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Kelly's Heroes subverts its World War II setting with pointed satirical commentary on modern military efforts, offering an entertaining hybrid of heist caper and battlefield action. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

In the midst of World War II, an array of colorful American soldiers gets inside information from a drunk German officer about millions of dollars worth of gold hidden on enemy soil. Kelly (Clint Eastwood), a private with the platoon, devises a plan to sneak past the German officers to steal the loot for his crew. They recruit more men and set their plan into action. Despite several casualties, the men are determined to press forward, even if it means striking a deal with the opposing army.

Cast & Crew

Clint Eastwood
Pvt. Kelly
Telly Savalas
MSgt. Big Joe
Don Rickles
SSgt. Crapgame
Donald Sutherland
Sgt. Oddball
Carroll O'Connor
Maj. Gen. Colt
Gavin MacLeod
Moriarty
Stuart Margolin
Pvt. Little Joe
Dean Stanton
Pvt. Willard
Brian G. Hutton
Director
Sidney Beckerman
Producer
Gabriel Katzka
Producer
Harold Loeb
Producer
Troy Kennedy Martin
Screenwriter
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Critic Reviews for Kelly's Heroes

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (5)

View All Critic Reviews (23)

Audience Reviews for Kelly's Heroes

  • Jul 28, 2020
    Kelly's Heroes is a strange blend and I struggled to enjoy it on my first viewing all those years ago. The film has grown on me and it's now one of my favourite films. The wide cast and the blend of genres is inventive. The scope of the film is incredible. I don't believe I've ever seen a heist film that looked so epic. That final confrontation is unforgettable tense. I think my dislike earlier was the expectation of Clint Eastwood being in a hard edged military film. This is a mix of light hearted characters in the midst of a fight for their lives. This only gets better with each new viewing and I cannot recommend this any more. A must-see. 25/07/2020
    Brendan O Super Reviewer
  • Sep 19, 2019
    In this quirky WWll action comedy some troops assign themselves the task of stealing Nazi gold. The spirit of the film does not reflect WWll however. It reflects the Vietnam War, the time it was made in. And so all the characters only follow orders to the bare minimum, on the lookout more to party or to get out or both. If any character actually wants to fight the enemy, that character is portrayed as nuts. Altman's M*A*S*H came out only 4 months before (which is the Korean Conflict seen through the eyes of Nam). And so, The Revenge of the Slackers, led by a Clint Eastwood, his character only interested in the gold. Ehh.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Jun 20, 2011
    Kelly's Heroes is an overrated movie in my opinion. I like Donald Sutherland a lot and I hadn't seen a movie in which I didn't like him until now. His character is annoying and really ruined the movie for me. It wasn't just him though. I hated Don Rickles and Carroll O'Connor too. I didn't find this movie funny at all and it ran on way too long for what it was. I did really like the minefield scene though. It was the one part of the movie that was actually entertaining and gave me hope for the rest of the movie. One of the few Eastwood movies I didn't care for.
    Melvin W Super Reviewer
  • May 14, 2011
    A bunch of crackpot soldiers, tired of war, sets off to what seems to be an impossible gold hunt. Shot in the background of WW2, this is a part action, part black comedy movie, not to mention an anti-war satire. Despite Clint Eastwood's presence, the man who steals the show is Donald Sutherland as the Hippie mercenary, Oddball.
    Sajin P Super Reviewer
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