Commando (1962)

Fantastic!

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I have similar memories to other reviewers having seen the film in 1963/64 at the age of 13. What made the biggest impression on me were the opening credits which I recall being genuine footage of street fighting in Algiers which would freeze to display a credit and then move on. All to the sound of Concerto Disperato played, presumably, by Nino Rosso. Concerto Disperato is available on Nini Rosso Greatest Hits CDs. But my advice is to ignore as the Ken Thorne version is far superior a) in terms of trumpet playing and b) arrangement. Especially as Nini Rosso sings (badly) over the middle section. But getting a genuine CD recording has alluded me for years. I have a ripped mp3 (off a 45). The film overall made a big impression but I often wonder whether, if I saw it now, I would be bitterly disappointed. After all, I was only 13 when I saw it.

I watched this film in my early teens and I loved every scene of the film including the signature tune. If I know where I can get a copy of the film I will simply buy it.I still remember the captain shooting dead one of his soldiers in sympathy to his request "Captain Save Me". Also just consider when after the capture of the rebel leader the group's hope of returning unscathed was shattered when the aircraft sent to take them back was shot down.The final blow for the captain was on his return with the rebel leader the political circumstances had all changed in favour of the rebel leader and he was no linger a "wanted" rebel but a hero needed to play an key role in the new political system. Most of us the audience felt for the captain considering the fact that among the troop that went after the rebel leader he was the only survivor. He returned with the captured rebel leader and the young boy found in the ruined building.The scene prior to the soldiers hunt where a dancing woman was hit in the stomach with catapult is still fresh in my mind.

Although I was only Four when I saw this I have never forgotten the premise or the last scenes and I hope to find it and see it again. A wonderful action adventure with believable characters, unlike The Green Berets, which I am sure ripped off the story. Actually, it seems a great irony that the story of Marcia o crepa portrays France's end days of Algerian Colonization realistically, while the Green Berets show America's failure in Viet Nam with such heroically, naive shlock.Anyone who can tell me where I can find a VHS or DVD please write me.Thankyou, Flash

For the most part this is a standard, but good, action movie. But there is one moment where it truly shines as something better.Captain Le Blanc has a little problem that he has been hiding from his men. The bottle.At one point one of his men is captured by the rebels and being tortured. He is screaming in agony. The captain, shoots him to end his suffering because there is no way they can rescue him. Trembling, without thinking, he reaches for his hidden bottle and uncaps it. He then remembers were he is. He tries to stash the bottle and turns to look at his men. It's no use. They all saw. But they aren't surprised or mocking. They always knew about his little problem. But it never diminished the love and respect they have for him. There is nothing in their faces but compassion. They know that the value of this man is so much more than his deepest, darkest secret. Go on, sir, they say. But their respect and compassion give him the strength to put the bottle down.