Battle of the Commandos

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]

Battle of the Commandos
Directed by	Umberto Lenzi
Screenplay by	Eduardo Manzanos Brochero Rolf Grieminger Dario Argento[1]
Starring	Jack Palance Thomas Hunter Curd Jurgens Wolfgang Preiss
Cinematography	Alejandro Ulloa[1]
Edited by	Giese Rohm[1]
Music by	Piero Umiliani Marcello Giombini[1]
Production companies	Tritone Filmindustria Roma S.r.l. Eguiluz Films Hape-Film GmbH[1]
Release dates	12 August 1969 (1969-08-12) (Spain) 17 April 1970 (1970-04-17) (West Germany)
Running time	94 minutes
Countries	Italy Spain West Germany[1]

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

• Jack Palance: Col. Charley MacPherson
• Curd Jürgens: Maj. Gen. von Reilow
• Thomas Hunter: Capt. Kevin Burke
• Robert Hundar: Pvt. Raymond Stone
• Wolfgang Preiss: Col. Ackerman
• Helmuth Schneider: Pvt. Sam Schrier
• Guido Lollobrigida: Pvt. Tom Carlyle
• Aldo Sambrell: Sgt. Karim Habinda
• Diana Lorys: Janine
• Franco Fantasia: Schiwers, the French Maquis leader
• Gérard Herter: Lt. Hapke
• Mirko Ellis: Capt. Adler
• Bruno Corazzari: Pvt. Frank Madigan

Release

Battle of the Commandos was released in Spain on August 12, 1969 as La brigada de los condenados.^[1] It was released in West Germany on April 17, 1970 as Die zum Teufel gehen.^[1]