It’s been a long time coming, but I finally got to see Robert Aldrich’s The Dirty Dozen (1967) and I’m happy to inform you that I loved it. I’m a big fan of the video game Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 because it really lets you get to know the names and faces of the men that will fight and die together and The Dirty Dozen is no different. Before Lee Marvin’s bands of misfits go to battle, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I knew each face and personality trait of the dozen (making it all the more powerful when they start to diminish). Its overarching plot- A Nazi kill frenzy, naturally reminds me of Quentin Tarrantino’s Inglorious Basterds; however I do think The Dirty Dozen is far superior because I warmed to the dozen and despised the Basterds.
My biggest complaint, about the movie, is that it ends rather abruptly. Secondly, what happened to Private Posey?
Whilst watching the film, I immediately found sympathy in Posey. The gentle giant of a man was definitely one of the most respectable of the dozen. However, in the final shootout, we never actually see what happens to the character. We know his machine-gun nest is riddled with bullets; but no shot of his death.
It’s safe to assume that Posey does die, since he does not appear in the final scene, but I do feel that it’s a rather basic mistake to not include or imply his death. This is especially so when you consider that throughout the film, I was constantly thinking ‘I hope Posey survives, I hope Posey survives.’
Never mind- great film none the less.
Thank you for this comment! I have been a fan of this film since it debuted and always shared this criticism of the ommission. We see what happens to every other character. I think it would have been best if they had picked up Posey and he had survived, especially after Franko is killed. (Even though Franko had some deplorable faults, I wanted him to make it out alive at that point). While the film is unrealistic in many aspects, having two surviving members would have made more sense AND would have been consistent with the commentary at the end refering to "the surviving MEMBERS of the dirty dozen" (since the Major and Sgt Bowren weren't part of the "official" dozen). The ending should be re-made, re-editing video or minimally an audio mention of Posey as a survivor!!!
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