Commando (1962 film)
1962 film
- 1962 (1962) (Italy)
- 1963 (1963) (UK)
- 1964 (1964) (France, U.S.)
Running time
Spain
Italy
Germany
Marcia o Crepa (March or Die), known as The Legion's Last Patrol in the UK and Commando in the US, is a 1962 European (Italian, German, Spanish) co-production war film about the Algerian War of Independence.[2][3]
It was released in 1964 in the US by American International Pictures on a double feature with Torpedo Bay/Beta Som.[4][5]
In the UK this film was shown at Odeon cinemas as part of a double feature with The Day of the Triffids.
Plot
French Foreign Legion Captain Le Blanc (Stewart Granger) leads a section of his Legion parachutists to capture an FLN guerrilla leader. Along the way they are joined by a prostitute (Dorian Gray) and an Arab child. Their mission is a success but when their escape helicopter is shot down they have to fight their way back to the French lines.
Cast
- Stewart Granger : capitaine Leblanc
- Dorian Gray : Nora
- Fausto Tozzi : Brascia
- Riccardo Garrone : Paolo
- Carlos Casaravilla : Ben Bled
- Ivo Garrani : Colonel Dionne
- Alfredo Mayo : Mayor
- Pablito Alonso : Arab Kid
- Hans von Borsody : Fritz
- Maurizio Arena : Dolce Vita
- Dietmar Schönherr : Petit Prince
- Peter Carsten : Barbarossa
- Leo Anchóriz : Garcia
Production
The theme music Concerto Disperato by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino became a top selling instrumental in Italy performed by Nini Rosso and in the UK with a cover version by Ken Thorne reaching No. 4.[6]
Reception
The Los Angeles Times called it "mediocre, its timely subject matter reduced to the level of a formula Western."[7]
The Monthly Film Bulletin said "despite up-to-date dressing this is basically a schoolboy adventure story, though somewhat grimly executed... the narrative owes more to war movies than P.C. Wren, being a variation on the old idea of the gradual decimation of a patrol. Still, the film is an example of action all the way, apart from the gratuitously ironic ending which, though tart, comes as a decided anti-climax."[8]
References
- ^ Box office information for Stewart Granger films in France at Box Office Story
- ^ "LEGION'S LAST PATROL, The "(Marcia o Crepa)"". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 30, no. 348. London. Jan 1, 1963. p. 87.
- ^ Clifford, Terry (Mar 24, 1968). "The Long After-Life of Stewart Granger". Chicago Tribune. p. e13.
- ^ "Commando And Torpedo Bay movie posters at movie poster warehouse movieposter.com". www.movieposter.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-19.
- ^ "War Movies Scheduled". Los Angeles Times. Mar 4, 1964. p. C11.
- ^ Warwick, Neal, Brown, Tony & Kutner, Jon The Complete Book of the British Charts: Singles and Albums 2004 Omnibus Press
- ^ Thomas, Kevin (Mar 13, 1964). "Adventure Pictures Coupled on Program". Los Angeles Times. p. C15.
- ^ MARCIA O CREPA Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 30, Iss. 348, (Jan 1, 1963): 87.
See Also
External links
- Commando at IMDb
- Commando at Letterbox DVD
- Commando at BFI
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Films directed by Frank Wisbar
- Spell of the Looking Glass (1932)
- Anna and Elizabeth (1933)
- Rivalen der Luft (1934)
- Hermine and the Seven Upright Men (1935)
- The Unknown (1936)
- Fährmann Maria (1936)
- Ball at the Metropol (1937)
- Secrets of a Sorority Girl (1946)
- Strangler of the Swamp (1946)
- Devil Bat's Daughter (1946)
- Lighthouse (1947)
- Nasser Asphalt (1958)
- Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever? (1959)
- Darkness Fell on Gotenhafen (1960)
- Barbara (1961)
- Commando (1962)
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