Review: Kelly's Heroes

Year:1970

Run time: 144m

Director:  Brian G. Hutton

Studio:  MGM

Cast:  Clint Eastwood (Kelly), Telly Savalas (Big Joe), Donald Southerland (Oddball), Don Rickles (Crap Game), Gavin Mcleod (Moriarty), Harry Dean Stanton, Carol O'Coner, Stuart Margolin.

In the middle of WWII Kelly masterminds a bank heist.  Thirty miles behind the German line is a secret shipment of gold bars, sixteen million dollars, waiting for someone to come along and pick it up.  All they have to do is get to the bank...

This film is a serious, action, comedy.  There's plenty of bombs, flames, and wanton gunfire to sooth the wildest action fan.  The realities of the setting are not totally ignored.  The laughs are woven well in the dialogue and situations.

Eastwood is enjoyable as Kelly, the pragmatic motivating force for this heroic effort.  Savalas does a fine job as Big Joe, the more realistic, battle hardened Sargent.  Donald Southerland is my favorite as Oddball, the freethinking, free living, champion of positive vibes who commands three Sherman tanks.



They are well supported by an ensemble of actors including Don Rickles as a greedy supply officer and Gavin Mcleod (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Love Boat.) as the negative tank mechanic, and Carol O'Coner (All In The Family, In the Heat of the Night) as a clueless general.

There are some highlights of cinematography such as the driver's POV shots as Kelly navigates a jeep through a mortar bombardment at the beginning of the film and Oddball's drive through the train yard.

            
 I like the soundtrack for this film.

From the opening ballad 'Burning Bridges' to the tight drum and horn work the soundtrack is interesting and enhancing.

I see this film as a good example of the changing styles of the early seventies.  Opening with a catchy tune and emphasizing the opposition of the common soldier and command, this isn't your everyday war movie.  Southerland's portrayal of Oddball seems a nod to the Hippies in the audience.

The film is a little uneven, but the joke plays well.  See it for the fun of it.  I give it a 6 out of 10.