Lost Command
| Lost Command | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Directed by | Mark Robson |
| Produced by | Mark Robson |
| Screenplay by | Nelson Gidding |
| Based on |
The Centurions 1960 novel by Jean Lartéguy |
| Starring |
Anthony Quinn Alain Delon George Segal Michèle Morgan Claudia Cardinale |
| Music by | Franz Waxman |
| Cinematography | Robert Surtees (Panavision) |
| Edited by | Dorothy Spencer |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
|
Release date
|
October 1966 (France) |
|
Running time
|
129 minutes |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,150,000 (est. US/ Canada rentals) 4,294,756 admissions (France) |
Lost Command is a 1966 war film starring Anthony Quinn, Alain Delon, George Segal, Michèle Morgan, Maurice Ronet and Claudia Cardinale. The film, which was directed by Mark Robson, was based on the best-selling 1960 novel The Centurions by Jean Lartéguy. The film focuses on the story of French paratroopers battling in French Indochina and French Algeria.
In the final moments of the 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu, a weakened French garrison anticipates a last assault by communist Viet Minh troops.
The garrison commander, Basque Lt. Col. Pierre-Noel Raspeguy (Anthony Quinn), has called central headquarters for reinforcements. Headquarters sends only a single plane load of French paratroopers, under the command of Major de Clairefons. Despite Raspeguy's attempts to provide covering fire, the paratroopers are slaughtered as they land. Major de Clairefons is killed when his parachute drags him into a minefield. Raspeguy is enraged that General Melies (Jean Servais) sent only one plane, and further believes that Melies intends to make Raspeguy responsible for the entire debacle at Dien Bien Phu.
The Viet Minh overrun the French, with the survivors captured and imprisoned. Among Raspeguy's friends are military historian Captain Phillipe Esclavier (Alain Delon), Indochina born Captain Boisfeures (Maurice Ronet), surgeon Captain Dia (Gordon Heath) and Lt Ben Mahidi (George Segal), an Algerian-born paratrooper who turns down a Viet Minh leader's (Burt Kwouk) offer for preferential treatment because he is an Arab. Raspeguy's leadership keeps the men together in their captivity. When released after a treaty between the Viet Minh and France, Raspeguy leads his men in demolishing a delousing station that they see as a humiliation.
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Wikipedia