From the writer of The Italian Job, it’s also a heist film.
Kelly’s Heroes, the 1970 war comedy-drama heist film, is airing on TV today (Saturday, 10 January).
Set during World War II, the movie focuses on an array of colourful American soldiers who get inside information from a drunk German officer about millions of dollars’ worth of gold that has been hidden on enemy soil.
As such, Kelly (Clint Eastwood, Pale Rider), a private with the platoon, devises a plan to sneak past the German officers to steal the loot for his crew.
Recruiting more men, the private sets his plan into action, with the team enduring several casualties in their efforts to carry out the heist.
The group, however, are determined to press forward, “even if it means striking a deal with the opposing army”.
Written by Troy Kennedy Martin (who penned the script for the original Italian Job), the cast of Kelly’s Heroes also includes Carroll O’Connor (All in the Family), Don Rickles (Casino), Donald Sutherland (Backdraft) and Telly Savalas (The Dirty Dozen).
The movie was praised upon release for its blend of a heist and a war story, as well as for its satirical elements.
It’s now seen as a classic, with both Channel 4 and the website Ranker placing it on lists of “The 100 Greatest War Films of All Time” in the 34th and 37th positions, respectively.
Kelly’s Heroes is airing on TV today on BBC Two at 1pm.
It will be followed on the same channel by Where Eagles Dare at 3.15pm, another WWII movie with Clint Eastwood from the same director, Brian G. Hutton.
Kelly’s Heroes is also available to rent on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Rakuten TV and the Sky Store.
Turn your home into a cinema with this projector
Do you love movies? Have you ever dreamt of turning your home into your own cinema?
If so, then you may be interested in a home theatre projector we spotted on sale on Amazon with “impressive quality”.
The 4K projector has the likes of YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video built in, so you can access thousands of films and shows without an additional TV stick, and you can also connect it to Bluetooth on your phone and laptop.
It’s currently priced at €53.52 in a limited-time deal on the Amazon website.