Comando suicida

I had first watched this on local TV as a kid: I'm a sucker for caper films (in fact, I've about six more, albeit very minor, such titles lined-up for viewing) and, therefore, I grabbed the opportunity to re-acquaint myself with it after all these years (even if it came via an Italian-dubbed version).

Anyway, it may be because I hadn't caught a film in this vein for quite some time – but I really enjoyed this! A very typical outing from the 1970s – international production and cast, location shooting, throwaway soundtrack – and, thankfully, one whose mind is simply set on providing easy-going entertainment: often, the central premise in this type of film gets lost amid fastidious technique and other showy trimmings – conversely, here we get an ingeniously-plotted (if, admittedly, improbable) heist that one's able to follow thus generating the requisite amount of suspense and surprise (via a plethora of entertaining twists).

The narrative is set in motion by ex-Nazi Concentration Camp Commandant James Mason(!) paying a visit to one of his former prisoners, ex-American Major Telly Savalas, presenting him with a scheme to retrieve a cache' of gold that once belonged to the Fuehrer himself (hence the film's subsequent retitling as HITLER'S GOLD); the catch is that the only one still alive who knows its whereabouts is a Nazi war criminal undergoing life imprisonment in a West German fortress! Thankfully, though, Savalas happens to be chummy with one of the American sergeants on duty there (Aldo Ray) – and he brings along for the ride explosives expert Robert Culp. Along the way, they recruit a whole slew of other associates (from one of the soldiers in charge of the original transportation to a female nurse – who eventually hitches up with Culp – to a homosexual doctor – played by Adrian Hoven – to a Russian officer based in East Germany – where, it transpires, the gold is located) which makes one wonder just how much they'd actually be making individually of the proposed loot of $6 million!

The elaborate plan involves the ex-Nazi official being drugged and replaced by Hoven for a day – while our heroes, having turned a vacated building into a simulacra of the Nazi headquarters circa 1944 (complete with the ex-driver now impersonating Hitler!), try to nudge his memory bank about the coveted gold cache'. As I said, the turn-of-events see them crossing over to East Germany dressed as American officers and, with the help of the afore-mentioned Russian, they evacuate the building which now stands on the site where the gold is hidden so that they work at their leisure to recover it. Unsurprisingly, with so much money at stake and so many fingers in the proverbial pot, the number is reduced when the German soldier loses his nerve and the Russian becomes too greedy for his own good. At long last, the Nazi is placed back in his cell and the gang can take a deep sigh of relief; again, typical of the time in which the film was made, they manage to get away with it…

Gripping, packed with incident but essentially light-hearted (with the actors clearly enjoying themselves) and good to look at (the cinematography is by the renowned – and Sam Peckinpah regular – John Coquillon), the film emerges as the perfect anti-dote to one's dreary work routine and the equally inconvenient summer heat.

A great fast paced action yarn. This film stars Telly Savalas as a man who lives the high life, but soon becomes pressed for cash. He gets word from an ex German soldier, (played by James Mason) about missing gold; lost since the war. Savalas forms a small group of people to hunt for this lost gold. The films age shows when the characters make a dangerous attempt to cross between both areas of Berlin. This film serves as an excellent time capsule film, made during Savalas's Kojak fame.

This gangster movie in cold war-Berlin really has a fast paced and clever plot. You can enjoy this pre-mission impossible film although not all the tricks of uncomparable Telly are believable. Great acting and tight dialogues make this a fine film-evening from start to end.

Very good film with very basic ideas. The authentic street scenes and close up acting were and still are very powerful and believable. Old world movie with a nice story and acting all round kept pace going well. A film you can watch then in another 20 years try it again.

Two rather likable but dodgy characters are persuaded by a German ex-army officer to co-operate with his plan to recover some Nazi gold some twenty five years later - various others are then roped in. A particularly ingenious plot makes this film a constant nerve-tingler, with extremely good use of music and atmospheric lighting, and small twists in the script to add further tension. The momentum is maintained right up to the very end. The characterisation is unusually original, each character having distinctive quirks, with the exception that the German plotter is portrayed somewhat stereotypically as entirely lacking a sense of humour or remorse. The dialogue is sharp and witty, with special effects relegated to a minimum, making a welcome change from the 1990s films which can be over-reliant on such devices. For those with an interest in retro-chic, the 1970s clothes & cars will add a further pleasure. Also of interest is the depiction of Berlin at the height of its Cold War division. A definite must-see for those who find modern mainstream films too heavy on explosions and too light on plot and dialogue.