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THE DIRTY DOZEN

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Full Name: The Dirty Dozen
Nationality: American
Organization: U.S. Army
Occupation Agency

Creator: E. M. Nathanson
Time Span: 1965 - 1988

ABOUT THE SERIES

The Dirty Dozen was a group working for the OSS.

It is important to note that while the 'group' is part of the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, only a few of its members are actually affiliated with that organization, usually the officer leader of the ad hoc group and an NCO member of the MPs to act as lead guard.

Guard being the operative word here because the remaining members of the group(s) are all servicemen in military prison awaiting either execution or lengthy time behind bars. A couple were people in the wrong place at the very wrong time while a couple were basically good people pushed into doing very bad things. The remainder, however, were in their predicament for the excellent reason that they belonged there. Murderers, thieves, rapists, you name it. More than one is a certifiable nutcase who should never have been allowed outside again but since the missions that these men would be trained for and sent on were almost by definition suicide runs, if they did not make it, so be it.

But for those who might actually survive to come back alive, the promise of a pardon was given.

The first band of men that we meet are led by Captain (or Major, depending on the media) John Reisman, an Army officer who admittedly has a problem with some authorities above him but who is very much dedicated to getting the job done and will willingly give his all doing so. We will have the opportunity of following him in three missions (one told as a novel and a film, albeit with differences, one more as a novel alone, and one more just as a film). Reisman is about as rugged as they come and when those being freed from their cells get the idea that they can run roughshod over him or bamboozle him or just annoy him to compliance, he very quickly and earnestly shows them the error of such thinking.

The second leader of men deserving the moniker of Dirty Dozen is Major Wright (first name unknown to me), another tough-as-nails man chosen for this impossible mission by the same man who green-lit Reisman's work, General Sam Worden. Wright's approach seems to be a tad more cerebral than rough-and-tough, at least until he is pushed and then he shows that brains and brawn are not mutually exclusive. He will be asked to lead men on two different missions.

The third man to lead a Dirty Dozen squad is Lieutenant Dan Danko. His missions, which number a dozen just like the members of his crew, supposedly take place a full year before the first Dirty Dozen took form - the reason for this discrepancy is not explained but his commanding officer was a different general so ...

In each case, the men who make up the convict contingent of each group will change because when the missions are said to be suicidal in nature, there was no hyperbole in play.


Note: in each incarnation of the Dirty Dozen, the members of the squad are military men, not spies, but since from the moment they shed their uniforms to go behind enemy lines to engage in the kind of missions they are assigned, the Geneva Convention clearly marks them as spies and saboteurs.

BOOKS

Number of Books:2
First Appearance:1965
Last Appearance:1987

1 The Dirty Dozen The Dirty Dozen
Written by E. M. Nathanson
Copyright: 1965

"The orders to Captain John Reisman were to select twelve General Prisoners convicted by courts-martial and doomed to be executed or serve lengthy prison terms for murder, rape, robbery and other crimes of violence, and to train and qualify them in as much of the clever and dirty business of behind-the-lines operations as they could absorb in a brief time; then to deliver them secretly onto the European mainland just prior to D-day, to wreak havoc upon segments and personnel of the Nazi war machine."
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2 A Dirty Distant War A Dirty Distant War
Written by E. M. Nathanson
Copyright: 1987

OSS Major John Reisman is asked again to go behind enemy lines, this time in the Far East. His mission is to resolve tremendous conflict between two Allied factions, the Kachin tribesmen and the Kuomintang. It will take him from Burma to China to Vietnam and will eventually the assistance of three fellow Dirty Dozen survivors.
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MOVIES

Number of Movies:4
First Appearance:1967
Last Appearance:1988

The first movie, based largely on the book by the same name, was a major hit in the theaters in 1967. Nearly two decades would pass before a film sequel would be made, this time as a TV movie in 1985 again starring Lee Marvin as Capt. Reisman. Two years later, another sequel for television was made, this one having a new leader, Major Wright. The next year, 1988, yet another mission for Maj. Wright came to the small screen.


1 The Dirty Dozen The Dirty Dozen
Director: Robert Aldrich
Writers: Nunnally Johnson, Lukas Heller
Actors: Lee Marvin as John Reisman, Ernest Borgnine as General Worden, Charles Bronson as Joseph Wladislaw, Jim Brown as Robert T. Jefferson, Richard Jaeckel as Sgt. Bowren, Telly Savalas as Archer Maggott, Donald Sutherland as Vernon Pinkley, Robert Ryan as Col. Breed, Clint Walker as Samson Posey
Released: 1967

OSS officer Major John Reisman is directed "to undertake 'Project Amnesty', a top secret mission to train some of the U.S. Army's worst convicts into highly-skilled commandos to eliminate Wehrmacht officers at a château near Rennes, disrupting the German chain of command in northern France ahead of D-Day. If any of the convicts survive, they will be pardoned."

2 The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Writer: Michael Kane
Actors: Lee Marvin as John Reisman, Ernest Borgnine as General Worden, Ken Wahl as Louis Valentine, Larry Wilcox as Tommy Wells, Sonny Landham as Sam Sixkiller, Richard Jaeckel as Sgt. Bowren
Released: 1985

"During WW2, American General Worden orders Major Reisman to pick 12 soldiers from the military prison for the dangerous mission of killing a Nazi General."

3 The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission
Director: Lee H. Katzin
Writer: Mark Rodgers
Actors: Telly Savalas as Maj. Wright, Ernest Borgnine as General Worden, Vince Edwards as Sgt. Holt, Bo Svenson as Maurice Fontenac, Vincent Van Pattan as Ronnie Weber, James Van Patten as David Weber, Randall 'Tex' Cobb as Eric 'Swede' Wallan
Released: 1987

"During WW2, American General Worden orders Major Wright to pick 12 condemned soldiers from the brig and parachute into occupied France where they must destroy a Nazi nerve gas facility and extricate the foreign scientists working there."

4 The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission
Director: Lee H. Katzin
Writer: Mark Rodgers
Actors: Telly Savalas as Maj. Wright, Ernest Borgnine as General Worden, Jeff Conaway as Sgt. Holt, Alex Cord as Dravko Demchuk, Erik Estrada as Carmine D;Agostino, Ernie Hudson as Joe Hamilton, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini as Tom Ricketts
Released: 1988

"A team of renegade soldiers in World War II tries to stop the creation of the Fourth Reich in the Middle East."

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:11
First Appearance:1988
Last Appearance:1988
Network:Fox

REGULAR CAST
Ben MurphyLt. Danko [ 1 ]
John BradleyFarrell [ 1 ]
John D'AquinoLebec [ 1 ]
Mike JollyVern [ 1 ]
John TenneyFeke [ 1 ]
John SlatteryLeeds [ 1 ]

Following the success of a couple made-for-television sequels to the 1967 blockbuster, Fox Television brought to primetime a series with the same name and a similar concept.

This go-around a Lieutenant Danko is told to collect, train, and lead a group of convicts on near-suicide missions with the cons having a chance at amnesty.


1 Danko's Dozen
Episode S1-0, first aired 04/30/1988
Director: Kevin Connor
Writers: Dan Gordon, Jonas McCord, Mark Rodgers

Lt. Danko recruits a new Dirty Dozen to destroy a German radar installation located inside a hospital.

2 Code Name - Romulus
Episode S1-1, first aired 05/07/1988
Director: Douglas Hickox
Writers: S.S. Schweitzer, Dan Gorgon

The Dozen are sent to Yugoslavia to destroy a mine vital to the German war effort. However, the local partisans are "unusual".

3 Colonel Mustard in the Library with a Luger
Episode S1-2, first aired 05/14/1988
Director: Douglas Hickox
Writer: James L. Novack

The Dozen, disguised as high-ranking officers, are the bait for a group of enemy assassins.

4 13th Man
Episode S1-3, first aired 05/21/1988
Director: Randy Roberts
Writers: Tony Blake, Paul Jackson

A German spy joins the Dozen on a mission to blow up a dam.

5 A Quiet Weekend in the Country
Episode S1-4, first aired 05/28/1988
Director: Kevin Connor
Writers: Nick Gore, Jerry Jacobius

The Dozen are sent on leave to an island off the coast of Scotland, just as German paratroopers land on it, hoping to kidnap General Eisenhower.

6 Charge of the Dozen
Episode S1-5, first aired 06/04/1988
Director: Douglas Hickox
Writers: Mark Rodgers, Jeanne Marie Rodgers

The Dirty Dozen are sent to occupied Yugoslavia to kill a high ranking German officer who is due to take over the defense of Italy. The allies don't want that to happen as the officer is considered second only to Rommel in his abilities.

7 The Dirtiest Show on Earth
Episode S1-6, first aired 06/18/1988
Director: Virgil W. Vogel
Writers: Steven Baum, Neil Alan Levy

On a mission to assassinate high-ranking Nazi officers, the Dozen join a circus.

8 Remember St. Luc
Episode S1-7, first aired 06/25/1988
Director: Douglas Hickox
Writers: Duke Sandefur, Mark Rodgers

The lads much liberate a French town which is occupied by the Germans. Whilst there Danko is reunited with his former sweetheart, but finds that she too has been sleeping with the enemy.

9 Heavy Duty
Episode S1-8, Unaired
Director: Douglas Hickox
Writers: Bill couturie, Richard Dewhurst

It's 1943, and an English Captain caught robbing a safe is sent to join the dozen on a mission to Denmark, to blow up a laboratory protected by solid steel and try to save some Danish prisoners.

10 Don Danko
Episode S1-9, Unaired
Director: Ray Austin
Writer: David Thoreau

Lisbon, Portugal 1943. The Dozen must pose as mafia mobsters and use their inside knowledge of forgery, in order to stop a counterfeit money operation which is funding the Nazis.

11 Baby Brigade
Episode S1-10, Unaired
Director: Virgil W. Vogel
Writer: Leigh Vance

Paris, 1943. The Dozen must rescue a brave radio broadcaster who has been performing shows in drag for the Nazis whilst secretly sending messages to the allies. Caught by the Gestapo, they had begun forcing him to instead broadcast their propaganda in exchange for his baby daughter's life.

COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND MANGA

Number of Stories:1
First Appearance:1967
Last Appearance:1967

1 The Dirty Dozen The Dirty Dozen
Published by Dell
Contributors: Jack Sparling (artist)
Copyright: 1967

An adaptation of The Dirty Dozen movie.

PARODIES, SATIRES, AND PASTICHES

Number of Entries:1
First Appearance:1968
Last Appearance:1968

1 Dirtier By The Dozen Dirtier By The Dozen
Published by Mad Magazine
Contributors: Lou Silverstone (writer), Mort Drucker (artist)
Copyright: 1968

Printed in MAD Magazine #116 and from the 'Bums Away Dept'.
A parody-satire of the 1967 movie called The Dirty Dozen! An Officer that is no-nonsense must train a group of murderers, degenerates, psychos and bad actors into an assault unity for a mission with a plot that may be implausible. The group is knows the "The Dirty Dozen Rotten Eggs".
Click here to read the story.

COLLECTIBLES

Number of Collectibles:2
First Appearance:1967
Last Appearance:1968

1 The Dirty Dozen FOH Color Set The Dirty Dozen FOH Color Set
Item Type: Front Of House Cards
Created by: MGM
Copyright: 1967

A color series of 8 promotional cards placed in the window boxes outside or in the lobbies of theaters across the UK that played the movie. All 8 have still photo scenes from the movie.

2 The Dirty Dozen German LC Set The Dirty Dozen German LC Set
Item Type: Lobby Cards
Created by: CIC
Copyright: 1968

A series of 8 color promotional cards sent to theaters in German speaking countries across Europe that play the movie. Each of the 8 cards have a still photo scene from the movie.

REFERENCE BOOKS

Number of Books:3
First Appearance:2017
Last Appearance:2023

1 World War II Films of the 1960s World War II Films of the 1960s
Written by Scott V. Palmer
Copyright: 2017

"This book is the third in a continuing series of books about films of World War II. Films made between 1960 and 1969 are included, along with complete cast listings, directorial credits, and a telling but succinct synopsis of each film. Iconic films such as The Guns of Navarone, The Great Escape, The Dirty Dozen, Where Eagles Dare and The Battle of Britain are among the more than three dozen productions listed. Stars in them include people like Gregory Peck, Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Richard Harris, Kirk Douglas, George Peppard, James Garner, Rock Hudson, Clint Eastwood, Richard Burton, and many others."

2 World War II Films of the 1970s & 80s World War II Films of the 1970s & 80s
Written by Scott V. Palmer
Copyright: 2017

"The aim of this book is to provide coverage of motion pictures made during the 1970s and 1980s dealing with the Second World War. While many films contain elements of the war, or took place during the war, the inclusion of films in this book is based primarily on something dealing directly with the war, such as battles or missions. Complete cast listings, running times, directorial credits, story synopses, and many photographs are provided to give the reader clear and concise details on each particular film. Sub-genres are included, such as films dealing with spies or those dealing with prisoner of war camps. Historical figures are the main conern of some other films in this book."

3 Killing Generals Killing Generals
Written by Dwayne Epstein
Copyright: 2023

Subtitled: The Making of The Dirty Dozen, the Most Iconic WWII Movie of All Time.
"Based on exclusive interviews with the surviving cast and crew, friends and families of the stars, and other Hollywood insiders, Killing Generals is a riveting must-read for film buffs, military fans, and anyone who loves a down-and-dirty adventure tale. To quote the character played by Charles Bronson, “Boy oh boy—killing generals could get to be a habit with me.” Detailed, insightful, and gossipy, Epstein’s homage spotlights the movie’s endless barrage of cinematic gold."
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MY COMMENTS

As a teenager filled with testosterone and eager to be puffed up soldier-style, albeit without people actually shooting at me, I loved - repeat - loved the movie when it came out. I have since seen it several more times and, writing this now am certain I will find a streaming service to view it again.

It would be around 1972 that I came across the book that was the basis for the movie and I snatched it up and loved it as well. A good deal different, of course, but still terrifically written and enjoyed by me. It deserves to be on any action-adventure fan's reading list.

I have not read the sequel but now have a copy and plan to give it a go. I watched the first two made-for-television movies and enjoyed them though nowhere nearly as much. Watched only a couple of the television shows and, truth be told, forgot all about them until preparing this entry; this is evidence as to how good they were, IMHO.

So, the first book is great, the first movie is AWESOME, and the rest are not bad to okay to ... nah!

GRADE

My Grade: B+

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