《沙漠突击队》是由UmbertoLenzi执导,KenClarkHorstFrankJeanneValérie特邀领衔主演,该片于1967在意大利,法国,西德发行,不到几个月收视率非常不错。
Thestoryisfreshandoriginalandpresentedwithuniquetwistsfrombeginningtoend.FiveGermansoldiersareparachutedintoNorthAfricaandwilltrektoCasablancatoassassinateaconferenceofChurchillRooseveltandDeGaulle.Lenzi’sfilmisatrueexampleofcharacter-drivendramaatitsbest.KenClarkisCaptainSchoellerleaderoftheunitandhe’sneverlessthantotallyconvincingasadie-hardadvocateofHitlerandNazism.HorstFrank("ThunderfromtheWest")playsLt.Wolfwithgustoandconviction.Wolf’smotherisAmericanandhisbestfriendisaJewsoheandSchoellerdon’tseeeye-to-eye.HeandSchoellerclashoveropposingidealsseveraltimes.Despitetheirdissensionbotharededicatedsoldierswhohaveajobtogetdoneandgrudginglyworktogethertoaccomplishthemission.Lenzineverstraysfarfromthiscentralconflictofidealsalwayskeepinghismessageclearlyinfocus.ThesupportingcastoffamiliarEuropeanactorsisexcellentall-around.CarloHintermannHardyReycheltandHowardRossroundouttheGermanteam.HintermannmakesthemostofhislittleroleasatoughdedicatedGermanSergeantacareersoldierwho’lldowhathe’stoldwhenhe’stoldnoquestionsasked.JeanneValerieandFabienneDaliaretwofemalecharacterswhosemotivesareneverclearlydefineduntilthefilm’sthirdact–andthat’swhenyourealizewhosesideeachisreallyon.GianniRizzohasafewbriefscenesasaFrenchinformerworkingwiththeGermansandgetstodoblastawayatAmericansoldierswithamachineguninoneofthefilm’snail-bitingactionscenes.BesuretowatchforTomFelleghy("TheGreatestBattle")JohnStacy("BattleoftheCommandos")andFrancoFantasia("AdiosSabata")insmallyetkeyrolesasAlliedofficers.Thoughtheaction-packedfootageisscantwhat’shereisbrilliantlyeditedanddirected.Thethirdactistenseandfast-pacedastheGerman"heroes"dodgebulletsacrossrooftopsandduckthroughalleywaysasAmericanMPsareinhotpursuit.ThefinalinfiltrationofChurchill’sbanquetinghallisexcellentlysetupwithfrustratinglydeliberatepacingwhichwillleaveyouontheedgeofyourseat.Thisclimaxendsabruptlywithagreatsurprisecausingyourjawtodropasyouwonder"Whatjusthappened…?"Twoaspectsoffilm-makingthatLenziandhiscrewseemtoemphasizearethesetsandlandscapes.Thereisnotoneshotinthismoviethatlooksoutofplace.WhentheGermanofficerstalkinheadquarterstheinteriorlookslikeanofficeinaGermanheadquarters.ThefilmissetinthedesertandthereareconstantwideshotsasactorsspeakandwalkwhichrevealthatthesesceneswereactuallyshotinthevastEgyptiansanddunes.TheoasisofKuffranlooksespeciallybustlingandtheessenceoftheatmosphereofCasablancaduringwartimeissuperblycaptured.Duringthistimeperiodmanydirectorsfellbackonshabbyinteriorsandshotinoutdoorlocationswhichlookedcompletelywrong.Forexample"CommandoAttack"alsoshotin1967waslensedinSpainandexteriorswerepassedoffas"southernFrance"yetit’sclearlyvisibletheactionwasnotoccurringintheFrenchcountryside.Finallythereareanumberofotherlittledetailswhichcontributetothisfilm’ssuccess:fineeditingandcamera-workgivethismovieaveryprofessionallookandfeel;italwayslooksprofessional.Lenziisjuststartingtodevelophisst