Thestoryisfreshandoriginal,andpresentedwithuniquetwistsfrombeginningtoend.FiveGermansoldiersareparachutedintoNorthAfrica,andwilltrektoCasablancatoassassinateaconferenceofChurchill,RooseveltandDeGaulle.Lenzi’sfilmisatrueexampleofcharacter-drivendramaatitsbest.KenClarkisCaptainSchoeller,leaderoftheunit,andhe’sneverlessthantotallyconvincingasadie-hardadvocateofHitlerandNazism.HorstFrank(ThunderfromtheWest)playsLt.Wolfwithgustoandconviction.Wolf’smotherisAmericanandhisbestfriendisaJew,soheandSchoellerdon’tseeeye-to-eye.HeandSchoellerclashoveropposingidealsseveraltimes.Despitetheirdissension,botharededicatedsoldierswhohaveajobtogetdone,andgrudginglyworktogethertoaccomplishthemission.Lenzineverstraysfarfromthiscentralconflictofideals,alwayskeepinghismessageclearlyinfocus.ThesupportingcastoffamiliarEuropeanactorsisexcellentall-around.CarloHintermann,HardyReycheltandHowardRossroundouttheGermanteam.Hintermannmakesthemostofhislittleroleasatough,dedicatedGermanSergeant,acareersoldierwho’lldowhathe’stoldwhenhe’stold,noquestionsasked.JeanneValerieandFabienneDaliaretwofemalecharacters,whosemotivesareneverclearlydefineduntilthefilm’sthirdact–andthat’swhenyourealizewhosesideeachisreallyon.GianniRizzohasafewbriefscenesasaFrenchinformer,workingwiththeGermans,andgetstodoblastawayatAmericansoldierswithamachineguninoneofthefilm’snail-bitingactionscenes.BesuretowatchforTomFelleghy(TheGreatestBattle),JohnStacy(BattleoftheCommandos),andFrancoFantasia(Adios,Sabata)insmall,yetkeyrolesasAlliedofficers.Thoughtheaction-packedfootageisscant,what’shereisbrilliantlyeditedanddirected.Thethirdactistenseandfast-paced,astheGermanheroesdodgebulletsacrossrooftopsandduckthroughalleywaysasAmericanMPsareinhotpursuit.ThefinalinfiltrationofChurchill’sbanquetinghallisexcellentlysetup,withfrustratinglydeliberatepacing,whichwillleaveyouontheedgeofyourseat.Thisclimaxendsabruptlywithagreatsurprise,causingyourjawtodropasyouwonderWhatjusthappened…?Twoaspectsoffilm-makingthatLenziandhiscrewseemtoemphasizearethesetsandlandscapes.Thereisnotoneshotinthismoviethatlooksoutofplace.WhentheGermanofficerstalkinheadquarters,theinteriorlookslikeanofficeinaGermanheadquarters.Thefilmissetinthedesert,andthereareconstantwideshotsasactorsspeakandwalkwhichrevealthatthesesceneswereactuallyshotinthevastEgyptiansanddunes.TheoasisofKuffranlooksespeciallybustling,andtheessenceoftheatmosphereofCasablancaduringwartimeissuperblycaptured.Duringthistimeperiod,manydirectorsfellbackonshabbyinteriorsandshotinoutdoorlocationswhichlookedcompletelywrong.Forexample,CommandoAttack,alsoshotin1967,waslensedinSpainandexteriorswerepassedoffassouthernFrance,yetit’sclearlyvisibletheactionwasnotoccurringintheFrenchcountryside.Finally,thereareanumberofotherlittledetailswhichcontributetothisfilm’ssuccess:fineeditingandcamera-workgivethismovieaveryprofessionallookandfeel;italwayslooksprofessional.Lenziisjuststartingtodevelophisstyle,andhissignatureclose-upsareusedinmoderation,butmeanallthemorewhentheyareused.Therearesomegreatcraneshotsandwideshotsusedtoestablishthescopeofthesets,mostnotablyinthescenessetinCasablanca.Thisisdefinitelyagreatfilm,withsomestronglydevelopedinternalconflictsandfleshed-outcharacters.ThequalityofLenzi’sfilmswoulddegenerateastheyearspassed,butDesertCommandoiseasilyoneofthebestwarfilmstocomeoutof1967,rankingrightuptherewithTheDirtyDozen.