Commandos (1968) - Armando Crispino.

'so long, Rommel, and tanks for all the memories!'

This terrifically rousing Italian WW2 actioner benefits hugely from its charismatic international cast, a well crafted, engagingly terse screenplay, and powerful direction from the more than capable genre master Armando Crispino. Greenhorn captain (John Kelly) executes his audacious plan to infiltrate an Italian desert outpost with a rough-hewn commando unit, headed by a resentful, and increasingly suspicious Sullivan (Van Cleef). Crispino successfully maintains suspense throughout, ably orchestrating explosive action sequences, alongside measured moments of enormous pathos, including yet another exemplary, cold-steel performance from the iconic Lee Van Cleef as the seasoned, deeply traumatized veteran Sullivan. Much has already been documented about the profound impact of the Italian western on genre cinema, but their no less brutally efficient take on bombastic WW2-era action thrillers have frequently proved to be no less exhilarating. Commandos is a boisterous, bazooka-blasting B-Movie gem, Armando Crispino's dynamic desert storm remains a barnstorming treat for military action addicts. Excitingly, maestro Crispino goes all out for his spectacularly bloody, take no prisoners, memorably body bag-stuffed climax! Not only is Commandos well worth watching when it turns up on the telly, cineastes, and euro-cultists alike will find it to be an eminently worthwhile addition to their film collection.