Robert Aldrich was a bit of a madman. People forget that. When he started casting for the 1967 war epic, he didn't just want actors; he wanted a specific kind of internal combustion. He got it. The actors in The Dirty Dozen weren't just playing criminals on a suicide mission—many of them were actual WWII veterans who knew exactly what the dirt and the blood felt like.
You’ve probably seen the movie a dozen times on basic cable. It’s the ultimate "guys on a mission" flick. But the behind-the-scenes reality of how these twelve (plus their handlers) came together is actually way more chaotic than the script.
Lee Marvin and the Art of Not Caring
Lee Marvin was the heartbeat of the film as Major John Reisman. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role, even though the studio originally had eyes on John Wayne. Can you imagine? The Duke playing a cynical, insubordinate officer who treats his superiors like garbage? It wouldn't have worked. Wayne turned it down, supposedly because he didn't like the adultery subplot in the original script.
Marvin, on the other hand, was a Marine who had been wounded in the Pacific during the battle of Saipan. He didn't need a consultant to tell him how to hold a grease gun. He just showed up and did it. His chemistry with the actors in The Dirty Dozen was built on a foundation of genuine military experience and a healthy dose of "I don't give a damn."
He was notoriously difficult but incredibly precise. There’s a story that during filming in England, Marvin was often seen roaming the countryside or hitting local pubs, yet he never missed a beat when the cameras rolled. He was the alpha of a pack of alphas.
The Breakout: Charles Bronson and the Quiet Menace
Before he was the face of the Death Wish franchise, Charles Bronson was Joseph Wladislaw. He was the "only one who could speak German," a plot point that becomes pivotal during the infiltration of the chateau. Bronson brought a simmering, quiet violence to the screen that felt real because it was real. Growing up in a coal mining family in Pennsylvania, Bronson had a toughness that you can't teach in an acting workshop.
👉 See also: Nothing to Lose: Why the Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins Movie is Still a 90s Classic
Then you have John Cassavetes. He’s the guy who basically invented American independent cinema, but here he is playing Victor Franko, the obnoxious, rebellious Chicago mobster.
Why Cassavetes Almost Didn't Do It
Cassavetes took the job for the money. Plain and simple. He needed the paycheck to fund his own directorial projects like Faces. But being a professional, he turned in an Oscar-nominated performance. He hated the commercialism of Hollywood, yet he became one of the most memorable actors in The Dirty Dozen because he understood the psychology of a man who refuses to follow orders.
The Surprising Soft Side of Jim Brown
Jim Brown was a god on the football field. When he joined the cast as Robert Jefferson, he was still technically at the height of his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns. In fact, the filming ran over schedule due to the miserable English weather.
Owner Art Modell told Brown he had to report to training camp or face fines. Brown’s response? He held a press conference from the set in London and retired from football right then and there. He chose acting over the NFL. It was a massive gamble that paid off, as he became one of the first true Black action stars. His character’s death scene—sprinting across the courtyard dropping grenades into air vents—is easily the most iconic moment in the film’s finale.
The Tall and the Small: Donald Sutherland and Telly Savalas
Donald Sutherland wasn't even supposed to have lines. Originally, his character, Vernon Pinkley, was just a background player. But according to legend, another actor (rumored to be Clint Walker) refused to play a scene where he had to impersonate a General. Aldrich looked at the line of actors, pointed at the tall, goofy-looking Canadian, and said, "You do it."
✨ Don't miss: How Old Is Paul Heyman? The Real Story of Wrestling’s Greatest Mind
Sutherland’s performance in the inspection scene is comedy gold. It launched his career. Without that one moment of improvisation and luck, we might never have gotten MASH* or The Hunger Games.
On the flip side, you have Telly Savalas as Archer Maggott. This is the dark heart of the movie. While the other prisoners are mostly just "scoundrels" or "victims of circumstance," Maggott is a genuine psychopath. Savalas played him with a terrifying, religious fervor. It’s a stark contrast to the "Who loves ya, baby?" charm he would later display in Kojak.
A List of the "Dozen" (And their fates)
It's hard to keep track of all twelve when the bullets start flying. Here is how the roster actually shook out:
- Franko (John Cassavetes): The rebel. Dies in the final escape.
- Vladek (Tom Busby): One of the first to go during the chateau assault.
- Jefferson (Jim Brown): The athlete. Dies a hero's death at the vents.
- Pinkley (Donald Sutherland): The imposter. Shot while clearing the roof.
- Gilpin (Ben Carruthers): The explosives expert who stays atop the tower.
- Posey (Clint Walker): The gentle giant. He actually survives a surprisingly long time.
- Wladislaw (Charles Bronson): One of the only two survivors of the actual dozen.
- Maggott (Telly Savalas): The traitor. Killed by Jefferson for jeopardizing the mission.
- Jimenez (Trini Lopez): The singer. Lopez actually left the film early due to a contract dispute (allegedly encouraged by Frank Sinatra), so his character dies during the parachute jump.
- Lever (Stuart Cooper): Shot during the chateau infiltration.
- Bravos (Al Mancini): Another casualty of the intense crossfire.
- Sawyer (Colin Maitland): The last of the group, mostly a background presence.
The Missing Link: Ernest Borgnine and Robert Ryan
While the prisoners get the glory, the "brass" held the movie together. Ernest Borgnine played General Worden. Borgnine was a Navy veteran himself, having served ten years before he ever bothered with acting. He brought a sense of legitimacy to the command structure.
Robert Ryan, playing Colonel Breed, was the perfect foil for Lee Marvin. In real life, Ryan was a pacifist and a deeply intellectual man, but on screen, he was the ultimate hard-nosed antagonist. The tension between his "proper" military unit and Marvin’s "trash" unit drives the entire second act.
🔗 Read more: Howie Mandel Cupcake Picture: What Really Happened With That Viral Post
The "Dirty" Legacy
Why does this movie still matter?
Because it’s cynical. It came out in 1967, right as the Vietnam War was souring in the American consciousness. It didn't paint war as a noble endeavor fought by squeaky-clean heroes. It showed war as a dirty, unfair business handled by people the government considered disposable.
The actors in The Dirty Dozen weren't models. They had broken noses, pockmarked skin, and gravelly voices. They looked like they’d actually spent time in a stockade.
Misconceptions about the Production
Many people think the movie was filmed in the U.S. or France. Nope. It was almost entirely shot in Hertfordshire, England. The massive chateau you see at the end? That wasn't a real building. It was a giant, incredibly solid set built by the production team. It was actually too solid. When it came time to blow it up for the finale, the explosives didn't do enough damage, and they had to rebuild parts of it with flimsier materials just so it would look good on camera.
How to Watch Like an Expert
If you're going to revisit the film, keep an eye on the background actors.
- Watch the "Numbers" Sequence: Note how Marvin uses psychological conditioning. It’s a real military tactic adapted for the screen.
- Look for the "13th" Member: Many fans consider Richard Jaeckel (Sergeant Bowren) the unofficial 13th member. He’s the one who actually keeps the men in line during training.
- The Silent Acting: Watch Charles Bronson's face when he's not speaking. He's doing a lot of heavy lifting with just his eyes.
The film influenced everything from Inglourious Basterds to The Suicide Squad. It broke the mold of the "John Wayne" style war movie and replaced it with something grittier, nastier, and ultimately more honest.
Actionable Next Steps for Film Buffs
If you want to dive deeper into the history of the actors in The Dirty Dozen, start with these three steps:
- Read the Source Material: Pick up the 1965 novel by E.M. Nathanson. It’s much darker than the movie. In the book, the "heroism" is even more ambiguous, and the fate of the characters is less "action-movie" and more "tragic-grind."
- Check Out "The Filthy Thirteen": Research the real-life unit that inspired the story. The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment had a group of demolition saboteurs who didn't bathe and wore Mohawk haircuts. They weren't convicts, but they were definitely "dirty."
- Watch the Sequels (With Caution): There were several TV-movie sequels in the 80s featuring Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine. They don't have the same grit as the original, but they are fascinating artifacts of 80s television.