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The Dirty Dozen

1967 film directed by Robert Aldrich

The Dirty Dozen is a 1967 film about a rebellious U.S. Army Major who, during World War II, is assigned a dozen convicted murderers to train and lead into a mass assassination mission of German officers.

Directed by Robert Aldrich. Written by Nunnally Johnson and Lukas Heller, based on the novel by E. M. Nathanson.
Train them! Excite them! Arm them!...Then turn them loose on the Nazis!  taglines

Major John Reisman

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  • I never went in for embroidery, just results.
  • You've seen a general inspecting troops before haven't you? Just walk slow, act dumb and look stupid!
  • You know what to do, free the French and shoot the Germans!

Joseph Wladislaw

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  • Killin' generals could get to be a habit with me.

Archer J. Maggot

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  • It's judgment day, sinners! Come out, come out wherever you are!

Samson Posey

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  • I reckon the folks'd be a sight happier if I died like a soldier. Can't say I would.

Victor Franko

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  • Hey! What's the matter with you? You think I want to die? Ha! If you think that then you don't know Victor Franko.

Other

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  • Maj. Gen. Worden: This war was not started for your private gratification, and you can be damned sure it's not being run for your personal convenience, either!

Dialogue

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Major John Reisman: [Kinder has just finished a psychiatric evaluation of Reisman's troops] So what does that give you?
Capt. Stuart Kinder: Doesn't give me anything. But along with these other results, it gives you just about the most twisted, anti-social bunch of psychopathic deformities I have ever run into! And the worst, the most dangerous of the bunch, is Maggott. You've got one religious maniac, one malignant dwarf, two near-idiots... and the rest I don't even wanna think about!
Major John Reisman: Well, I can't think of a better way to fight a war.
Capt. Stuart Kinder: These people don't know their enemy is the Germans. They think the enemy is their own United States Army!
Major John Reisman: Maybe that's because the Germans haven't done anything to them yet.
Major John Reisman: Any questions?
Maggot: Suh? Do we have to eat with niggahs?
[Jefferson jumps Maggot]
Sergeant Clyde Bowren: [as Reisman exits the room] What's going on, sir?
Major John Reisman: Oh, the gentleman from the South had a question about the dining arrangements. He and his comrades are discussing place settings now.
Major John Reisman: Which one of you guys wants to be a general? [Pinkley raises his hand] Pinkley?
Pinkley: What kind of general, sir?
Major John Reisman: Just a plain, ordinary, every day, home-lovin' American general.
Pinkley: I'd rather be a civilian, sir.
Major John Reisman: Posey, what did they lock you up for? I mean, what did you do?
Samson Posey: I already told you that sir.
Major John Reisman: Well tell me again. I'm sure your friends over here would like to know too.
Samson Posey: This fella kept pushing me. I don't like to be pushed so I hit him.
Major John Reisman: Killed a man with your bare hands because he shoved you?
Samson Posey: I only hit him once.
Major John Reisman: Only him him once. And drove his jawbone right through his brain because he pushed him.
Major John Reisman: How come you speak German?
Joseph T. Wladislaw: My old man came from Silesia. He didn't speak German, he didn't dig coal. If he didn't dig coal, he didn't eat.
Col. Everett Dasher Breed: Reisman! Some people may consider you a first-class officer. But as far as I'm concerned, you're a disorganized, undisciplined clown. I'm gonna' make it my business to run you out of this Army.
Major John Reisman: I owe you an apology, colonel. I always thought that you were a cold, unimaginative, tight-lipped officer. But you're really quite emotional, aren't you?
Samson Posey: I don't want to hurt you Major.
Major John Reisman: You're not gonna hurt me, I'm gonna hurt you.
Major John Reisman: What do you think, Sergeant?
Sergeant Clyde Bowren: I think you'll do just fine, sir.
Major John Reisman: [emphatically] Don't give me that! I said what do you think?
Sergeant Clyde Bowren: I think the first chance one of those lovers gets, he's going to shoot the Major right in the head... sir.
[after being given his mission]
Maj. Gen. Worden: What do you say, Major?
Major John Reisman: lt confirms a suspicion l've had for some time now, sir.
Maj. Gen. Worden: Think we might share that suspicion? l think you should.
Major John Reisman: Since we are over here to try to win the war, it shouldn't be advertised that someone we work for is a raving lunatic.
Gen. Denton: Major Reisman is heading toward a court martial of his own. He's the most ill-mannered, ill-disciplined officer that it's ever been my displeasure to meet.
Maj. Gen. Worden: You think so, Denton? You may be right. But he's sure right about one thing. Somebody up there must be a raving lunatic.
Major John Reisman: [briefing the dozen] And kill any officer in sight.
Victor R. Franko: Ours or theirs?

Taglines

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  • Train them! Excite them! Arm them!...Then turn them loose on the Nazis!
  • D-Day Began When The Dirty Dozen Were Done!

Cast

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