Commando (1962 film)
Introduction '''''Marcia o Crepa''''' (March or Die), known as '''''The Legion's Last Patrol''''' in the UK and '''''Commando''''' in the US, is a 1962 European (Italian, German, Spanish) co-production war film about the Algerian War of Independence.It was released in 1964 in the US by American International Pictures on a double feature with ''Torpedo Bay''/''Beta Som''.In the UK this film was shown at Odeon cinemas as part of a double feature with ''The Day of the Triffids''.
Plot French Foreign Legion Captain Le Blanc (Stewart Granger) leads a section of his Legion parachutists to capture an FLN guerrilla leader. Along the way they are joined by a prostitute (Dorian Gray) and an Arab child. Their mission is a success but when their escape helicopter is shot down they have to fight their way back to the French lines.
Cast * Stewart Granger : capitaine Leblanc * Dorian Gray : Nora* Fausto Tozzi : Brascia* Riccardo Garrone : Paolo* Carlos Casaravilla : Ben Bled* Ivo Garrani : Colonel Dionne* Alfredo Mayo : 	Mayor* Pablito Alonso : 	Arab Kid* Hans von Borsody : Fritz* Maurizio Arena : 	Dolce Vita * Dietmar Schönherr : 	Petit Prince* Peter Carsten : 	Barbarossa* Leo Anchóriz : 	Garcia
Production The theme music ''Concerto Disperato'' by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino became a top selling instrumental in Italy performed by Nini Rosso and in the UK with a cover version by Ken Thorne reaching No. 4.
Reception The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "mediocre,  its timely subject matter reduced to the level of a formula Western. "The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' said "despite up-to-date dressing this is basically a schoolboy adventure story, though somewhat grimly executed... the narrative owes more to war movies than  P.C. Wren, being a variation on the old idea of the gradual decimation of a patrol. Still, the film is an example of action all the way, apart from the gratuitously ironic ending which, though tart, comes as a decided anti-climax."
References
External links ** Commando at Letterbox DVD* Commando at BFI