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Pretty Accurate Depiction of The Devil's Brigade

posted 11 years ago by jamesbwill
10 replies | jump to latest

When I saw this movie, I thought it was mainly just another Hollywood sendup making a movie very loosely based on a real combat unit. But, I just finished reading "A Perfect Hell: The True Story of the Black Devils, the Forefathers of the Special Forces, by John Nadler. The movie is actually pretty close to the truth, and if anything, it understates the adventures of The Devil's Brigade.

The Canadians really were a crack combat unit. Many of the Americans had really been serving jail sentences at their original posts. The base commanders emptied out the guardhouses to rid themselves of these undisciplined malcontents. That was just as the movie depicted it.

There really was a major that collected snakes. He was later transferred as Col Fredericks believed him to be mentally unstable.

There really was a hand-to-hand combat expert named O'Neill, who was as dangerous with his hands and feet as most men were with a rifle.

Some of the things the real Black Devils did were just awesome. Like slipping into a German bunker while everyone was alseep, and silently killing one, leaving the others alive to discover in horror what could have happened to all of them. Or, just leaving a playing card beside each sleeping German to let them all know they had been there and could have killed them if they wanted to.

The Devil's Brigade is a great movie, but this book about their real-life exploits is even better.

[–] rave195 11 years ago

Thanks jamesbwill, I will definitely buy the book to read since I just saw the movie again on TCM and have rediscovered my deep admiration for the movie. Like you, I also thought it was another Hollywood sendup as you stated. To find out on here, that it was REAL and that their exploits were understated in the movie, well, need to find out the real deal then.

You need also to read the article on this board, about the filming of the movie, thread is of same name. Filmed in Utah AND Italy.

It states: "...after dark, they melted thru enemy lines and killed silently, leaving stickers on the slain, with the unit badge and a message "the worst is yet to come"..."
:O
Can you imagine?!The psychological effect on the Germans apparently worked. Nothing but respect for these rough and tough men who risked their lives for their country.

Enjoy and thanks again.
Ciao
Rave195

[–] jstang411 11 years ago

Thanks for the point....just ordered.

[–] nelson95 10 years ago

Are you sure that what you said about the Americans is accurate? I saw a documentary about the First Special Service Force on one of the cable channels recently and the living veterans of that outfit stated that it simply wasn't true how the Americans were depicted as the "Dirty Dozen" type. They said there were no criminals or misfits in that entire outfit.

[–] jamesbwill 10 years ago

The movie may have left out the fact that many of the American volunteers were good soldiers wanting to serve in an elite fighting unit. However, on page 55 of the book mentioned in my OP, it states "Base commanders took advantage of Frederick's invitation by emptying their stockades of troublemakers and dispatching them to Helena, sometimes under armed guard."

So, Hollywood may have exaggerated by playing up the Dirty Dozen aspect, there were quite a few of the guardhouse types who showed up in the unit.

[–] nelson95 10 years ago

Very interesting, indeed--thanks for enlightening me!

[–] jamesbwill 10 years ago

You're quite welcome.

[–] nelson95 10 years ago

I'd like to return the favor if I may so here's something that may interest you: remember that documentary I was telling you about that I saw on The First Special Service Force? Well guess what--I happened to find it on YouTube and here it is for your viewing pleasure. Just click the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRbnuJJGmOU
If that doesn't work, just type it into your address window. Hope you like it!

[–] jamesbwill 10 years ago

Thanks very much for the link. Quite interesting!

[–] nelson95 10 years ago

I thought you'd find it interesting. One little piece of trivia that might interest you: did you ever watch the TV series, "All In the Family," back in the 70s? "The Devil's Brigade" movie is how Carroll O'Connor got picked for the part of Archie Bunker as you might surmise from the kind of role he played in the movie.

[–] jamesbwill 10 years ago

I guess the somewhat prickly nature of both characters is similar.