Like everyone else who has posted a review, I remember seeing this movie when I was a kid; for me that would have been back in the early 70's on a Sunday afternoon movie marathon. In America, it was shown under the title COMMANDO, and I think in many ways it is superior to the Schwarzenegger film of the same title from the 80's.
Movies like these had great appeal for us kids back in the day, where the story centered on a group of tough, but flawed professionals, doing a dirty job that only they can do. In COMMANDO it is the Foreign Legion and the dirty job is fighting in the Algerian War. There's nothing romantic here, men and women die for very bad reasons and the only thing the survivors can walk away with is their self respect and the admiration of their comrades.
The thing that stands out in my memory most from COMMANDO is the ironic ending, where the captured rebel leader is released so he can now take part in peace negotiations after so many brave men have given their lives to bring him to justice. Only Stewart Granger's Captain remains to walk away with the orphan boy at his side; an unforgettable scene.
There was also the distinctive musical score that perfectly set the mood; a version of it by Ken Thorne was a big hit in the UK and can be found on Youtube.
I bet outside of die hard movie buffs, no one remembers Stewart Granger, but he was a real movie star who made some decent films back in the 50's; check out KING SOLOMON'S MINES or NORTH TO ALASKA.
And finally, because of a B movie like COMMANDO, I learned something about Algeria at a young age, things not taught in a World History or Geography class.
Movies like these had great appeal for us kids back in the day, where the story centered on a group of tough, but flawed professionals, doing a dirty job that only they can do. In COMMANDO it is the Foreign Legion and the dirty job is fighting in the Algerian War. There's nothing romantic here, men and women die for very bad reasons and the only thing the survivors can walk away with is their self respect and the admiration of their comrades.
The thing that stands out in my memory most from COMMANDO is the ironic ending, where the captured rebel leader is released so he can now take part in peace negotiations after so many brave men have given their lives to bring him to justice. Only Stewart Granger's Captain remains to walk away with the orphan boy at his side; an unforgettable scene.
There was also the distinctive musical score that perfectly set the mood; a version of it by Ken Thorne was a big hit in the UK and can be found on Youtube.
I bet outside of die hard movie buffs, no one remembers Stewart Granger, but he was a real movie star who made some decent films back in the 50's; check out KING SOLOMON'S MINES or NORTH TO ALASKA.
And finally, because of a B movie like COMMANDO, I learned something about Algeria at a young age, things not taught in a World History or Geography class.