The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission

The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission
Original movie poster
Genre	Action War
Written by	Michael Kane
Directed by	Andrew V. McLaglen
Starring	Lee Marvin Ernest Borgnine Ken Wahl Wolf Kahler
Music by	Richard Harvey
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
Production
Producer(s)	Harry R. Sherman Frederick Muller (associate producer)
Location(s)	England
Cinematography	John Stanier
Editor(s)	Alan Strachan
Running time	95 min.
Production company(s)	MGM/UA Television
Distributor	NBC
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	February 4, 1985

The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission is a made-for-TV film and sequel to the original Dirty Dozen, directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and reuniting Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine and Richard Jaeckel 18 years after the original hit war film. Marvin returns to lead an all-new dirty dozen on a mission to assassinate an SS General played by Wolf Kahler.

In German occupied France in September 1944, Waffen-SS General Dietrich (Wolf Kahler) plots with other high-ranking Nazi officials to make a second attempt on Hitler's life.

In England, General Worden (Ernest Borgnine) learns of the plot through the French Resistance. He and other Allied generals are worried that if Dietrich assassinates Hitler, capable Nazi commanders will continue the war beyond 1945. Worden considers Hitler "their best ally," because his incompetence as a military commander is "paralyzing his own army."

In the meantime, Major John Reisman (Lee Marvin) is on trial for hijacking a shipment of steaks intended for high-ranking American officers, when Worden summons him and tells him that he is to again train twelve convicted US soldiers for a suicide mission: namely, to assassinate General Dietrich before he can assassinate Hitler. Reisman considers the idea of stopping Dietrich ludicrous, but Worden leaves him little choice, threatening to send him right back to trial if he does not cooperate.

Reisman returns to Marston Tyne Military Prison to select a new Dirty Dozen, again with the help of MP Sergeant Clyde Bowren (Richard Jaeckel). He initially selects thirteen prisoners — a baker's dozen.