Step right up, cinema aficionados and history buffs! We’re about to embark on an exhilarating journey behind the battle lines of one of the most beloved World War II films ever to grace the silver screen: Brian G. Hutton’s 1970 classic, ‘Kelly’s Heroes.’ This isn’t just a tale of renegade American soldiers trying to liberate a stash of Nazi gold; it’s a vibrant tapestry woven with action, comedy, and undeniable charm, starring an incredible ensemble cast including the legendary Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, and Don Rickles.
More than five decades since its release, ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of thrilling heist elements, memorable tank battles, and characters brimming with distinct personalities and quirks. It’s a film that masterfully balances light-hearted humor with the intense realities of war, showcasing the camaraderie among soldiers, their ingenuity, and the moral ambiguities they faced. While the cinematic narrative itself is largely a work of fiction, the journey of bringing it to life was anything but ordinary.
Today, we’re not just watching the movie; we’re peeling back the layers to discover the fantastic, the bizarre, and the downright surprising facts from its production that even the most dedicated fans might not know. From life-threatening illnesses on set to clever historical nods and unexpected sound effect origins, prepare to have your curiosity piqued as we uncover 14 fascinating behind-the-scenes secrets that solidify ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ as a true classic in the war film genre.
1. **The Factual Foundation and a Record-Breaking Heist**While ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ spins a thrilling yarn of soldiers going rogue for personal fortune, the audacious plot is, in fact, loosely based on a true story that reads like something out of a pulp novel. The inspiration comes from the famed book by Ian Sayer and Douglas Botting, which details a colossal heist perpetrated in 1945 by a combination of renegade German and American officers. This incredible event, involving the German National Gold Reserves, was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records from 1956 to 2000 as the “Biggest Robbery Ever.”
The context behind this monumental crime paints a mystifying picture: as Allied bombers devastated Berlin in 1945, the Germans initiated a desperate maneuver to move vast trainloads of gold and currency south for safekeeping. The incredible treasure at the heart of this real-world narrative was estimated to be worth around $2,500,000,000 at the time of the original investigation. Sayer and Botting’s meticulous quest to uncover the truth of this monumental crime led them into a murky, dangerous post-war world rife with racketeering, corruption, and gang warfare.
Their brilliant reporting meticulously matched eyewitness testimonies with declassified top-secret documents from American archives, laying bare not only the crime but also an attempted whitewash by the US government. This scandal predated the likes of Richard Nixon and Watergate by nearly three decades, with investigators facing impediments at every turn and even fearing for their lives. The authors’ dedication even led to the discovery of some of the missing treasure in the Bank of England, grounding ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ in a truly sensational, albeit adapted, historical backdrop.
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2. **Donald Sutherland’s Harrowing Brush with Death**Behind the cheerful, laid-back persona of Sgt. ‘Oddball,’ actor Donald Sutherland faced a terrifying real-life ordeal during the filming of ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ in Yugoslavia. While on location, Sutherland contracted spinal meningitis, a serious ailment that causes inflammation of the fluid and membranes around the spinal cord and brain. This variant of meningitis can be fatal, and the situation on set quickly became dire, taking a dramatic turn for the worst for the acclaimed actor.
Sutherland’s wife received an urgent telegram, starkly instructing her to travel immediately to Yugoslavia. The telegram carried a chilling warning: her husband would likely be dead before she even arrived. For six harrowing weeks, Sutherland was confined to a hospital bed, even falling into a coma due to a lack of available antibiotics at the time. He vividly recalled the experience in an interview, stating, “I had spinal meningitis. They didn’t have the antibiotics, so I went into a coma, and they tell me that for a few seconds, I died.”
Mercifully, Sutherland defied the odds and made a full recovery, a testament to his resilience and strength. This near-fatal experience, despite its gravity, didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for the project or his character. In fact, as we’ll see later, he had every reason to want to forget his time on set, but he often spoke fondly of his experience, highlighting his love for portraying Oddball and his memorable time during the film’s production.
3. **Yugoslavia: The Unlikely but Practical Filming Locale**Given that ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ is set in the rugged landscapes of World War II Europe, audiences might naturally assume filming took place in historically accurate locations like France, Italy, or Poland. However, Hollywood magic often dictates otherwise, and the filmmakers opted for a nation that, fascinatingly enough, no longer exists: the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This choice was far from arbitrary, driven by two very pragmatic and compelling reasons.
First and foremost, the Yugoslavian Army at the time possessed a large quantity of M4 Shermans, the iconic armored vehicles crucial to the film’s authentic portrayal of WWII combat. Securing these actual tanks as props was a significant advantage, allowing for the epic battle scenes and realistic visuals that define the movie. The logistical nightmare and exorbitant cost of acquiring such a fleet elsewhere made Yugoslavia an invaluable resource for production designers and the film’s overall aesthetic.
The second, equally compelling reason was financial. Under Yugoslavian law, movie studios within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were prohibited from profiting from movie screenings. This unique legal landscape meant that the production had significantly more money to allocate towards filming, as they didn’t need to factor in paying off various third parties for distribution or exhibition rights within the country. This generous budget freedom, coupled with the readily available military hardware, made Yugoslavia an irresistible, if historically inaccurate, backdrop for the film’s grand ambitions.
4. **The Curious Case of the Duplicated Whiskey Bottle**Filmmaking is an intricate dance of planning, shooting, and meticulous post-production, and sometimes, even the most careful productions can reveal little quirks under the scrutiny of eagle-eyed viewers. ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ offers a delightful example of how scenes can be moved around during the editing process, often resulting in minor, yet noticeable, continuity curiosities. This was precisely the case with a particular bottle of whiskey that seems to defy the laws of cinematic physics.
Sharp-sighted fans of the film might recall a scene where Clint Eastwood’s Pvt. Kelly pays a visit to Staff Sgt. “Crapgame.” During this encounter, Kelly brings him a bottle of whiskey. All seems normal, until later in the movie, when Kelly visits Don Rickles’ character, and he’s inexplicably given the exact same bottle. This seemingly impossible duplication is not a mystical occurrence within the narrative, but rather a charming peek behind the curtain of film editing.
It is highly probable that these scenes were originally intended to appear in a different order. The most logical explanation points to the second scene – where Kelly receives the whiskey – being initially slated to occur much earlier in the movie’s sequence. During the editing suite’s magical work, the scenes were switched around, creating this fun little anachronism that has delighted keen observers for decades, proving that even in war movies, a good drink can get passed around in unexpected ways.
5. **Tiger Tanks That Weren’t Quite Tigers**When we watch ‘Kelly’s Heroes,’ the sight of the formidable German Tiger tanks rumbling across the screen adds an undeniable sense of wartime authenticity and danger. These iconic heavy tanks were the bane of Allied forces in World War II, and their presence in the film is visually striking. However, here’s a fascinating secret: the Tiger tanks featured in ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ weren’t actually German Tigers at all. They were cleverly disguised imposters.
In reality, the production utilized Russian T-34s, which had been skillfully modified to mimic the imposing appearance of the German Tigers. This transformation involved adding various external features and altering their silhouettes to create the illusion of the dreaded German armor. Such ingenuity is a common practice in filmmaking, especially when historical vehicles are scarce or prohibitively expensive to acquire for an extended shoot.
For those with a discerning eye for military hardware, the tell-tale sign of this cinematic deception lies in the tanks’ suspension systems. The T-34s in the film clearly feature a modified Christie suspension, a distinct characteristic of Russian tank design. In contrast, the authentic German Tiger tanks boasted a much more elaborate and intricate wheel arrangement, a detail that keen observers can spot if they look closely. It’s a subtle nod to the magic of movie making, where appearances can indeed be deceiving!
6. **From WWII Tank Turrets to Sci-Fi Power Lifters**In a truly remarkable example of resourcefulness and clever sound design, a distinctive auditory element from ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ found an unexpected second life in a completely different genre: science fiction. The rumbling, electric hum made by the motors in the turrets of the “Tiger” tanks – which, as we now know, were actually modified Russian T-34s – possessed a unique mechanical quality that clearly resonated with another set of filmmakers years later.
It turns out, the noise created by these vintage tank turrets was later adopted and brilliantly repurposed by the creative team behind James Cameron’s iconic 1986 sci-fi blockbuster, ‘Aliens.’ They took that very same, specific sound and used it to bring to life the powerful, hydraulic movements of the power lifters. Those heavy-duty, exoskeleton-like suits worn by characters like Ripley, which became instantly recognizable, owe a part of their gritty, industrial soundscape to the clatter and whir of a World War II tank.
This kind of cross-genre sound recycling is a testament to the timeless quality of effective audio design. It highlights how specific sound effects can evoke particular sensations of power, weight, and mechanical operation, transcending their original context. So, the next time you hear the grinding of a power lifter in ‘Aliens,’ you might just be listening to the distant echo of a “Tiger” tank from the battlefields of ‘Kelly’s Heroes,’ a little piece of hidden cinematic history connecting two vastly different, yet equally beloved, films.
7. **Shirley Sutherland’s Controversial Black Panthers Connection**While Donald Sutherland was recuperating from his near-fatal bout with spinal meningitis in Yugoslavia, another dramatic incident unfolded involving his then-wife, Shirley Douglas. It was Clint Eastwood himself who delivered the astonishing news to Sutherland: Shirley had been arrested, or at least caught in a very precarious situation, for attempting to buy grenades for the Black Panthers, a far-left political organization in the United States. This revelation surely added another layer of unforgettable drama to an already turbulent production.
The circumstances surrounding her arrest attempt were particularly noteworthy, and, as Sutherland recounted, rather amusing in their absurdity. Shirley had reportedly tried to make the purchase using a personal cheque. Unbeknownst to her, the individual she was dealing with was not a legitimate arms dealer, but an undercover FBI agent. The sheer audacity and perhaps naiveté of attempting such a transaction with a personal cheque struck Clint Eastwood in a particularly humorous way.
According to Sutherland, when Eastwood got to the part about the personal cheque, he was overcome with laughter, collapsing and needing to be helped back up. Despite the initial amusement, Eastwood quickly assured his friend that he would offer his complete support in this unexpected predicament. This extraordinary incident stands as a vivid reminder that the drama behind the scenes of ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ sometimes rivaled, or even surpassed, the action on screen, blending personal peril with touches of unexpected humor.
8. **A Cinematic Nod to Eastwood’s Spaghetti Western Legacy**The creators of ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ weren’t shy about weaving in clever references, and one particularly brilliant instance serves as a direct, affectionate homage to one of its lead actor’s most iconic roles. Fans of Clint Eastwood and the legendary spaghetti western genre might catch a distinctive echo within the film. A pivotal confrontation in ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ is a loving, yet subtle, tribute to the dramatic climax of Eastwood’s classic 1966 film, ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.’
During the intense standoff with the formidable German Tiger tank, observant viewers and film enthusiasts can discern more than just a passing similarity to the famed Mexican Standoff from the western. The mannerisms of the characters, the palpable tension, and even the pacing of the scene are meticulously crafted to mirror the unforgettable ending of ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.’ It’s a remarkable piece of cinematic mirroring, allowing the film to wink at its audience with a familiar, high-stakes moment that transcends genre boundaries.
The homage extends beyond mere visual and behavioral parallels. The film score for this particular scene in ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ is almost identical to the iconic score composed by the legendary Ennio Morricone for ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.’ This masterful musical replication deeply amplifies the feeling of a direct reference, creating a powerful sense of déjà vu for those familiar with Eastwood’s earlier, groundbreaking work in the western genre.
What’s more, there’s a hidden auditory detail: the sound team subtly dubbed the distinct jingle of spurs over the scene. This faint but intentional sound effect, typically associated with the dusty trails and tense shootouts of westerns, further solidifies the connection, adding an extra layer of cleverness that only the most attentive listeners might catch. It’s a testament to the filmmakers’ playful ingenuity, linking two vastly different but equally cherished films through subtle sound and vision.
9. **A Future Director’s Cameo and a Star’s Enduring Promise**It’s always fascinating to discover the early career paths of Hollywood legends, and ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ holds a particularly sweet secret about a future filmmaking powerhouse. Among the countless crew members working tirelessly behind the scenes, a young John Landis, who would later become a celebrated director responsible for classics like ‘Animal House’ and ‘The Blues Brothers,’ got his start as a production assistant on this very film.
Landis, not content with merely assisting, even managed to snag a delightful “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” cameo in the movie. For those with a keen eye, he can be spotted dressed in drag as one of the three nuns. During his time on set, Landis famously told Donald Sutherland that he envisioned himself directing movies one day. Sutherland, perhaps sensing the young man’s genuine drive, made a remarkable promise: if Landis ever made it big, he would star in his films.
True to his word, Sutherland made good on that promise, appearing in several of Landis’s future features, including the raucous comedy ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House’ (1978) and ‘The Kentucky Fried Movie’ (1977). While Sutherland didn’t appear in *every* film Landis directed, their subsequent collaborations are a heartwarming testament to a bond forged on the set of ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ and a star’s unwavering support for a budding director’s dream.
Their long-standing professional friendship, rooted in that initial interaction on the Yugoslavian set, continued to bear fruit throughout their careers. This story is a wonderful reminder that connections made early in one’s career can lead to incredible, lasting partnerships in the unpredictable world of Hollywood.
10. **The Brando Parody: A German Commander’s Uncanny Familiarity**Even though the legendary Marlon Brando never actually appeared in ‘Kelly’s Heroes,’ his iconic screen presence is playfully and cleverly felt through one of the film’s most memorable antagonists. The German Tiger tank commander, portrayed with chilling charisma by Karl-Otto Alberty, might strike observant viewers as uncannily familiar, and there’s a very deliberate reason for that. His character is, in fact, a subtle yet unmistakable parody of Brando’s acclaimed portrayal of Lieutenant Christian Diestl in the 1958 film ‘The Young Lions.’
The filmmakers of ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ clearly had a deep appreciation for cinematic history. They meticulously crafted Alberty’s character to echo Diestl’s mannerisms, his distinctive appearance, and even his particular way of speaking, making the connection palpable for those in the know. From the precise inflections in his voice to his calculated movements and overall stoic demeanor, the German tank commander is designed to evoke Brando’s acclaimed performance as the conflicted Nazi officer.
This deliberate mirroring of Brando’s ‘Young Lions’ character serves multiple clever purposes. It not only pays homage to a powerful and respected performance but also imbues the German commander in ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ with an immediate sense of gravitas and a certain recognizable archetype. This clever parody ensures that even without Brando himself, his formidable shadow looms large, making Alberty’s character instantly compelling and memorable.
11. **Clint Eastwood: Unveiling His Hidden Musical Talents**Beyond his legendary status as an actor and director, Clint Eastwood holds a lesser-known but equally fascinating credit from his time on ‘Kelly’s Heroes’: he was also a recording artist for the film! Audiences are accustomed to seeing Eastwood embody tough-guy roles that often involve terse dialogue and intense stares, but his musical talents took center stage, at least briefly, with his surprising rendition of the movie’s memorable theme song, “Burning Bridges.” It’s a delightful and unexpected revelation for fans who might not realize the extent of his artistic endeavors.
Eastwood’s unique version of “Burning Bridges,” originally composed by The Mike Curb Congregation, was professionally produced by Allen Reynolds and Dickey Lee at Certron Records. This wasn’t just a casual performance; it was a bona fide studio recording that saw an actual commercial release on a 45-RPM vinyl disc. This makes it a tangible piece of cinematic and musical history, showcasing another, softer dimension to the iconic star’s capabilities.
Adding to the intrigue, the vinyl single wasn’t a one-hit wonder for Eastwood. The B-side of the record featured another compelling song, “When I Loved Her,” which was skillfully penned by the celebrated singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson. Eastwood’s heartfelt performance on this track further cemented his brief but genuine foray into the music world, demonstrating a versatility that few actors achieve.
12. **Ingrid Pitt’s Role: A Last-Minute Cinematic Disappearance**In the dynamic and often unpredictable world of film production, even seasoned actors can find their roles on the chopping block, and ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ saw a prominent actress’s part disappear almost at the last minute. The acclaimed Polish-English actress Ingrid Pitt, known for her captivating performances in horror classics like ‘Countess Dracula’ and ‘The Wicker Man,’ was originally slated to play a significant role in the film.
Pitt had even co-starred with Clint Eastwood previously in the 1968 war film ‘Where Eagles Dare,’ making her casting in ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ a logical and exciting reunion. She was set to portray the lone female character in the story, which undoubtedly would have introduced a different dynamic to the group of renegade soldiers. Her inclusion could have significantly altered the film’s character interactions and overall tone.
However, the capricious nature of filmmaking ultimately intervened. According to Pitt herself, the news of her role being abruptly cut arrived with startling suddenness. She vividly recounted being “virtually climbing on-board the plane bound for Yugoslavia when word came that my part had been cut.” This last-minute decision highlights the unpredictable challenges actors face and the often-unseen changes that occur behind the scenes, even for established talents.
13. **The Blue “Crosshair” Patch: A Glimpse into Real Military History**While the rag-tag group of soldiers in ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ might be more focused on liberating gold than discussing their military lineages, a subtle yet significant detail on their uniforms offers a keen insight into their background and the historical authenticity woven into the film. Eagle-eyed viewers might have noticed the distinctive blue “crosshair” shoulder patch worn by Pvt. Kelly and his men. Far from being a random design, this emblem carries specific historical significance.
This particular patch indicates that they belong to the 35th Infantry Division. For those unfamiliar with military insignia, this division was a vital section of the United States Army National Guard (AMG) that was called into federal service during the intense period of World War II. It’s a fascinating and accurate detail that thoughtfully grounds the fictional exploits of Kelly’s renegade team in actual military history, even if their audacious mission for Nazi gold is anything but standard operating procedure.
Further adding to the authenticity and providing a deeper sense of character origin, the 35th Infantry Division was historically comprised of Guardsmen hailing from specific American states: Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. This small yet profoundly meaningful detail helps to paint a more complete picture of the characters, suggesting their geographical origins and the broader regional makeup of the unit they represent. Such nuanced historical accuracies are often what elevate a film.
14. **First Sgt. Mulligan: A Name with a Playful and Purposeful Meaning**In ‘Kelly’s Heroes,’ even character names are crafted with a clever wink to the audience, especially in the case of First Sgt. Mulligan, memorably portrayed by the talented George Savalas. His character is consistently depicted throughout the film as prone to inaccuracies, missteps, and often making choices that lead to chaotic, yet often humorous, outcomes. This defining trait makes his name particularly apt and rather humorous to those in the know.
For anyone familiar with the world of golf, the term “mulligan” is immediately and uniquely recognizable. It refers to an informal rule where a player is allowed a “do-over,” a chance to repeat a poor shot without penalty, effectively erasing a mistake. This unofficial yet widely understood concept in golf perfectly encapsulates the First Sergeant’s unfortunate penchant for making errors and often needing a metaphorical second chance, or being the direct source of actions that require one.
This intelligent play on words transforms what might seem like an ordinary or randomly chosen name into a profoundly meaningful descriptor that significantly enhances the character’s comedic impact and memorability. It’s these thoughtful little touches of cleverness in ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ that often resonate deeply with audiences, showcasing the meticulous thought put into even the seemingly minor details of script and character development. First Sgt. Mulligan stands as a testament to how even a name can tell a story, making his inaccuracies all the more amusing and intentional.
From creative homages to legendary spaghetti westerns to the surprising musical talents of its lead star, and from the unexpected early career beginnings of its crew to the cut roles of esteemed actresses, ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ is truly a treasure trove of fascinating facts. These behind-the-scenes revelations don’t just add intriguing trivia; they deepen our appreciation for the creative genius, the serendipitous moments, and the meticulous attention to detail that converge to create cinematic magic. This isn’t just a war film; it’s a vibrant tapestry of storytelling and unexpected insights, proving that even over five decades later, there’s always more gold to be uncovered in the enduring legacy of ‘Kelly’s Heroes.’
