User reviews

Here we have yet another Italian/Spanish World War II film, concerning an "impossible mission" taken on by misfit soldiers. How many times did the Italians make this type of WW2 movie in the 1960s and 1970s? There's DIRTY HEROES, BATTLE OF THE COMMANDOS, FIVE FOR HELL, COMMANDOS, LAST DAY OF THE WAR . . . this one of the better ones, although it's in no way a classic.

The plot: The Germans have built a secret airfield which threatens the D-Day invasion. Flak in the area is so heavy that Allied planes can't get through the bomb the airfield. So High Command calls in French commando Sgt. Cloadec (Aldo Ray!!!, in the same type of role he had in GREEN BERETS) to take on the impossible task of leading 4 misfit commandos behind enemy lines to destroy the airfield. The mission takes on various twists and turns until the climax.

Unfortunately we never get to see too many enemy soldiers pursuing the good guys. The lack of extras is only one piece of evidence which suggests the low budget. Besides Aldo Ray, the producers couldn't hire any other easily recognizable actors for the movie. The special effects are the worst I have ever seen. They usually involve burning model plastic aircraft. And I am not kidding; the closeups are just as bad as the awful effects in BRIDGE TO HELL. The heroic "Colonel Bogey-esqe" musical score is rousing at first but soon goes into monotony. But we do finally get to see some action and a little bit (a very little bit) of originality and some good acting. The cinematography is quite decent; the movie was filmed out in the woods some place, for the most part, but resembles France pretty accurately for once. Most Italian war movies are set in France or Germanty, but look like they were filmed in -- well -- Italy or Spain.

Overall, the movie is entertaining but really lacks originality and is also undeniably cheap. But, it's well paced, solidly directed and contains some good characters.

5 out of 10 stars.

SUICIDE COMMANDOS is a very matter-of-fact Italian WW2 movie and yet another of their men-on-a-mission story lines. This time around, an elite British commando squad are tasked with parachuting into Germany to destroy an airfield that's been used to laugh a massive air attack against Allied positions. The odds are stacked against them, so will they win out against their overwhelming enemy?

Despite the inherently exciting premise this is quite ordinary stuff, made with a modicum of excitement extracted from the very familiar scenario. The big name star here is Aldo Ray, an American actor who made a career out of war movies. The low budget of the production is apparent from the relative small scale of the shoot-outs and attacks, but there's plenty of melodrama along the way as various members of the group are injured and sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Director Camillo Bazzoni is an unknown quantity, having only directed four features during his long career (a war film, a western, and two crimes).

This Italian-Spanish co-production is a war movie about a top-secret Allied mission to destroy an airport deep behind German lines. In order to carry out the exercise the military gather together a motley band of misfit soldiers.

This movie is one of many Macaroni Combat films which tapped into the basic premise of the Hollywood smash hit The Dirty Dozen (1967). It almost feels to me that at least 50% of Italian World War 2 flicks seem to use this same basic template. I have now seen so many of them that I have to admit my patience has been worn a bit thin, with this one being a step too far and somewhat of a chore to sit through. Nothing happens here that makes it stand out from the others except maybe for the ludicrous idea of a boy scout leader being recruited for a special forces mission! Needless to say, things pan out as they always do in these kinds of flicks. This one stars the diminutive tache-sporter Tano Cimarosa who appeared in a few notable flicks from the period, such as Renato Polselli's demented giallo Delirium (1972). You'd be better off watching that sex and violence fest that this tiresome war movie I would say.

WW2 action movie about a commando raid in Europe prior to to d day. I'm not sure if it is supposed to be comical or it just appears that way, low budget Lack of script little plot over acting dubbed English with heavy accents terrible film editing with the obvious use of other film material being used in parts and Aldo ray as Frenchman.

Italian/Spanish War about a reckless commando assigned a dangerous mission behind enemy lines . A group of two-fisted soldiers formed by five peculiar characters are drafted to go on a near-suicide mission and attempt to eliminate a German base . ¨Suicide commandos¨ is an entertaining film with Aldo Ray as a tough Sergeant along with the ordinary team of renegade soldiers of World War II whose mission is to pull off the destruction an enemy position , as they are tasked by parachuting in enemy territory to destroy an airfield that's been used as a base where execute massive air attacks against Allied . As Aldo training a group of rebel and eclectic soldiers for a dangerous assault on a Nazi airport . In the hands of hardboiled director Camillo Bazzoni and a tough-as-leather cast , that's all the plot that's needed to make one rip-roaring wartime flick . Aldo's mission is two-fold and in violent, cynical style : first turn his G.I.s into a valiant , skilled fighting unit and then turn them loose on the perilous countryside where they run into strongly armed Nazi troopers. The diverse characters include the following ones : Alleya (Tano Cimarosa) is a separated Maltese soldier from his wife (Pamela Tudor) who brawls at a Pub . Harper (Ugo Fangareggi) is a Boy Scout who trains children by hunting for butterflies . Sam (Luis Davila) is an ex-commando who lies down sick on bed . And Sorrel (Manuel Zarzo) is an imprisoned Gypsy awaiting a court martial and when greeting his superior for the risked assignment he robs him the watch , along with a veteran pipesmoking soldier Ortulay (uncredited Frank Braña) . And they're all under the thumb of Sergeant Derrick Cloadec (Aldo Ray) who's taking them on a hard-working training . 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 and then run for their lives . Despite the fact that few of the "heroes" survive the bloodbath, the message here isn't that war is hell . Rather, it seems to be: war can be a hell of a good time... if you've got nothing to lose . The dangerous mission includes a selected group formed by a motley and varied squadron played by usual of Italian B-series . They are a squadron of dispensable characters with no past and no future . Ray reprieves a bunch of soldiers , forges them into a two-fisted fighting unit and leads them on a deadly assignment into Nazi territory . The Privates are oddballs , rag-tag and undisciplined gang , under command a stiff Sergeant and the team is hardly trained . At the end they must participate in the suicidal mission behind the enemy lines , to wipe the German group by means of a violent assault over the strongly protected aerial position .

Acceptable Spaghetti/War film about a misfit team led by Aldo Ray who carry out a suicide mission behind enemy lines . As a British commando squad is tasked with attacking the "secret" German airfield from which German fighters have been attacking bombers which are attempting to stop German tanks from reinforcing the D Day defences . Aldo Ray as French Sergeant Cloadec assumes the character of commando leader in this ordinary wartime movie regularly directed by Camillo Bazzoni . This moving film packs frantic thrills , perilous adventures , choreographed crossfire , sneering evil Nazi Waffentroops , and buck-loads of explosive action and violence . However , it doesn't matter what they are after, because the point of the film is not to educate spectators about actual facts that their textbooks didn't cover , but to amuse people with an outrageous story , kinetic stunts , relentless feats , blowing up and goofy physical action . The noisy action is uniformly well-made, especially deserving of mention the rip-roaring final scenes on the airfield , including some spectacular shootouts and bombing , though the explosion on the planes are badly made with lousy scale models. Apart from the values of team spirit , cudgeled by Aldo into his misfit group , the film is full of feats , suspense , and thrills . Rough Aldo Ray is pretty good as leader of the motley pack together thwart the Nazi schemes, as well as the largely secondary cast . This is a wartime typical vehicle and it belongs to the ¨warlike commando genre¨ , in USA style which also are the American classics as : ¨Dirty Dozen (Robert Aldrich) , ¨Where eagles dare¨(Brian G. Hutton) , ¨Navarone Guns¨ (J.Lee Thompson) , ¨Kelly's heroes¨ (Hutton ), ¨Tobruk¨ (Arthur Hiller), ¨Devil's Brigade¨ (Andrew V McLagen) and many others .

Atmospheric and functional musical score by Daisy Lumini and mediocre cinematography in Technicolor , Techniscope filmed by cameraman Francisco Sánchez , though being necessary a perfect remastering . Shot on location in Cuatro Vientos military aerodrome, Cuatro Vientos, Alcalá de Henares , Madrid, Burgos, Castilla y León, El Espinar, Segovia, Castilla y León, Spain . The film is middling but professsionally directed by Camillo Bazzoni . He was a good cameraman who photographed varios movies as Bertoldo, Bertoldino e Cacasenno, Man, Pride & Vengeance, Ernesto , Double life of Matias Pascal, The Case Moro , Cavalli si nasce , Un bambino di nome Gesù , La Bone , Tenerezza , The Charterhouse of Parma, among others . And a craftsman filmmaker directing only 3 films : Black Lemons or Those Who Kill , Shadows Unseen and this Suicide commandos .

"Commando suicida" emerges as a gripping cinematic narrative set against the backdrop of World War II, plunging viewers into the heart of a high-stakes commando mission fraught with danger and uncertainty. Directed by Camillo Bazzoni, this Italian-Spanish co-production unfolds with a blend of gritty realism and pulse-pounding action, offering a window into the tumultuous landscape of wartime Europe.

At the helm of the narrative is Sergeant Derrick Cloadec, portrayed with stoic resolve by Aldo Ray, who leads a disparate band of soldiers on a daring mission deep behind enemy lines. Assembling a motley crew of misfits, each bearing their own scars and demons, Cloadec must navigate treacherous terrain and deadly opposition to achieve their objective: the destruction of a critical German air base that threatens Allied forces.

Despite its modest budget and technical limitations, "Commando suicida" manages to capture the essence of wartime drama with remarkable authenticity and intensity. From the tension-filled moments of infiltration to the adrenaline-pumping showdowns on the battlefield, Bazzoni crafts a narrative that crackles with urgency and suspense, drawing viewers into the heart of the action with immersive cinematography and evocative sound design.

While the film's special effects may betray its low-budget origins, particularly in its depiction of explosive action sequences, the raw emotion and human drama at its core elevate it beyond mere spectacle. As the soldiers grapple with fear, doubt, and moral ambiguity, their struggles resonate on a deeply human level, reminding audiences of the true cost of war and the sacrifices made in its name.

"Commando suicida" showcases a cinematographic approach that effectively captures the intensity and atmosphere of World War II. Director Camillo Bazzoni employs a visual style that immerses viewers in the gritty realism of the battlefield, utilizing a combination of handheld camerawork, dynamic framing, and evocative lighting to heighten the sense of tension and urgency.

Throughout the film, Bazzoni employs a mix of wide shots and close-ups to convey both the vast scale of the conflict and the intimate struggles of the characters. Wide shots are often utilized during action sequences to showcase the chaos of battle, while close-ups focus on the expressions of the soldiers, capturing their fear, determination, and camaraderie in the face of danger.

The use of lighting is particularly effective in setting the mood and tone of the film. Scenes set in the darkness of night are bathed in shadow and chiaroscuro, creating a sense of foreboding and uncertainty. Conversely, daylight scenes are often saturated with harsh sunlight, enhancing the harshness and brutality of war.

Bazzoni also employs dynamic camera movements to enhance the sense of movement and action in the film. Tracking shots follow the soldiers as they navigate treacherous terrain, while handheld camerawork adds a sense of immediacy and realism to the combat sequences.

In terms of composition, Bazzoni utilizes the landscape to great effect, framing shots against the backdrop of war-torn Europe to emphasize the devastation and chaos of the conflict. Ruined buildings, barren landscapes, and desolate battlefields serve as powerful visual metaphors for the destruction wrought by war.

Furthermore, it's a film with a few nods to the style of spaghetti westerns, which were popular during the years of this production, and a couple of winks to comedies with smart yet funny dialogues, carefully measured so that the overall tone doesn't become overly comedic.

Calleya (Tano Cimarosa) is an alcoholic and divorced Maltese soldier. Harper (Ugo Fangareggi) is a skilled Boy Scout troop leader. Sam (Luis Davila) is a veteran ex-commando. And Sorrel (Manuel Zarzo) is a Gypsy thief awaiting a court martial. And they're all under the thumb of Sergeant Derrick Cloadec (Aldo Ray) who's taking them on a mission to destroy a Luftwaffe air base in Germany during World War 2. It's your typical "men on a mission" routine. Suicide Commandos is cheaply made and if you're watching for a cerebral workout you won't find much here. But if you just want to relax and be entertained for an hour and a half than this movie will do the trick. It's a fun B-movie and if you're into that sort of thing (like I am) than this will do nicely. It's in the public domain and pretty easy to find. Enjoy.