The Inglorious Bastards is an action / comedy directed by Enzo G. Castellari in 1978 and is set in France during World War II. Bo Svenson plays Lt. Robert Yaeger, a combat pilot who is in trouble for using his airplane to take vacations. He is grouped together with fellow derelict soldiers Pvt. Fred Canfield (Fred Williamson), Nick (Michael Pergolani), Tony (Peter Hooten), and Berle (Jackie Basehart) for transport to a military prison. As the main characters are brought to the truck and during the ride, we are introduced to their personalities. Pvt. Canfield is a tough guy who looks out for the weak, Bearle is a coward who deserted, Nick is a thief and Tony is a loudmouth troublemaker. Lt Yeager is a no-nonsense even-keeled leader who stands up for what's right.
On the ride to prison, their truck is attacked by Germans and they overcome their guards in the confusion. Still wanted, they hatch a plan to flee for the nearby Swiss border. Instantly, Lt. Yeager becomes their leader and they manage to capture a German soldier named Adolph Sachs (Raimund Harmstorf) who is also an escaped prisoner. After surviving several hostile encounters, the group kills a small German detachment who turns out to actually be an American Special Operations unit in disguise. When they are mistaken for the Special Ops unit, they decide to go along with the ruse and take on the mission the Americans were there for. They meet with Col. Buckner (Ian Bannen), confess and offer to complete the mission for him in return for their freedom. He agrees and in taking on the mission whole heartedly, they rise above their sordid past and perform heroically. The theme of this film is then that people can overcome their bad reputations and habits to become admirable.
The large gorilla in the corner of the room is obviously that the plot and theme bear striking similarity to the earlier film Dirty Dozen. The Inglorious Bastards not only recognizes that but the tagline on the DVD release even says "Whatever the Dirty Dozen did, THEY DO IT DIRTIER!" This is not a complex film, it is an Action / Comedy with an emphasis on the action. Interspersed with tons of action, there is some character development that supports the theme. Shortly after the group wins its freedom, they come across a battle field and hide as a German unit sets up a hasty ambush for an American unit. Lt. Yeager immediately suggests that they help the Americans and although Pvt. Canfield initially refuses, it takes very little besides Lt Yeager's example to set him in action. Berle crumbles into a shivering cowards and Tony would rather harass the German prisoner while Nick just observes. In contrast, by the end of the film, everyone plays their part, even Berle who manages to take over a train engine killing German soldiers rather than shake in fear in the corner.
The Cinematics in this film are not complex or deep. There is no deep symbolic imagery. The editing is traditional and to the point. The camera work is very well done but also very practical. The acting is passable but not award winning. The film does not try to be something larger than what it is and that is a fun action film about a group of misfit soldiers who overcome their own obstacles to achieve greatness.
On the ride to prison, their truck is attacked by Germans and they overcome their guards in the confusion. Still wanted, they hatch a plan to flee for the nearby Swiss border. Instantly, Lt. Yeager becomes their leader and they manage to capture a German soldier named Adolph Sachs (Raimund Harmstorf) who is also an escaped prisoner. After surviving several hostile encounters, the group kills a small German detachment who turns out to actually be an American Special Operations unit in disguise. When they are mistaken for the Special Ops unit, they decide to go along with the ruse and take on the mission the Americans were there for. They meet with Col. Buckner (Ian Bannen), confess and offer to complete the mission for him in return for their freedom. He agrees and in taking on the mission whole heartedly, they rise above their sordid past and perform heroically. The theme of this film is then that people can overcome their bad reputations and habits to become admirable.
The large gorilla in the corner of the room is obviously that the plot and theme bear striking similarity to the earlier film Dirty Dozen. The Inglorious Bastards not only recognizes that but the tagline on the DVD release even says "Whatever the Dirty Dozen did, THEY DO IT DIRTIER!" This is not a complex film, it is an Action / Comedy with an emphasis on the action. Interspersed with tons of action, there is some character development that supports the theme. Shortly after the group wins its freedom, they come across a battle field and hide as a German unit sets up a hasty ambush for an American unit. Lt. Yeager immediately suggests that they help the Americans and although Pvt. Canfield initially refuses, it takes very little besides Lt Yeager's example to set him in action. Berle crumbles into a shivering cowards and Tony would rather harass the German prisoner while Nick just observes. In contrast, by the end of the film, everyone plays their part, even Berle who manages to take over a train engine killing German soldiers rather than shake in fear in the corner.
The Cinematics in this film are not complex or deep. There is no deep symbolic imagery. The editing is traditional and to the point. The camera work is very well done but also very practical. The acting is passable but not award winning. The film does not try to be something larger than what it is and that is a fun action film about a group of misfit soldiers who overcome their own obstacles to achieve greatness.