6/10
Pasta/Tortilla WWII film co-produced by Italy/Spain upon a commando assigned a risked mission behind enemy lines
25 July 2017
It follows the merciless adventures of a valiant squadron from 101 parachutists , some courageous soldiers during WWII in Germany to destroy a valuable bridge . End of World War II , the allies have reached the Rhine . A tough sergeant is assigned by high command to carry out a risked mission on a bridge that crosses the Elbe river to prevent the Soviets to occupy Germany . As Richard (Tab Hunter) was entrusted with this dangerous assignment . Richard leads a group of motley soldiers on a risked as well as strange assignment , these are the followings : Hinds (Howard Ross) , Doyle (Gaspar 'Indio' González) , Johnny (Claudio Trionfi) , Sides (Óscar Pellicer) Rod (Ángel del Pozo) . The relentless and complex assignment is set against strong training , dangerous adventures and hazardous feats . The volunteer paratrooper commandos , misfits from the American army do not care how its done and will run over anyone who gets in their way . During the night the commando parachuted near the bridge . Along the way the group meets two kidnapped prostitutes (Erika Wallner , Rosanna Yanni) and they free them . As River Elba becomes the East-West frontier .

Set during World War where starring Richard/Tab Hunter is assigned by the US command a lethal order : they have decided to blow up a bridge across Elba , as the sergeant names five ex-con soldiers who will accompany him to the deadly mission . Thrilling and stirring screenplay by Antonio Fos and Adriano Bolzoni based on a novel by Lou Carrigan . Tab Hunter assumes the character of commando leader in this ordinary wartime movie regularly directed by Leon Klimovsky . This moving film packs frantic thrills , perilous adventures , relentless feats , and buck-loads of explosive action and violence . The noisy action is uniformly well-made , especially deserving of mention the rip-roaring final scenes in which the motley group is really besieged , including some spectacular shootouts and bombing . The first half of the film allows the colorful cast of character actors to have their fun as they get their tails whipped into shape and develop shaky relationship with their leader . The final part is all action , as the brave commando wreak havoc , blowing up the bridge and then run for their lives . Apart from the values of team spirit , cudgeled by Tab Hunter into his misfit group , the film is full of feats , suspense , and thrills . Rough Tub Hunter is leader of the motley pack together thwart the Nazi schemes , he gives passable acting . Hunter was an average American actor , a ¨cheesecake¨ who starred some good war films as ¨Merril's marauders¨, ¨Battle of Bulge¨, ¨PT 109¨, but also performed other genres as Sci-Fi : ¨I Married a monster from outer space¨ , Western : ¨Rooster spurs of death¨, ¨Bad Jim¨ and Terror : Bersek¡ . Hunter is supported by an acceptable cast plenty of familiar faces . As the largely secondary cast formed by a lot of Spanish/Italian secondaries , all of them ordinary from Spaghetti/Paella Western and Peplum , such as: as Spanish actors : Ángel del Pozo , Rosanna Yanni , Óscar Pellicer , Gaspar 'Indio' González , Alfonso De la Vega , Barta Barri ; as Italian players : Daniele Vargas , Howard Ross ; and with special mention for José Guardiola as stiff-upper-lip German commander who defends -in blood and fire- the impregnable bridge . This one belongs to Klimovsky's trilogy about WWII , including tarnishing Hollywood stars , such as ¨Hell's brigade¨ with Jack Palance , and ¨Command attack¨ with Michael Rennie . Atmospheric and functional musical score by Michele Laceranza , adding a catching but repetitive leitmotif . Mediocre cinematography in Eastmancolor filmed by cameraman Mario Pacheco , a perfect remastering is extremely necessary , and as photographer assistant the great Vittorio Storaro . Being filmed on location in Casa De Campo , Madrid , Navacerrada mountains , Colmenar Viejo , La Pedriza , Madrid , Spain . This is a wartime typical vehicle and into the ¨warlike commando sub-genre¨ , in USA style which also belong the American classics as : ¨Dirty Dozen (Robert Aldrich) ¨ , ¨Where eagles dare (Brian G. Hutton)¨ , ¨Kelly's heroes (Hutton)¨ , ¨Tobruk (Arthur Hiller)¨ , ¨Devil's Brigade (Andrew V McLagen)¨ and many others .

The motion picture titled ¨Bridge of No Returns" or "The Legion of No Return¨or ¨No Importa Morir¨ was middlingly directed by Leon Klimovsky assisted by Carlos Aured as director assistant . This Argentina born but nationalized Spanish filmmaker was a craftsman who directed all kind genres , as Terror for Paul Naschy (Marshall of hell , Rebellion of dead one , Orgy of vampires , Werewolf shadow,Dr Jekill vs. the werewolf) , Warlike (June 44 attack force Normandy, A bullet for Rommel, Bridge over Elba) and Western (Badland drifter , Some dollars for Django , Torrejon city , Death knows no time, Two thousand dollars for Coyote). Rating: 6 , regular but entertaining.
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