Gold for the taking (Kelly's Heroes)

I’m a huge war movie buff, but honestly, I’ve got an even bigger soft spot for Clint Eastwood. So, I was hoping you guys could give me your thoughts on this flick that hits both my favorite buttons at once.

I’ve noticed they almost never show this on US TV—if they even show it at all. Is that because it was filmed in the old Yugoslavia, or is there some other reason? I did happen to read somewhere that the whole thing was shot in those parts specifically because the US Army let them use all their gear... you know, the heavy machinery, tanks, rifles, and all that stuff.

Thanks for the help 🙂

Here’s a pretty wild bit of trivia for you—Donald Sutherland actually experienced clinical death while they were filming this movie.
It got so serious that they even called his wife at the time, telling her she needed to head over to the US to collect his remains.
The director, Brian G. Hutton, also helmed that classic war epic Where Eagles Dare starring Eastwood, and get this—one of the assistants working on Kelly's Heroes was actually John Landis!
Honestly, I couldn't agree more with the sentiment that we need way more movies like this on TV nowadays.

Interesting tidbit—didn't realize that about Sutherland. Did a little digging and found out they actually shot the movie in California because those rolling fields there look just like Normandy...

Also, I’m totally with you on this—networks should be airing movies like this way more often. I don't see any real reason why it's an issue, though I've seen similar debates on other forums that usually just go nowhere... 🤷 🤷
(For instance, I can't even remember if they ever aired Brubaker with Redford, or maybe Bullitt with McQueen?)

Also, quick question: why on earth was the English title *Kelly's Heroes* translated as *Gold for the taking*? 🤷 I honestly don't see the connection at all...

ruggedfox28 said:Bullitt and the getaway? With McQueen?

Both were excellent..

David Price5 said:they both were...

I'm pretty sure they were, but honestly, I was probably just getting my tetanus shot back in elementary school...🙂

Bullitt was released about six months ago..

Anyone else got cable? At least Kelly's Heroes pops up on TCM a couple of times a month.

Gold for the Bold: An American Classic
(Kelly's Heroes, 1970)
PBS, 08.05.2008 (Tuesday), 8:05 PM



A war movie through and through. During World War II, Lieutenant Kelly (Clint Eastwood) captures a German officer and tries to squeeze some intel out of him. After a few drinks, he learns the guy is on a top-secret mission: transporting $16 million in gold bullion to a French military base. Naturally, Kelly decides he wants a piece of that action. He starts plotting with a few buddies to slip behind enemy lines and swipe the loot. His crew, led by the heavy-hitting Big Joe (Telly Savalas), has a tight three-day window to pull this off. With help from Crapgame (Don Rickles) and Oddball (Donald Sutherland), Kelly leads his squad deep into enemy territory using three Sherman tanks to hunt down that gold...

"Kelly's Heroes" is a seriously solid war flick. It’s got this clever way of telling a story that isn't really about the war itself, but more of an adventure that just happened to unfold for an American unit on the front lines. Between the sharp directing and an incredible cast of actors who totally nail their roles—each one representing a different type of person you'd find in a squad—it's two hours of great entertainment that still delivers plenty of tension. It’s also a biting, subtle satire on human greed, all wrapped up in a perfectly realized wartime atmosphere.

Runtime: 132 min.
Cast: Clint Eastwood and Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland, Gavin Mcleod
Screenplay: Troy Kennedy-Martin
Director: Brian G. Hutton

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I can't wait to catch this one. I think I saw it on PBS a long time ago. Clint and Donald are absolute legends. 🙏

Wait, isn't that movie playing on TV right about now?🤔

I honestly think we'll see this popping up on TV pretty soon.

I feel like I just caught a glimpse of a TV promo.

Arthur Garcia59 said:honestly, I feel like I just watched a trailer for some cheap soap opera.

Spot on.

Absolute classic... killer soundtrack and that showdown with Tiger on the train was top-tier—total spaghetti western vibes🙏👍

Does anyone happen to know where this was filmed?
I know they shot parts of it in California, but I can't quite pin down the specific town—specifically for that final scene at the end of the movie.

Anthony Jackson50 said:Does anyone know where this was filmed?
I know it was in California, but I can't pin down the exact town (specifically for that final scene).

Snippet from a review...

Filmed in collaboration with Aval Film, the entire production took place in California, using locations that served as great stand-ins for the famous Normandy bocage—those thick hedgerows and stone walls you see in France. Having access to the US Army's equipment and resources at the time was likely the main reason they chose to shoot there.

That's about all I've got...🤷

I gave it the first half hour, but if it isn't working, it just isn't working.

Maybe it’s because I spent Saturday bingeing Hitchcock and Schatzberg, and then watched Anderson yesterday—who knows—but man, this is just a massive bore.
The actors do nothing but yell. Honestly, seeing Savalas act like this is driving me nuts; he's totally out of it, except for Sutherland, who seems to be playing some stoned, crazy artist-warrior type. There's zero drama, the plot is a mess with no real logic—like, they just get a lieutenant drunk and suddenly he's spilling all his secrets? It’s just bad.

Arthur Garcia59 said:I gave it thirty minutes, but if it doesn't click, it just doesn't click.

Maybe it's because I spent Saturday watching Hitchcock and Schatzberg, then Anderson yesterday, who knows. Mostly, it was just a massive bore.
The actors are basically just yelling at each other (Savalas is driving me nuts playing it this way, everything's a joke except for Sutherland, who seems to be playing some stoned, crazy artist-warrior type), there's zero drama, and the plot logic is weak—like, they just get a lieutenant drunk and suddenly he's spilling all his secrets? It’s all pretty garbage.

Man... you clearly don't know what fun is...😁☕

It’s so boring here I could die...👍

Best scene in the whole movie...

The Duel

A total beatdown homage to the movie bad and evil... 🙂