KELLY'S HEROES
DIRECTED BY BRIAN G. HUTTON
PRODUCED BY SYDNEY BECKERMAN/ GABRIEL KATZKA
IRVING L.LEONARD/HAROLD LOEB
AVALA FILM/ KATZKA-LOEB
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER (MGM)
Information from IMDb
Plot Summary
During World War II a German Colonel is captured by the Americans
but before he can be interrogated an artillery barrage hits the camp.
However, Ex-Lieutenant Kelly manages to reach the Colonel,
get him drunk and learn that he is on a secret mission to ship
$16,000,000 of gold to a base in France. Kelly is determined
to get the gold and plans for himself and a few of his fellow soldiers
to slip into enemy territory and steal the bullion.
Written by Dave Jenkins
Full Cast
Clint Eastwood ... Pvt. Kelly
Telly Savalas ... MSgt. Big Joe
Don Rickles ... SSgt. Crapgame
Carroll O'Connor ... Maj. Gen. Colt
Donald Sutherland ... Sgt. Oddball
Gavin MacLeod ... Moriarty
Hal Buckley ... Capt. Maitland
Stuart Margolin ... Pvt. Little Joe
Jeff Morris ... Pvt. Cowboy
Richard Davalos ... Pvt. Gutowski
Perry Lopez ... Pvt. Petuko
Tom Troupe ... Cpl. Job
Harry Dean Stanton ... Pvt. Willard (as Dean Stanton)
Dick Balduzzi ... Pvt. Fisher
Gene Collins ... Pvt. Babra
Len Lesser ... Platoon Sgt. Bellamy
David Hurst ... Colonel Dankhopf
Fred Pearlman ... Pvt. Mitchell
Michael Clark ... Pvt. Grace
George Fargo ... Pvt. Penn
Dee Pollock ... Pvt. Jonesey
George Savalas ... 1st Sgt. Mulligan
John G. Heller ... German Lieutenant (as John Heller)
Shepherd Sanders ... Turk
Karl-Otto Alberty ... German Tank Commander (as Karl Otto Alberty)
Ross Elliott ... Booker
Phil Adams ... Third Tank Commander
Hugo De Vernier ... French Mayor
Frank J. Garlotta ... Tanker
Harry Goines ... Supply Sergeant
David Gross ... German Captain
Sandy McPeak ... Second Tank Commander (as Sandy Kevin)
James McHale ... Guest
Robert MacNamara ... Roach (as Robert McNamara)
Read Morgan ... U.S. Lieutenant
Tom Signorelli ... Bonsor
Donald Waugh ... Roamer
Vincent Maracecchi ... Old Man in Town
Paul Picerni ... M.P. Sergeant (scenes deleted)
John Landis ... Sister Rosa Stigmata (uncredited)
Joe Mantell ... General's Aid (uncredited)
Lee Miller ... Soldier #1 (uncredited)
Yves Montand ... German Sturmbannführer (uncredited)
Tony Wheeler ... Gen. Colt's Driver (uncredited)
Jerry Whittington ... US Soldier (uncredited)
Writing Credits
Troy Kennedy-Martin
Original Music
Lalo Schifrin
Cinematography
Gabriel Figueroa
Trivia
Director Brian G. Hutton was forced to make a number of cuts to suit the then MGM boss James T. Aubrey.
Donald Sutherland became seriously ill during filming on location in Yugoslavia. His wife received a telegram telling her to come immediately but warning her that he would probably be dead before she arrived.
John Landis was a production assistant on this film. He also appears as an extra (he was one of the three nuns).
Mike Curb, who wrote the lyrics to the movie's theme song "Burning Bridges," served as lieutenant governor of California between 1978 and 1982.
The movie was mainly filmed in Yugoslavia because the Yugoslavian army still had a large quantity of Sherman tanks in 1970.
The "Tiger" tanks used in the film were actually Russian T-34 tanks which had been specially modified to look like Tiger tanks. This is apparent when you look at the suspension of the tanks (T-34s used a modified Christie suspension, whereas the Tigers' wheels were much more elaborate.)
A record was made of Clint Eastwood singing "Burning Bridges", the theme song from the film. It was released as a 45-rpm disc on Certron Records, catalog #C-10010, produced by Dickey Lee and Allen Reynolds (with the B-side of "When I Loved Her" also sung by Eastwood, and written by Kris Kristofferson).
The 'key' symbol on the Tiger tanks denotes that they are attached to the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte (Body guard unit) Adolf Hitler."
Gutowski carries and uses a Russian sniper rifle, a Mosin Nagant M91/30.
Kelly, Big Joe and the other recon soldiers wear the shoulder patch of the 35th Infantry Division, which was fighting in the area of Nancy, France, in late summer 1944.
Oddball's division is the "Super Sixth", the 6th Armored Division.
The noise made by electric motors of the Tigers' turrets was later used for the movements of the power lifters in Aliens.
Film is based upon a true incident. The caper was covered in a book called "Nazi Gold: The Sensational Story of the World's Greatest Robbery - and the Greatest Criminal Cover-Up" by Ian Sayer and Douglas Botting. The heist was perpetrated by a combinations of renegade Nazi and American officers. It was also listed as the "biggest" robbery ever in the Guinness Book of Records, in the 1960's.
It was during shooting in Yugoslavia 1969, that Donald Sutherland received word, via co-star Clint Eastwood, that his then-wife Shirley Douglas was arrested for trying to buy hand-grenades for the Black Panthers with a personal cheque from an undercover FBI agent. Sutherland recounts this story often, mentioning that when Eastwood got to the part about the personal cheque, he laughed so hard, he fell to his knees, and Sutherland had to help him up. Eastwood then put his arm around Sutherland and walked him down the hill that overlooked the Yugoslav countryside, assuring his friend with complete support of his predicament. Sutherland and Douglas, who are the parents of Kiefer and twin sister Rachel Sutherland, later divorced in 1970.
Clint Eastwood signed to do the film mainly because his friend and favorite director, Don Siegel, was set to direct it. However, Siegel ran into post-production problems while finishing up Two Mules for Sister Sara and had to withdraw from the project. Brian G. Hutton was then signed to direct. Eastwood, who had already signed a contract to do the film, couldn't pull out.
The blue "crosshair" shoulder patch indicates Kelly and his men are from the 35th Infantry Division. It's a National Guard Division, comprised of Guardsmen from Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.
The American fighter-plane that attacks Kellys group, is actually an Yugoslav "Ikarus Type 522" trainer, that flew for the first time in 1955.
The number of gold bars stated in the heist is 14,000. The initial value of the stolen bars was estimated at $1.6 million and then later corrected to be estimated at $16 million in total. The international standard weight for gold bars is 400 troy ounces and in 1944, the price of gold was $35 dollars per (troy) ounce. That would make approximated total value of the score to be closer to $196 million dollars; not $16 million dollars as stated.
14,000 gold bars, valued at $16M, equals about $1,143 per bar. At the long-standing price of $35/troy ounce, the bars would have had to weigh only 32.6 oz (almost 36 oz avoirdupois) each--probably a gross understatement, even though the bars are clearly much smaller than the standard "Fort Knox" size. But even assuming the weight is correct, 14,000 bars would weigh almost 16 tons (not counting boxes, men and equipment)--well beyond the capacity of the truck they were using. Then again (still with me, folks?), 14,000 bars, at only 12 to a box, would require over 1,100 boxes--seemingly a lot more than is in the pile. So maybe the German colonel was wrong.
Artillery sergeant Mulligan has a humorous name. In golf, a "mulligan" is a "do-over"; a chance to repeat a bad shot. In the film, Sgt. Mulligan is repeatedly berated for his inaccuracy.
The German Tiger tank commander (played by Karl-Otto Alberty) appears to be a parody - both in appearance and manner of speaking - of Marlon Brando's portrayal of German Lt. Christian Diestl in THE YOUNG LIONS.
Goofs
Anachronisms
The sniper rifle used in the church bell tower is a Russian made Mosin Nagant 91/30 with a 3.5X power side mounted telescope, which is correct for the rifle and time period. However, the rifle fires Russian ammunition, in a caliber unique to the Russian military, which would not have been available to U.S. soldiers in WWII. The 91/30 sniper rifles were however imported in great quantity after World War II by many U.S. importers, and would have been readily available to serve as props in movie making. New England Firearms and Remington Arms, both U.S. companies, fulfilled U.S. contracts to produce approximately 2.8 Million 91/30 rifles after WWI. Both Remington and Winchester produced ammunition for these rifles. While it is highly unlikely that a U.S. soldier would use a 91/30, it was possible. However, no U.S. company made any PU scopes. The acquisition of some of these rifles was possible by U.S. troops in the ETO at the time.
Many of the girls in the celebration crowds are wearing short skirts and leather boots, a fashion combination that wasn't in vogue until 1970.
Major General Colt is wearing the ribbon for the National Defence Service Medal (with one service star), which did not exist until 1953 and was first approved for wear for service during the Korean War.
Following the retreat from the barn / death of the German Colonel, while the men are resting alongside the convoy, Stuart Margolin's jeep is followed by a Willys M-38 Jeep which wasn't produced until 1950.
The American fighter plane that attacks Kelly's group is actually a Yugoslav "Ikarus Type 522" trainer that flew for the first time in 1955.
When Crapgame is talking on the phone with Hogan, a box of Almond Joy is sitting on a shelf in the background. Almond Joy wasn't introduced until 1946.
Audio/visual unsynchronised
Cowboy's words do not match what his mouth is apparently saying when he crashes through the wall in the beginning as the Germans are
Continuity
The scene where the squad attacks the Germans at the mine field Kelly is carrying an M1A1 Thompson submachine gun that is different shot to shot. One has rear sight guards and the other doesn't
speaker: When we first see Oddball's tank, it's on the right-hand side of the tank. In every other shot later on, its on the left side. The dents come and go from the bell of the speaker horn as well.
At the beginning of the movie, when Kelly drives the jeep through enemy lines, there is a hole in the back of the canvas. Shortly afterwards, there is no hole.
The 50cal MG on the half-track changes throughout the film. It's shown at some points to have a perforated barrel jacket (like on an M1919A4 30Cal), and then at other times seen to have a normal barrel
While Kelly is driving around in the jeep, the ammunition belt hanging from the Browning .30 changes length from shot to shot.
At the initial meeting with Oddball, Kelly walks outside to inspect his tank. Oddball's name tag chain clip alternates when he is inside to when he goes outside.
When Kelly, Big Joe, Oddball, and the German Tank Commander enter through the blown up bank door, the other soldiers pour in from adjoining rooms. The front door was supposedly the only entrance into the bank and one of the reasons for enlisting the help of the German Tank Commander.
When the soldiers are leaving the mine field, one is carrying a .30 Cal machine gun on his shoulder. The end of the barrel is smooth and has a very small hole, indicating it is a Blank Firing Adaptor, used to fire blank rounds. A minute later, Don Rickles exits the mine field, also carrying a .30 Cal. The barrel bushing in this case has a much larger hole and a vertical slot used for disassembling the weapon. This would be the correct bushing for firing live ammo.
When Kelly pulls back the canvas to reveal the boxes of gold in the bank, a large shard of glass lands on top of one of the boxes. A moment later he lifts the box up in order to drop it, but the shard is gone.
Early in the film, Kelly is sitting by the side of the road in a jeep telling Big Joe of his plans to get the gold. In the background, a column of German POWs files past. The camera switches to a reverse angle and instead of German POWs in the background we now see a band of refugees.
when Kelly is interrogating the German Colonel at the beginning of the movie, he gets a bottle of brandy from Little Joe, it is square with a short neck. He walks around the Jeep and places the bottle down on a table and it has become round with a longer neck.
When Kelly first drives his jeep into the compound to meet Crapgame, the camera is pointing to the back of the jeep as it enters. At that point the machine gun mounted at the back is pointed roughly 45 degrees up. In the next shot, the camera is pointing at the front of the jeep and the machine gun is only pointing maybe 20 degrees up.
Crew or equipment visible
Camera shadow visible on men as they walk out of mine field.
As Kelly and Big Joe retreat across the bridge, leaving the Kraut Colonel behind, rain can be seen spilling off the camera guard.
Early in the film, Kelly is sitting by the side of the road in a jeep telling Big Joe of his plans to get the gold. In the background, a column of German POWs files past. The camera switches to a reverse angle and instead of German POWs in the background we now see a band of refugees - but who is the guy at the back of Kelly's Jeep wearing a striped button down and tee shirt?
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During the mine field scene, when the second man comes to the road and is told to be the lookout there is a silver trailer with a crew member walking around visible in the hillside.
Errors in geography
In the scene played in the railway station you can read "JZ" on the side of a train. JZ means Jugoslovanske Zelenznice (Jugolavian railways).
Factual errors
When the Tiger is shooting up the city at the end there is a clear gap in time between the sound of the cannon and the actual explosion. At that distance of next to nothing it would have been almost simultaneous.
The number and type of mortars used for the bombardment on the crossroads would not cause the amount of damage depicted.
Several of the people in the town square are waving small German flags.
The sniper rifle used by Pvt Gutowski in the bell tower is a Moisin Nagant 91/30, with the correct PU scope. During several scenes, the view is featured through the scope, showing a graduated full crosshair reticle. PU scopes actually featured a heavy, three-post reticle.
Collars and collar patches of Waffen SS Panzer troops officer's uniforms were piped with silver braid as is correctly shown for two of the Germans. The sergeant commanding the tank at the end however is incorrectly shown as having white piping. Only German Army Panzer troops ever had full piping for all ranks and this was normally rose pink (the arm-of-service colour for the panzer-troops). It could also be gold (armoured cavalry) or black/white stripes (panzer pioneers), but never white. And only collar patches were piped after 1943 (officially). Some Waffen-SS panzer troops wore pink piped collar patches late in the war to be closer to the army style, but SS panzer uniforms never had the full pink piping of the early war army ones.
When General Colt asks his aide for the aerial photographs, his aide is wearing three stars on his lapel insignia. Since General Colt is a Major General his aide should be wearing lapels with two stars on each insignia.
When the German column approaches the ambush at the mine field, the convoy commander is riding in the front seat of the command car. German officers always rode in the back seat of their vehicles, and the front seat was only used by the lowest ranking officer if the car was full.
Miscellaneous
During the final battle scene where a German tank fires a round at Crapgame, Cowboy and Pvt. Willard, the round knocks debris from an archway as they flee from the tank. Crapgame is knocked unconscious to the ground. The very next scene shows Cowboy and Willard stopping, then turning around to retrieve Crapgame. Pvt. Willard momentarily backs up against what is supposed to be a brick and mortar wall and the wall ripples, obviously constructed of fabric with material painted over it.
Incorrectly regarded as goofs
German tanks of WWII indeed had hydraulic turrets, but no diesel engines. There were only some prototypes with diesel engines.
Oddball's hair style and beard are non-regulation for the era. But he's not real big on following regulations, and those are the least of his infractions.
Revealing mistakes
When Kelly and the guys pick up the boxes of gold at the in the bank, the boxes appear to weigh nothing at all. The boxes can be seen being tossed around as if they were empty.
One of the German soldiers that disembarks from the truck during the minefield sequence appeared earlier as one of the soldiers atop the train during the train station sequence.
When Kelly and the guys ambush the German patrol after leaving the minefield, A grenade is thrown into a group of enemy soldiers firing from across the road. We then see the grenade land, and finally detonate. The problem is that when the grenade explodes, we see the plume of smoke and debris, but we also see that the "can" is dislodged from the ground and visible. When the pyrotechnical experts set a charge for a movie set, it is loaded into a metal or thick cardboard canister and buried just below the surface, and the location carefully marked for the benefit of the actors safety. This separates the explosive compounds from ground moisture and errant spark or flame from filming any action scenes. In this case, the detonation of the charge lifted the can partially out of the ground and into camera range.
Spoilers
Continuity
When Pvt. Grace steps on the land mine and flies through the air, his helmet comes off, but when he lands on the ground, his helmet is on.
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Filming Locations
The coast South of Trieste, Yugoslavia
Near Novi Sad, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
