

World War II drama where the action centers around a single maneuver by a squad of GIs in retaliation against the force of the German Siegfried line. Reese joins a group of weary GIs unexpectedly ordered back into the line when on their way to a rest area. While most of the men withdraw from their positions facing a German pillbox at the far side of a mine-field, half a dozen men are left to protect a wide front. By various ruses, they manage to convince the Germans that a large force is still holding the position. Then Reese leads two of the men in an unauthorized and unsuccessful attack on the pillbox, in which the other two are killed; and when the main platoon returns, he is threatened with court-martial. Rather that face the disgrace, and in an attempt to show he was right, he makes a one-man attack on the pillbox.
Acting
McQueen's twitchy, coiled-spring intensity — barely controlled desperation.
Direction
Siegel's lean, mean 90 minutes — no fat, all nerves.
Writing
Bloody cynical Robert Pirosh script; war as bureaucratic absurdity.

Director
Don Siegel
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bobby Darin demanded top billing over McQueen and got it — briefly, until McQueen's star power exploded.
Siegel later called this his 'rehearsal for Dirty Harry' — same fascinaion with men who can't follow rules.