Bob-406

This film is rarely shown, but is available on video if you hunt around. It is a minor classic and stars a young Bryan Brown and a Graham Kennedy before his crow imitating newsreader days.

Whether it portrays the SAS realistically is a moot point, but this was the Australian SAS in the late sixties/early seventies and reference to Australian Books such as the "Phantoms of the Jungle", suggest that the Swanbourne troops went through Vietnam in the way portrayed.

The film is worth watching not for the overdone anti-war message but the black humour and jokes. The presentation of the shoebox contraption to the pardre is worth watching in itself.

Flawless acting, superb direction, atmospheric camera work and a script that is well written and interesting. This film has everything.

Made nearly 60 years ago, it has lost nothing of its tension and if you are the sort who looks for messages in films, this one has loads.

Most of all it is enjoyable. Even on the TV it is brilliant, but do try to get to see it on the big screen.

Quite simply one of the funniest movies ever made.

It still amazes me how people get upset about its content, as only the zealously stupid could be offended. There are too many funny moments, and I guess its mid ranking in this sites list of all time favourites has something to do with the British schoolboy humour that is only truly accessible to us ex British schoolboys.

Anyone who has done Latin will enjoy John Cleese as the Centurion/Latin teacher, and other delicious moments such as the silent hermit must not be missed.

The cartoon sequence could be got rid of but it was in good monty python tradition.

When this film was released in the UK I remember seeing a short before it with a John Cleese voice over, describing Venice. Never seen it since, but it was an amazingly funny parody of a travel film. Has anyone got a copy?