Behind The Scenes
The cameras weren’t the only ones catching drama on this set. Between odd production choices and moments no one saw coming, the making of Kelly’s Heroes became an eventful experience for those involved.
Sutherland’s Close Call
c's wife received a telegram warning her that he would probably be dead before she arrived in Yugoslavia. What was supposed to be just one day of filming for the Canadian actor turned into a six-week nightmare that nearly cost him his life.
Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer, Wikimedia Commons
Sutherland’s Close Call (Cont.)
During filming, Sutherland got spinal meningitis, worsened by a lack of antibiotics, which led him to go into a life-threatening coma. The 76-year-old actor later recalled that he "saw the white light" and died for a "few seconds" during his ordeal.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Kelly's Heroes (1970)
Twenty Minutes Cut
MGM studio boss James T Aubrey wielded his scissors with ruthless efficiency, slashing approximately 20 minutes from Kelly's Heroes before its theatrical release. The cuts weren't random trims. They included important character development scenes that would have given the film significantly more depth.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Kelly’s Heroes (1970)
Twenty Minutes Cut (Cont.)
Among the deleted footage was a pivotal barn scene where Kelly and Big Joe discussed their disillusionment with the war and why Kelly was made a scapegoat for a failed attack. Eastwood's disappointment with the studio interference was profound and lasting.
Raffi Asdourian, Wikimedia Commons
Filmed In Yugoslavia
There were two compelling reasons why filmmakers chose to work in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia rather than in historically accurate locations like France or Italy. The primary motivation was purely practical: Yugoslavia was one of those nations whose army was still equipped with WWII mechanized equipment.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Kelly's Heroes (1970)
Filmed In Yugoslavia (Cont.)
The second reason was economic genius cloaked in communist doctrine. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's film studios were legally prohibited from making money from movie screenings, which meant they had more money to work with throughout production. They weren't concerned about third parties.
T-34s Disguised Tigers
The menacing German Tiger tanks that dominate several key scenes weren't what they appeared to be on screen. The Tiger tanks shown in Kelly's Heroes weren't really German tanks; they were Russian T-34s that had been modified to look like Tigers.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Kelly's Heroes (1970)
T-34s Disguised Tigers (Cont.)
Sharp-eyed military enthusiasts can spot the deception by examining the suspension systems, as the vehicles retained their telltale characteristics. The T-34s made use of a Christie suspension, while real Tigers had more elaborate wheel arrangements. This creative repurposing of Soviet armor was a cost-saving measure.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Kelly's Heroes (1970)
Eastwood Sang The Theme Song
A vinyl was recorded of Clint Eastwood singing the theme track for Kelly's Heroes, titled "Burning Bridges," which was released by Certron Records on a 45-RPM disc. The B-side featured another Eastwood vocal performance of "When I Loved Her," written by none other than Kris Kristofferson.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Kelly's Heroes (1970)
Eastwood Sang The Theme Song (Cont.)
The Man with No Name had apparently found his voice, at least temporarily. While the Mike Curb Congregation's version reached number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent two weeks at number one in Australia and New Zealand, Eastwood's personal recording remained a collector's curiosity.
Army.mil cropped by Dr. Blofeld, Wikimedia Commons
Landis' Drag Debut
Long before John Landis became the acclaimed director of Animal House and The Blues Brothers, he was just an ambitious young production assistant. In a "blink and you'll miss it" moment, the future director can be seen dressed in drag as Sister Rosa Stigmata in an uncredited role.
Pietro Luca Cassarino, Wikimedia Commons
Landis' Drag Debut (Cont.)
He told anyone who would listen that one day he would make it big in Hollywood. While on the set, Landis told Donald Sutherland that he'd one day be directing movies rather than acting in them, and Sutherland promised he'd star in all his films should this come true.
Giorgio Montersino, Wikimedia Commons
Wife's Grenade Scandal
While Sutherland was fighting for his life in a Yugoslav hospital, his then-wife Shirley Douglas was making headlines back home for all the wrong reasons. She had been arrested for attempting to purchase hand grenades for the Black Panthers using a personal check.
Wife's Grenade Scandal (Cont.)
When Eastwood broke the news to Sutherland during filming, the story's punchline about the personal check sent the stoic actor into uncontrollable laughter. Sutherland recounts that Eastwood laughed so hard he collapsed to his knees and had to be helped back up.
Guinness Book Heist
The seemingly far-fetched plot of American soldiers teaming up with Germans to steal Nazi gold was lifted directly from history. Screenwriter Troy Kennedy Martin discovered the story in the Guinness Book of World Records, where it was listed as "The Greatest Robbery on Record" from 1956 to 2000.
Guinness Book Heist (Cont.)
The actual heist involved a combination of US military personnel and German civilians who made off with the German National Gold Reserves in Bavaria during 1945. It is said that the real treasure was estimated to be worth around $2.5 billion at the time of the investigation.
Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Wikimedia Commons
Curb's Political Career
The catchy hippie anthem "Burning Bridges" that opens and closes the movie had an unlikely political connection that few viewers could have predicted. Mike Curb, who penned the lyrics and led the Mike Curb Congregation that performed the hit version, wasn't content to remain in the music business.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Curb's Political Career (Cont.)
His political ambitions ran as deep as his musical talents, leading him down a path that would make him an important figure in California politics. Between 1979 and 1983, Curb served as lieutenant governor of California. He was the last Republican to hold that office as of 2023.
Mike Curb: Musicians Hall of Fame Backstage by Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
Wrong Director Trapped
Eastwood's involvement in Kelly's Heroes stemmed from loyalty to a friend rather than enthusiasm for the project itself. He had signed on specifically because his collaborator and friend Don Siegel was set to direct the film. Their previous partnerships on Coogan's Bluff had established a creative rapport.
Don Siegel, Last of the independents by Thys Ockersen
Wrong Director Trapped (Cont.)
When Siegel encountered post-production complications while finishing Two Mules for Sister Sara and was forced to withdraw from the movie, Eastwood found himself contractually bound to a project he might not have otherwise chosen. Brian Hutton stepped in as the replacement director, but Eastwood was already locked in.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Ingrid Pitt Cut
The Polish-English actress Ingrid Pitt, known for her thrilling roles in horror classics like Countess Dracula and The Wicker Man, was originally cast as the lone female role in Kelly's Heroes. Having already worked with Eastwood in the film Where Eagles Dare, she seemed like a natural fit.
Ingrid Pitt Cut (Cont.)
Her character would have provided a much-needed feminine perspective to the all-male band of gold-hunting soldiers. The timing of her dismissal was particularly cruel and professionally devastating. According to Pitt herself, she was “virtually climbing on board the plane bound for Yugoslavia when word came around”.
Good Bad Ugly
The climactic standoff between Kelly's team and the German Tiger tank commander pays homage to one of cinema's most iconic Western showdowns. Eastwood, fresh from his success in the Western trilogy, specifically requested that the scene mirror the three-way duel from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.
United Artist, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Good Bad Ugly (Cont.)
The similarities extend beyond just the staging—the mannerisms, camera angles, and even the musical score echo Ennio Morricone's unforgettable composition. Sharp-eared viewers can detect subtle audio easter eggs. During the tense negotiation scene, barely audible spurs jangling can be heard in the background.
Gonzalo Tello, Wikimedia Commons
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