Set near the end of the French rule of IndoChina (later Vietnam) a mixed group of French Legionnaires, led by an US demolition expert, must blow up an important Chinese ammunition depot. They also get assistance from a "madam"r of mixed blood.
Some of director Sam Fuller's movies tend to be a bit over the top and this one sure belongs in that category. It's a crazy story with crazy characters : there is the US demolition man (Gene Barry) , a competent but unsympathetic bully and racist, the brothel owner (Angie Dickinson) who is the former wife of the US guy (they have a son) and there is the French ragtag legionnaire team (including singer Nat King Cole).
As with most of these "menonamission" movies some of the team get bumped of during the journey but they get there ofcourse in the end, no less thanks to the fact that Angie Dickinson seems to have slept with half of the Chinese army stationed in Vietnam.
It does move along at fairly brisk pace and Fuller knows how to work with the Cinemascope format but the story, and especially the ending is completely ludicrous and unbelievable (you 'll have to find out for yourselves).
Somehow Fuller felt this wasn't exactly a winner so he followed this up (in the same year) with "Run of the Arrow" a though and excellent western starring Rod Steiger, which has become a real classic.
Some of director Sam Fuller's movies tend to be a bit over the top and this one sure belongs in that category. It's a crazy story with crazy characters : there is the US demolition man (Gene Barry) , a competent but unsympathetic bully and racist, the brothel owner (Angie Dickinson) who is the former wife of the US guy (they have a son) and there is the French ragtag legionnaire team (including singer Nat King Cole).
As with most of these "menonamission" movies some of the team get bumped of during the journey but they get there ofcourse in the end, no less thanks to the fact that Angie Dickinson seems to have slept with half of the Chinese army stationed in Vietnam.
It does move along at fairly brisk pace and Fuller knows how to work with the Cinemascope format but the story, and especially the ending is completely ludicrous and unbelievable (you 'll have to find out for yourselves).
Somehow Fuller felt this wasn't exactly a winner so he followed this up (in the same year) with "Run of the Arrow" a though and excellent western starring Rod Steiger, which has become a real classic.