Battle of the Commandos explained

Battle of the Commandos
Screenplay:
Starring:
Music:
Cinematography:Alejandro Ulloa
Editing:Giese Rohm
Production Companies:
  • Tritone Filmindustria Roma S.r.l.
  • Eguiluz Films
  • Hape-Film GmbH
Runtime:94 minutes
Country:
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • West Germany

Battle of the Commandos (also known as Legion of the Damned) is a European Macaroni-War film directed in 1969 by Umberto Lenzi. The movie was a co-production between Italy (where it was released as La legione dei dannati), West Germany (where is known with the title Die zum Teufel gehen) and Spain (where is known as La brigada de los condenados).[2] [3]

Plot

In June 1944, the Allies initiate the liberation of Europe by landing in Normandy. The Germans have fortified the French coasts to resist the landing, but the exact location and day are unknown to them. Colonel Henderson, an English officer, is given a mission to form a commando unit and reach the French coasts near Le Havre, east of Normandy, to mislead the Germans about the landing location.

Colonel Ackerman, who had previously defeated Henderson's unit in North Africa, commands the German troops in that area. Upon reaching the beach, the commandos detonate underwater mines, neutralize bunkers, and face additional German forces, forcing them to retreat inland. Despite losing several members during pursuits, they successfully destroy a massive rail-mounted cannon.

Cast

Release

Battle of the Commandos was released in Spain on August 12, 1969 as La brigada de los condenados. It was released in West Germany on April 17, 1970 as Die zum Teufel gehen.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Die zum Teufel gehen. Filmportal.de. German. July 30, 2017.
  2. Book: Hans-Michael Bock, Tim Bergfelder. The Concise Cinegraph: Encyclopaedia of German Cinema. September 2009. Berghahn Books, 2009. 978-0857455659.
  3. Book: Louis Paul. Italian Horror Film Directors. 8 June 2015. McFarland, 2004. 978-0786487493.