrid Pitt are classy eye candy as well as smart ladies.  I still remember seeing it as a kid in the 1970’s for the first time.  Even in India (1987) I caught it—seeing snow was cool in the heat of Vizag.