- Play Dirty
Infobox Film
name = Play Dirty
image_size = 175px
caption =
director =André De Toth
producer =Harry Saltzman
writer =Melvyn Bragg Lotte Colin George Marton ("story")
starring =Michael Caine Nigel Davenport Nigel Green
music =Michel Legrand
cinematography =Edward Scaife
editing =
distributor =
released = 1968
runtime = 117 min.
country =UK
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0063443Play Dirty is a 1968 film inspired by the exploits of the
Long Range Desert Group . It was directed byAndré De Toth and written byMelvyn Bragg and Lotte Colin. It starsMichael Caine ,Nigel Green andHarry Andrews .Plot summary
It's WWII and Captain Douglas is a
BP executive (Michael Caine) handling incoming fuels for the British Army in North Africa. It is comfortable life until a LRDG colonel (Nigel Green) is told he must put an officer in charge of a dangerous 'Dirty-Dozen-style mission' to destroy anAfrika Korps fuel depot 400 miles behind enemy lines.Douglas, who is a fuels expert, is chosen to lead the group despite protesting that he is only port contractor with an honorary commission. Brigadier Blore (Harry Andrews) dismisses his pleas noting that the executive is wearing a British officer's uniform and is therefore subject to military orders.
Later Captain Leech (Nigel Davenport), the actual mission leader, tells the colonel he doesn't need or want Douglas. But the colonel reminds Leech that as a former officer, who has been recently imprisoned, he has no choice. Nevertheless he is promised an extra 2,000 British Pounds if Douglas comes back alive.
Disguised as Italian soldiers, the team trek and battle across Rommel's Africa towards the fuel depot.
The film climaxes in an infamous ending that is indicative of the movie's general cynical
anti-war themes.The movie is notable for several long -involving- and extended action sequences - often without dialog.Viewers may also remember the lethal -almost nihilistic- efficiency of Nigel Davenport's performance asCaptain Leech.
Also noteworthy: a frank -pre-
Stonewall - portrayal of homosexuality.Cast
*
Michael Caine as Captain Douglas
*Nigel Davenport as Captain Cyril Leech
*Nigel Green as Colonel Masters
*Harry Andrews as Brigadier Blore
*Patrick Jordan as Major Alan Watkins
*Daniel Pilon as Captain Allwood
*Vivian Pickles as a German NurseNigel Davenport was initially cast in supporting role but was given the second lead after
Richard Harris was fired.External links
* [http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2007/10/101-play-dirty-lady-from-shanghai.html Review by Ed Howard at Only The Cinema]
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