Kelly's Heroes [1970]

On the DVD: Kelly's Heroes is presented on disc in a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer which is immaculate and taken from a virtually perfect master. The images are so clean and sharp they look brand new, outclassing many current theatrical prints. The three-channel sound concentrates most of the action to the centre speaker but does an excellent job of capturing the often turbulent soundtrack. The only real extra is the original trailer, presented anamorphically at 1.77:1.--Gary S Dalkin

Anyway, using the famed German gold as the object of desire, Clint Eastwood convinces his platoon sergeant, played by Telly Savalas, to go 30 miles deep into enemy lines to get 16 million dollars in solid gold bars... But for that they are going to need more than good will and a few men...

What about some tanks? Enter Donald Sutherland, tank commander, hippie (in the 40's!), and all around crazy, with his squad of Shermans, properly disguised, and carrying several unauthorized "special" weapons.

And support? Enter Don Rickles, con-man, always looking out for a deal, and with a soft spot in his heart, whenever he isn't grumbling about something.

Then there is the rest of the whole Army, from the graves registration office up to the General, including a band! Everyone wants to get in on the act. Even the Germans, once they know what's in that bank, and after a showdown suitable to a western, completely out of place in a war flick...

The whole movie goes around with small jokes and satirical characters, but when it tries to get serious it becomes serious (in one small scene on a mined field).

A parade of gags around a serious theme, well worth seeing it!


Say something righteous for a change!   August 8, 2004
Deborah MacGillivray (US & UK)
13 out of 16 found this review helpful

What an early Eastwood gem! Eastwood as Rowdy Yates rode off into sunset of Spaghetti Westerns in the 60's, but came back to start is long career in Hollywood movies with several quirky, oddball movies Two Mules for Sister Sara and Kelly's Heroes. This is a totally funny movie, with strong acting from an all star cast. HOWEVER - I really wish since we have DVD and can add so much, that they would put out the FULL LENGTH version of this movie. I have seen the longer version and it's so good. So many of the funny stuff was whacked out for length! WHY they did not do the longer version is beyond me!

The heroes are not Kelly's, they actually belong to Big Joe (Telly Savalas) - well actually to Maitland, their absentee Capt. - and they are not heroes. You quickly learn from Oddball (Donald Sutherland in his pre-Hawkeye rebel role), that a hero is nothing but a sandwich to most of these guys. Maitland is the general's nephew who is more interested in looting the countryside, so he leaves the weary misfits under Big Joe's capable care. Only, Kelly (Eastwood) discovered there is a bank behind enemy lines with millions of dollars in gold bars. Kelly quickly decides a bank job that isn't a bank job is much better than just getting shot by Germans.

Along for the ride is Sutherland's tank team - with Gavin Macleod as his second in command. Some of Sutherland's and Macleod's "making with them negative waves" banter is just so perfect! Then there is Cowboy (Jeff Morrsi and Willard (Harry Dean Statton, who actually gets to sing!) "Damn right!", Gene Collins' Pvt. Babra "Stop calling me Barbara!" and Don Rickles as Crapgame.

Toss in scenes that are witty, a parody of Eastwood Spaghetti showdown, this is just brilliantly directed, paced, acted and written from beginning to end. Don't miss Sutherland and his dog imitations, the exploding shells of paint or Crapgame's encounter with the outhouse!


Profit in chaos   July 5, 2004
B. Chandler (Arlington, Texas)
3 out of 11 found this review helpful

A captured German was being brought back for intelligence purposes. A cursory investigation of his briefcase showed the he possessed a bar of gold. This turns out to be part of a horde that is in a bank behind German lines. Knowing this, what would you do?

Clint Eastwood, you remember him as the Jet Squadron Leader in (Tarantula (1955) is now on foot in the military during WWII. He upon learning that there is a considerable amount of German gold in a bank, 30 miles into enemy territory, he decides to assemble a taskforce of loyal...Oops, greedy soldiers that are capable of recovering the gold before the town is taken by the allies. In the processes they encourage the allies to push harder and further, regardless of the odds.

Some of the key people are:
Of course Kelly the organizer and instigator, who is Clint Eastwood who played a lab technician in "Revenge of the Creature".
Telly Savalas is Big Joe. Much different than his character in "John Goldfarb, Please Come Home" (1965), where he was a Harem procurer that procured Shirley MacLaine.

One person that did not change is Carroll O'Connor as General Colt who was listening to the progress on the radio and thought that the expedition was an enthusiastic spearhead. He plays General Bolt in "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?" (1966), who looks at aerial photographs and thinks that the troops are in hand to hand combat. (Bolt, Colt, it is still Carroll 0'Connor)

Last for best is Donald Sutherland as Odd Ball the unorthodox tank Commander. See him on the other side or serious side as Faber in Eye of the Needle (1981).