The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Blistering performances.

Idiotic film that portrays a bunch of drunk losers who brawl, that suddenly become one of the best army units in WW2. The incessant brawling takes 2 hours of time. It is tedious and juvenile.William Holden is as stiff as ever in his role as some tough commander who's always at the front of the battle, without taking an injury I might add.You might want to throw away your brain once the actual battles start up, since the Wehrmacht is portrayed as a bunch of idiots who don't know how to fight or stand guard duty. The greenhorn US grunts walk down a stream and take the whole town just like that.There is also no way a bunch of greenhorn US grunts are going to capture a town that was probably supported by Gebirgsjäger (Mountain units) and Waffen SS Mountain units by simply and easily climbing up a steep hill without gloves or equipment.There is also no way a bunch of greenhorn US grunts are going to capture a hill held by seasoned Fallschirmjäger units (paratrooper).

It's the summer of 42. Col. Frederick (William Holden) is a critic of Mountbatten's plan to train a joint Canadian and American commando unit to send to occupied Norway. Mountbatten promptly puts him in command. The Americans are a bunch of disgruntled misfits and they don't get along with the regimented Canadians led by Major Crown (Cliff Robertson). The two desperate groups eventually find respect and work together. The new unit is almost disbanded but Frederick persists and gets into Italy. They are eventually assigned an impossible mission.The first half is a bit boring. There are so many characters that it's impossible for one of the men to become the lead. In the end, it's still Frederick as the lead. The only true requirement is a setup. It could be cut back a lot. The second half is much more compelling as the men go into action. At least, there is a danger that is missing in the first half. The final battle takes place in an impressive setting. It could be more thrilling but it's still pretty good.

The movie is kind of a re-run treat. It very closely follows the true story of the First Special Service Force. The commander is correctly identified as Lt. Colonel Robert Frederick and it did consist of both US and Canadian troops - about 500 Canadians and 1200 Americans. All were volunteers. The American criminal contingent is all Hollywood although as with all volunteer forces there will have been some with checkered pasts.Training in the real unit was intense and the movie follows that training faithfully. The mountain assault really did happen that way. I have always considered the assault to be a highlight of cinematic combat action.About the only thing missing is their real moniker - the Black Devils. In German it was the "Schwarzer Teufel" so named because of the black face paint used in night raids. They would attack and then flee into the night as if they were literal devils. The unit was disbanded on December 5, 1944 after only two years. All US special operations combat forces are said to be descended from this unit.Cliff Robertson is masterful in the role of the Canadian commander. Jack Watson as Corporeal Peacock is one of my all time quirky characters.

I was surprised to learn that "The Devil's Brigade" is actually based on a true story and it's not some "Dirty Dozen" knockoff. During WWII, there really was a special forces unit made up of American and Canadian soldiers and this film is a slightly fictionalized version of their formation and successes.The film begins with the Colonel (William Holden) being given command of a new special forces unit. When he arrives at the camp, it's derelict--a mess. Well, when the soldiers arrive, they are no better--a group of misfits dumped on his from various American units. In contrast, the Canadian soldiers who soon arrive are among the elite--and they couldn't seem any more different. Can Holden somehow make these very disparate groups of men a working and effective combat team? To help him are the Majors (Cliff Robertson and Vince Edwards), but their task seems impossible.While there are some comparisons to "The Dirty Dozen", "The Devil's Brigade" is far less exciting and enjoyable--probably because truth is often less entertaining than fantasy--and "The Dirty Dozen" is pure fantasy. Regardless, the film is well made and enjoyable and a nice testament to the men who risked their lives with the unit.