The Devil's Brigade

Apparently based on fact, this emerges as a pretty slavish reprise of Aldrich's The Dirty Dozen. This time round, Holden is the unconventional officer assigned the task of knocking a bunch of thugs and misfits into shape for a special do-or-die mission. Appealing to their pride by pitting them against a crack Canadian regiment, he naturally succeeds. Thereafter, while not behaving impeccably on the battlefield, they sing 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow' and hold birthday celebrations for the man who showed them the path to glory. The characterisations are strictly cardboard and the direction sluggish.