With the exception of John Wayne, no other actor is more synonymous with the Western than Clint Eastwood. In fact, even in films that aren’t part of the Western genre, audiences still find themselves reveling in the persona that Eastwood established in classics such as The Outlaw Josey Wales and A Fistful of Dollars. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Kelly’s Heroes. Released in 1970 and featuring a stacked cast that saw Eastwood star alongside Donald Sutherland, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Gavin MacLeod, and Carol O’Connor, Kelly’s Heroes is a boisterous action-packed heist film set during the Second World War.
The plot involves Private Kelly (Eastwood) leading a rag-tag group of individuals behind enemy lines to steal a cache of Nazi gold. The premise might sound familiar to fans of classic Western films, as Kelly’s Heroes can best be described as a “World War II Western.” It features gunslinging action and a host of characters who are over the top in their personalities, culminating in a secret mission to steal treasure from the Nazis. With fast-paced action sequences and a slightly farcical tone, Kelly’s Heroes is a cast-driven adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
A major aspect that makes any Western film memorable is its colorful cast of characters, each embodying widely different personalities. Eastwood’s portrayal of Kelly mirrors his role as “The Man with No Name” from Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy—a soldier with a checkered past and strong acumen for leadership amidst chaos. Kelly is the quintessential cowboy who rides into town with no fear.
Complementing Eastwood’s portrayal is Telly Savalas as Big Joe. As the strong arm of the group and a decorated combat veteran, he embodies the muscle that any posse needs when venturing into unpredictable territories. Rounding out the ensemble cast, along with Eastwood and Savalas, is Don Rickles as Crapgame, a money-hungry soldier eager to join Kelly’s mission to help swipe the ill-gotten gold from the Nazis. Rickles’s comedic timing provides excellent comic relief, enhancing the farcical tone of Kelly’s Heroes that pairs well with its high-octane action.
However, if there’s one performance that steals the show, it’s Donald Sutherland as Oddball. Oddball, accompanied by his crew in tanks, represents a modern version of the cavalry, riding into the fray and saving the day at the eleventh hour. Sutherland’s portrayal reflects a character influenced heavily by the popular culture of the era, presenting Oddball as a cross between a hippie and a beatnik. He often chastises his subordinate Moriarty (Gavin MacLeod) with phrases like “knock it off with the negative waves,” adding a layer of humor to the film’s narrative.
The all-star ensemble of Kelly’s Heroes establishes the film’s dynamic as a World War II Western. Central to the plot is the quest for hidden gold, a motif often found in Westerns. From Rio Lobo to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, the idea of a ragtag group coming together to pursue a treasure has long been a cornerstone of the genre. Juxtaposing this narrative within the context of WWII allows for a mix of action and excitement that surpasses the boundaries of traditional Western shoot-outs or outlaws.
The film cleverly incorporates scenarios familiar to fans of the Western genre while updating them for the time period in which it was created. A striking nod to the Western aesthetic is the scene where Kelly, Big Joe, and Oddball walk down a deserted street, ready to face a German Tiger tank. This moment not only evokes the image of gunfighters preparing for a shoot-out but is accentuated by music reminiscent of Sergio Leone’s Westerns, enhancing its thematic foundations.
Even the film’s conclusion showcases the protagonists heading off into the sunset after accomplishing their task, albeit in a truck instead of on horseback. This ending encapsulates the adventurous spirit of classic Westerns while providing a modern twist.
As a hallmark of 1970s action cinema, Kelly’s Heroes demonstrates that tropes and patterns from one genre need not remain exclusive to that format. In an era where Clint Eastwood ruled the box office with multiple standout performances, Kelly’s Heroes remains one of the actor’s most memorable. The impact of this film reverberated across generations, with its format echoing in later works, such as the 1999 film Three Kings, which reflects the enduring allure of blending genres.
In conclusion, Clint Eastwood’s involvement in Kelly’s Heroes demonstrates his iconic status not only in the Western genre but also in cinema as a whole. The film’s unique mix of humor, action, and character dynamics exemplifies how the themes of classic Westerns can be effectively transposed onto the backdrop of World War II. By celebrating camaraderie, courage, and an irreverent approach to challenges, Clint Eastwood’s WWII Western film stands as a testament to the timelessness of these storytelling elements and their continuing relevance in the world of film.