Synopsis

During World War II, Army lieutenant Kelly learns that a German officer knows the location of a fortune in Nazi gold. With the help of a tough sergeant, a cynical supply officer, and Oddball's eccentric tank crew, Kelly leads a rogue mission behind enemy lines. Their objective is to rob the bank before the war ends, while surviving German defenses and their own commander's interference.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was released in the United States on June 23, 1970, after principal photography that ran from June through December 1969.

• Although set in France, much of the movie was filmed in what was then Yugoslavia, including locations in present-day Croatia and Serbia. The production benefited from access to military equipment and large-scale outdoor settings.

• The project went through several working titles, including "The Warriors" and "Kelly's Warriors," before MGM settled on "Kelly's Heroes."

• MGM cut approximately 20 minutes before the theatrical release. Clint Eastwood later expressed disappointment that some deleted material had provided additional character depth and smoother transitions between sections of the story.

• The film was made as a United States-Yugoslavia co-production on an estimated $4 million budget.

• Lalo Schifrin wrote the score, while the Mike Curb Congregation performed the closing theme, "Burning Bridges." The song became a chart hit in several countries.

• Blending a World War II adventure with the structure of a caper movie and an openly anti-authoritarian comic tone, the film gradually developed a strong cult following after its mixed initial reception.