tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post1283462905297723586..comments2024-03-28T10:44:41.756-05:00Comments on The War Movie Buff: FORGOTTEN GEM? Play Dirty (1969)War Movie Buffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-21143091711959650302017-11-01T20:45:18.941-05:002017-11-01T20:45:18.941-05:00Thanks for the info.Thanks for the info.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-67422727853935396302017-10-29T17:02:30.311-05:002017-10-29T17:02:30.311-05:00Still a popular war film on British TV. Still a popular war film on British TV. ayrshiremanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15188809233448888835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-74629467547426037282017-10-29T17:01:56.257-05:002017-10-29T17:01:56.257-05:00Underrated by critics and ignored by audiences upo...Underrated by critics and ignored by audiences upon its initial release in 1969, Play Dirty, directed by Andre de Toth, has slowly but surely acquired an appreciative fan base over the years thanks to high profile advocates of the film like Martin Scorsese who included it on a long list of guilty pleasures for the May-June 1998 issue of Film Comment. Unfortunately, this World War II drama starring Michael Caine had the misfortune to follow in the wake of Robert Aldrich’s box-office hit, The Dirty Dozen (1967), to which it was often unfairly compared. But, outside of a similar assemble-the-team concept which sends a group of criminals on a suicide mission, the film has very little in common with Aldrich’s blockbuster and there is absolutely no reason to feel any guilt over liking it either.' <br /><br />http://cinemasojourns.com/2014/05/04/desert-rats/ayrshiremanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15188809233448888835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-65143677108026488952017-10-29T16:57:44.916-05:002017-10-29T16:57:44.916-05:00Michael Caine and a cast of British first rate cha...Michael Caine and a cast of British first rate characters actors. Produced by Harry Saltzman, this is no B movie or rip off. In fact the LRDG had been filmed before in 1958 with the British classic war film, and one of my favs, Sea of Sand, with Richard Attenborough. Play Dirty is a damn good film, I disagree with the reviewer, I would recommend it. ayrshiremanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15188809233448888835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-58714090706156390172017-10-29T16:55:24.307-05:002017-10-29T16:55:24.307-05:00Well said Simon. Well said Simon. ayrshiremanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15188809233448888835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-75434947051595816282017-10-29T16:54:49.133-05:002017-10-29T16:54:49.133-05:00Watch it. I disagree with the reviewer. Its a dark...Watch it. I disagree with the reviewer. Its a dark and cynical film, and imo because of that, has stood the test of time better than other films. I like Play Dirty a great deal, and yes prefer it to the DD which I do enjoy greatly. Maybe we Brits just like our films very dark and gritty.ayrshiremanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15188809233448888835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-73347480583858335872015-05-30T18:49:30.236-05:002015-05-30T18:49:30.236-05:00Thanks for the information. I love the "Lili...Thanks for the information. I love the "Lili Marlene" story. I agree about it being part of the new wave of Vietnam influenced films, but I disagree that it is a good movie.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-49536955166856447702015-05-30T08:52:49.364-05:002015-05-30T08:52:49.364-05:00This was a controversial movie for the time of it&...This was a controversial movie for the time of it's release and awarded an X certificate from the British Film Censors. It also a little ahead of its time and marked a clear break away moment from the British "Play Fair Stiff Upper Liped, Clean British Hero" war movie tradition. It is a ficticious story based on the real-life exploits of the British Army's Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). The opening theme song "Lilly Marlene" is a correct use as this was the song adopted by the LRDG as a clue to how deep behind enemy lines they frequently operated. Play Dirty was made at a time when the Vietnam war was turning audiences into more cynically questioning people, opposed to the unquestioning accepting ones that came through WW2 and the film played its anti war, anti hero card well. It may not have been a runaway box office smash hit, but it isn't a bad film and it did decent business at the cinema in the UK. It is worth a watch for its stalwart British cast's performances and for its transition from previous British war movie tradition. Worth adding to a collection for this alone.Simon Atacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-80070451787046714122013-09-15T02:14:55.556-05:002013-09-15T02:14:55.556-05:00I'm going to stay away from this. I'll wat...I'm going to stay away from this. I'll watch the Dirty Dozen before I'll venture into this kind of rip-off B-movie territory. allaboutwarmovieshttp://allaboutwarmovies.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-7249720873080749932013-09-11T19:31:09.037-05:002013-09-11T19:31:09.037-05:00It has its fans, so don't rely on me. Don'...It has its fans, so don't rely on me. Don't watch it if you are already depressed. It's definitely not a feel good movie.the war movie buffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-64999738528416520852013-09-10T01:16:19.875-05:002013-09-10T01:16:19.875-05:00Hm, I have been wondering if this is worth a look,...Hm, I have been wondering if this is worth a look, especially since I am a big Michael Caine fan. Thanks for the warning, I will give it a miss.historyonfilmhttp://www.historyonfilm.comnoreply@blogger.com