Drei Fremdenlegionäre (1966)
47KDrei Fremdenlegionäre: Directed by Douglas Heyes. With Guy Stockwell, Doug McClure, Leslie Nielsen, Telly Savalas. In 1906, two American brothers join the French Foreign Legion and, led by a sadistic Sergeant-Major, they defend a fort against Berber and Tuareg attack.
“For those who watch the Cooper version, similarities will be made. The Cooper version is probably a bit better for most of us, and evokes more of the u0026quot;childhood fantasies meet horrid realizationu0026quot; motif.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis film is good on its own merits. This film is completely the opposite of the other in the brothers who are killed. In fact, the third brother never even speaks, and we donu0026#39;t even know he is there if we watch the film. The second brother arrives late, and still serves as a character, but the entire focus is on u0026quot;Beauu0026quot; himself.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis film also gives us more of the sadistic NCO, played by Telly. He is not only cruel, but sadistic, as he even punishes those loyal to him.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe character of Beau is the motif of the story, however, and is what makes the film worthwhile. He is an u0026quot;everymanu0026quot;, but yet u0026quot;the man of mysteryu0026quot;. True to life, the u0026quot;man of mysteryu0026quot; is not someone who embarks on a ego trip, but someone who just lives life. It is not someone who tries to con, cheat, and confuse others, because Life does enough of that on its own (which makes such a person look like an inept fool to others), but someone who is honest and tries to do his job. Life ALWAYS makes such men look like u0026quot;men of Mysteryu0026quot;, because there are just too many oddities that occur.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is what happens in u0026quot;Cool Hand Lukeu0026quot;, as Newmanu0026#39;s character is made into a legend, yet from the beginning he tells the prison guard he doesnu0026#39;t want to make trouble, and he doesnu0026#39;t. His honesty is what turns him into a legend.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo it is here. Beau is miscast as a crusader and assassin, playing the u0026quot;Inspector Generalu0026quot; so to speak, both to the leaders, and to the men. He never tries to confuse any of them. He merely glides along, and that is what makes this film so breathtaking, and makes the action come so alive.”
