Lost Command aka Les Centurions.(1965) – Mark Robson.

This thrilling war history is set during, and following a ferociously bloody, hard-fought battle in French Indochina between hard-line communist Viet Mihn troops and a greatly beleaguered, vastly depleted outfit of French Paratroopers. Not only does Lost Command have an especially capable cast of international icons, it is excitingly photographed by legendary D.O.P Robert Surtees, and features a rousing score by the no less accomplished artist Franz Waxman. With rousing action, and compellingly gritty drama, Lost Command has garnered deserved plaudits for its unfiltered, explosive retelling of the chaotic French colonial wars in French Indochina and Algeria; a morally, and politically complex arena of war that is infrequently examined in non-documental works of cinema. Without sounding trite, the continued interest in Robson's intense military actioner Lost Command may not exclusively be in its uncommon subject matter, but in the robust dramatic portrayals of Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, Claudia Cardinale, George Seagal, Antony Quinn, and the always delightful character actor Gregoire Aslan. I sincerely believe, such is the films quality, those without any notable interest over the singularly grim decisions made within the raging crucible of war would still find enormous value in the balanced, sophisticated, gripping, far from Gung ho Military thriller Lost Command. My overview is somewhat unbiased, since I am a lifelong fanboy of Alain Delon, but I certainly won't be the only one who has happily noted, the witheringly handsome Mr. Delon never once phoned it in, and he manifestly does NOT do so here!!!! Not for the first time, I am struck by Quinn's appealing vitality, his roughly hewn Colonel Raspeguy remains a steely warrior that commands respect. In closing, Euro-cult fans will no doubt appreciate the swarthy presence of Aldo Sambrell.