After an introduction showing Lee Marvin playing a soldier who survives World War I, the action skips to World War II when Marvin as a U.S. sergeant leads his unit through the various battlegrounds, including Sicily, the invasion of France, Belgium, and the liberation of a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. The scenes are tough, relieved occasionally by encounters with children that mix sentiment with tragedy. The point of it all is to stay alive, not the heroics that are the staple of most war movies. I could not help but think of the plight of the soldiers currently facing death in Iraq.

Marvin is tremendous in the role, probably his best ever. His weather-beaten face, relieved only occasionally by a half-smile, tells its own story of cynicism, toughness and endurance. Mark Hamill plays Griff, another key character. Fuller served in the division depicted, and the film has autobiographical roots. Getting it on screen was dear to Fuller’s heart. Others in the cast include Robert Carradine, Bobby Di Cicco and Kelly Ward. New soldiers come and go and the death rate is high along way, making the exploits of this hearty band all the more harrowing. Fuller’s approach is always gritty, and when one learns of the additions to what was originally released, it is easy to see what a difference there is now.