The Devil's Brigade Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Devil's Brigade Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 3, 2017

It’s easy to dismiss 1968’s “The Devil’s Brigade” as a knock-off of 1967’s “The Dirty Dozen,” being one of the first productions to swoop in a sweep up any remaining audience interest in the adventures of mismatched military men. There’s certainly a “Dozen” charge to the picture, but “The Devil’s Brigade” manages to be its own thing, taking a look at the formation, training, and early missions of the 1st Special Service Force, which brought together American and Canadian forces, also offering a chance for film producers to populate the movie with a flavorful cast of character actors.

Director Andrew V. McLaglen (who would go on to make 1985’s “The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission”) gives “The Devil’s Brigade” a commanding, cinematic personality, joined by a large cast that includes William Holden, Cliff Robertson, Claude Akins, Richard Dawson, and Carroll O’Connor. The plot isn’t anything spectacular, but it does offer time for the creation of the Force, watching these men come together and work out their differences, becoming a unit that takes on ambitious targets during World War II. There’s also time for horseplay, keeping the picture light before it takes on the severity of war.

The Devil's Brigade Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation handles acceptably. Clarity is good overall -- detail is acceptable, picking up on the meaty faces of the ensemble, fibrous costumes, and background depth. Cinematographic limitations remain, and near the end of the film, brief snippets of Nazi footage appear zoomed in and processed. Colors are satisfactory, enjoying bright blues skies, uniforms, and location greenery. Delineation is adequate. Source displays mild speckling. Some judder is encountered as well.

The Devil's Brigade Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Unfortunately, hiss runs throughout the 2.0 DTS-HD MA track on "The Devil's Brigade," hindering an otherwise active mix that tries to provide a sufficient war film listening experience. Dialogue exchanges are adequate, offering intelligible dramatics, but sharpness is lacking. The same goes for the score, which is too thunderous to restrain, but precision isn't there. Sound effects are on the blunt side, offering bullet hits and explosions.

The Devil's Brigade Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features King Cohen, Steve Mitchell, and Steven Jay Rubin.

• A Theatrical Trailer (3:46, SD) is included.

The Devil's Brigade Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Devil's Brigade" positions itself as production rooted in fact, but it's clear the feature is more interested in big screen heroics, sold with booming score by Alex North. It's a lively picture that works well with its cast of characters, but it doesn't cut very deep, eventually reaching for an emotional conclusion to a movie that's more effective in popcorn/tough guy mode.