After being freed from a Vietnamese war prison, French Lt. Col. Pierre Raspeguy is sent to help quell resistance forces in Algeria. With the help of the Capt. Esclavier, who has grown weary of war, and Capt. Boisfeuras, who lives for it, Raspeguy attempts to convert a rugged band of soldiers into a formidable fighting unit, with the promise of marrying a beautiful countess if he's made a general.
Acting
Alain Delon's exhausted eyes say everything the script doesn't.
Production
Three continents, zero coherent geography — logistics as madness.
Director
Mark Robson
Anthony Quinn
Lt. Col. Pierre Raspeguy
Alain Delon
Captain Phillipe Esclavier
George Segal
Lt. Mahidi
Michèle Morgan
Countess de Clairefons
Maurice Ronet
Capain. Boisfeuras
Claudia Cardinale
Aisha
Grégoire Aslan
Ben Saad
Jean Servais
Gen. Melies
Maurice Sarfati
Merle
Burt Kwouk
Viet Officer
Jacques Marin
Mayor
Jean-Paul Moulinot
DeGuyot
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during the actual Algerian War's aftermath, when France still couldn't discuss it honestly — this was Hollywood's attempt to say 'war bad' while making heroes anyway.
Based on Jean Lartéguy's novel 'The Centurions,' which inspired real French officers — including those who attempted a 1961 coup. Art imitates life imitates disaster.
US
