In the waning days of WWII in Europe, 12 prisoners serving long jail terms (or on death row) are given a chance to have their sentences commuted by volunteering for an ultra-dangerous military mission behind enemy lines. Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, and George Kennedy play army officers. The motley, fearless felons include John Cassavetes, Jim Brown, Donald Sutherland, Charles Bronson, and Telly Savalas. Robert Aldrich's box office smash proved funny, exciting, and influential. 150 min.