40 UNFORGETTABLE SECRETS FROM THE DIRTY DOZEN:

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Bolder, bloodier and brasher than ever seen before, The Dirty Dozen was a World War II film from 1967 that completely changed the game.

You may have watched it over and over again since then, but these little-known facts will make you see all the dirtiness in a whole different light. Any questions?

40. LEE MARTINE PRETTY MUCH HATED THE MOVIE:

One of the harshest criticisms of the film didn’t come from the press, but from the leading man himself! Lee Marvin called the movie “Just a dummy money-maker.”

Yes, even though Marvin found The Dirty Dozen entertaining, he believed its story had little to do with the realities of war. The legendary actor, who played Major John Reisman, found his later warm film The Big Red One a much more satisfactory representation of the war.

39. CLINT WALKER TURNED DOWN ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SCENES:

Remember when Donald Sutherlan’s Vernon L. Pinkely impersonates the troop-inspecting general? Of course! It’s one of the most memorable movie moments. But did you know the impersonator was supposed to be Clint Walker’s Samson Posey?

Sutherland was only chosen at the last minute by director Robert Aldrich as Walker turned down the scene.

38. IT WAS THE REASON JIM BROWN RETIRED:

Footballer-turned-actor Jim Brown was still contracted to the Cleveland Browns when he took the role of Robet T. Jefferson. This made Brown potentially face hefty financial punishment and suspension from the NFL after he had to delay his training when filming The Dirty Dozen.

Not appreciating the ultimatum, Brown informed the media that he’d be stepping away from the sport for good.

38. CHARLES BRONSON’S FATHER ACTUALLY WAS A COAL MINER:

In at least one of The Dirty Dozen’s backstories, art really did imitate life. Charles Bronson’s Joseph Wladislaw reveals at one point that his dad used to work in the mines back in Poland.

The actor’s real father actually did the same job in his Lithuanian homeland! Bronson had first-hand experience of coal mining while growing up in Pennsylvania as well.

36. THE FAKE CHATEAU WAS BUILT TOO WELL:

The fake chateau built for The Dirty Dozen was supposed to be destroyed, however, the builders had done such a great job that exploding the structure would’ve taken roughly 70 tons of dynamite!

So, quick-thinking designers had to use much flimsier materials such as plastic and cork to recreate a part of the building for the scene in question. Boom!

35.  THERE’S A STRANGE VENTRILOQUISM ACT:

Either John Cassavetes’ Franko is a gifted ventriloquist or the sound editing team made a bit of a faux pas during one scene.

You can see, in the movie, the ex-criminal mutters the sarcastic line, “Three wise men, trust the major” after Wladislaw suffers a beating. But the words he says don’t match the shapes his mouth makes. Weird!

34. SEAN CONNERY ALMOST PUNCHED LEE MARVIN!

During some downtime, Marvin went to a London party where he took advantage of the drinks on offer. He also made an inappropriate remark to an older woman who just happened to be Sean Connery’s aunt.

As the 007 star tried to confront Marvin, when The Dirty Dozen’s producer Kenneth Hyman begged Connery, “Don’t hit him in the face, Sean, he’s got his close-ups tomorrow.” This plea managed to calm the situation down. And Marvin’s face was left intact.

33. THE CASTLE DOORBELL IS A SECRET CODE:

Hats off to you if you spotted this clever bit of sound trickery. The castle doorbell that’s quickly run three times by Bronsons and Marvin actually has a special meaning to it.

Its first four notes are borrowed from legendary German composer Beethoven’s famous “5th Symphony”, which was also used as an anthem by the Allies in World War II. The “da da da dah” pattern of the doorbell represents the letter ‘V’ for victory in morse code too!

32. ALDRICH HATED ENGLAND:

It’s definitely fair to say that Aldrich wasn’t enamored with English production staff. In fact, the director was constantly frustrated by their failure to keep up with his quick shooting style.

Yet the stars of The Dirty Dozen loved their stint on the other side of the Atlantic and regularly hit the streets of Swinging London.

31. SEVEN OF THE DOZEN FOUGHT IN THE WAR FOR REAL:

Over half of The Dirty Dozen’s main cast members could draw upon their genuine life experiences while filming.

Telly Savalas, George Kennedy and Bronson all served in the Army during WWII. Ernest Borgnin also did time in the Navy, whilst Robert Ryan and Clint Walker were part of the Marines.

30. ALDRICH MADE SURE ALL THE STARS GOT HAIRCUTS:

Aldrich wasn’t playing around when he ordered all the cast members to swap their modern-day haircuts for something a little more realistic. Yet while Marvin duly obliged with a crew cut, his co-stars were far more reluctant to go old-school style.

They soon headed to the barbers when Aldrich informed them they’d face legal action if they didn’t get their haircut!

29. IT HAS MAGICAL WINDSHIELDS:

The Dirty Dozen certainly has its fair share of continuity mistakes. In one driving scene, Bronson’s Wladislaw can be seen taking the wheel of a Jeep that seems to have no windshields.

However, when the camera angle changes from the front of the vehicle to the side, a pane of glass is suddenly shot!

28. THE DUKE TURNED DOWN THE LEADING ROLE:

One of the biggest celebrities, John Wayne, was initially supposed to play Major John Reisman. But the gun-slinging actor didn’t approve of his character being involved with a lady who was already married to a soldier.

Luckily, Marvin didn’t have such reservations and happily accepted the part instead.

27. THERE WAS A MINI-REUNION IN A KID’S FILM:

Four of The Dirty Dozen’s main cast members worked together in 1998, on the set of the children’s movie Small Soldiers.

However, Borgnin, Brown, Walker and Kennedy were hired to provide voices for the animated title characters. They even said some of their famous lines!

26. BRONSON ONCE THREATENED MARVIN FOR HIS DRUNKENNESS:

Marvin sure seemed to cause his fair share of chaos during filming. After failing to show for a particular scene, the act legend was discovered worse for wear by co-star Bronson in a London bar.

Despite copious amounts of coffee, Marvin still couldn’t sober up. Marvin then tumbled from their vehicle when they arrived back on the set and a frustrated Bronson allegedly threatened to kill him!

25. ALDRICH WAS A PRANKSTER:

Despite the huge responsibility on the shoulder of director Aldrich, he still found time to have a little fun on set. While organising the scene involving the first inspection, the filmmaker positioned the 5 feet 9 inches Bronson next to Walker and Sutherland, both of whom stood over 6 feet 4 inches tall.

Apparently, Aldrish then spent several minutes secretly laughing at Bronson’s surprised response!

24.  BRONSON BELIEVED THE FILM WAS TOO VIOLENT!

You may find this particularly hard to believe, but apparently the man who built a career out of playing vengeful tough guys in films such as Death Wish, felt the Dirty Dozen contained way too much brutality.

In fact,  Bronson was so unsettled by all the blood on show that he left a screening halfway through.

23. BORGNINE’S DRINK-CHOKING SCENE WAS AD-LIBBED:

The Dirty Dozen’s script came from Oscar-nominated writer Nunnally Johnson. However, the cast who helped transfer his words to screen were allowed to improvise once in a while.

Borgnine, for example, on learning about the soldier’s antics, General Worden almost chokes in anger – a moment that was entirely unscripted!

22. THERE WERE SEVERAL 1980s TV AND MOVIE SPIN OFFS:

You may not know that The Dirty Dozen continued their adventures in several 1980s TV and movie spin-offs. In 1985 Borgnine, Marvin and Richard Jaeckel all resumed their roles in Next Mission.

Two years later Savalas played a different part, Major Wright, in The Deadly Mission. He and Borgnine also returned for 1988’s The Fatal Mission. There was even a short-lived TV series that same year, though this featured a completely different cast.

21. STAR PLAYER:

Brown had his advantages also being a Cleveland Browns player as he tried to make an acting career. His character, Jefferson, was originally supposed to have much less screen time.

However, NFL fan Aldrich was so excited about having a sporting great in his cast that he extended the role.

20.  THE FILM HAD A DIFFERENT TITLE:

It’s difficult to imagine Aldrich’s war movie being named anything other than The Dirty Dozen. It rolls off the tongue!

But in a profile of leading man Marvin for the TCM Network, it was revealed that the 1967 classic had a much wordier original title: Operation Dirty Dozen.