The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission

The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission

Year: 1985

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

WarTV MovieAction

Back in action and more lethal than before, Major Reisman is coerced into leading another dangerous operation, assembling a team of convicted soldiers facing death sentences or long imprisonments. Their objective: infiltrate enemy lines to eliminate a high‑ranking Nazi general who is plotting to assassinate Hitler.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

September 1944

The events occur during World War II in September 1944, amid the Allied push into Nazi-occupied Europe. Strategic decisions are made under the pressure of ongoing campaigns and resistance activities. The period is defined by clandestine operations, raids, and rapid movements behind enemy lines.

Location

German-occupied France, England

The action shifts between German-occupied rural France, where the mission unfolds, and England, where Allied command coordinates the operation. The contrast highlights the secrecy and danger of behind-enemy-lines planning. The setting emphasizes the stakes of removing a high-ranking Nazi official to disrupt the war machine.

🌍 War zones 🗺️ Occupied Europe 🛡️ Allied Presence

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:18

Main Characters – The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985)

Meet the key characters of The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Maj. John Reisman (Lee Marvin)

A hard-edged, capable commander who molds a disparate group of prisoners into a cohesive combat unit. He blends military precision with a willingness to push boundaries, testing their limits to ensure mission success. His leadership is challenged by fear, discipline, and the ever-present risk of betrayal.

🧭 Leadership 🎯 Strategy 💪 Determination

Gen. Worden (Ernest Borgnine)

An authoritative Allied general who conceives the mission to derail Nazi leadership. He weighs the ethics of sacrificing some for a larger victory and coordinates the broader strategic context. His role anchors the plan and its high-stakes implications.

🎖️ Command 🧭 Strategic 💼 Authority

Sam Sixkiller (Sonny Landham)

A disciplined marksman and the group’s steadying force. He balances aggression with restraint and remains loyal to Reisman and his teammates. His actions drive key moments of combat and protect others under pressure.

🧭 Precision 💪 Loyalty 🗡️ Courage

Arlen Dregors (Ricco Ross)

A volatile, lethal fighter whose intensity tests group cohesion. He is fearsome in combat but must navigate obedience to the mission. He ultimately aligns with the plan and makes a crucial contribution.

🔥 Hot-headed 🗡️ Lethal 🧭 Loyalty

Louis Valentine (Ken Wahl)

A conflicted soldier who initially seeks escape, displaying strong self-preservation instincts. He becomes a source of tension and occasional danger to Reisman. Over time, he moves toward a reluctant commitment to the mission.

🧭 Self-preservation ⚖️ Tension 🗡️ Conflict

Robert E. Wright (Rolf Saxon)

An ambitious and unstable member whose volatile nature introduces risk to the group. He contemplates murder and becomes a focal point for trust issues within the Dozen. His arc ends in confrontation, underscoring the dangers of unchecked aggression.

🗡️ Aggression 🧭 Risk 💥 Instability

Tommy Wells (Larry Wilcox)

A steady, capable fighter who endures hardship and remains loyal to the team. He provides resilience in the face of setbacks and helps maintain group cohesion during the mission.

🛡️ Resilience 🤝 Teamwork 🧭 Reliability

Didier Le Clair (Jay Benedict)

A French guide who uses bilingual skills to navigate and misdirect, helping the Dozen move as covertly as possible. Resourceful and quick-thinking, he steadies the group when plans go awry. His role highlights the value of local knowledge in covert operations.

🗺️ Guidance 🗨️ Translation 🤝 Collaboration

Conrad E. Perkins (Gavan O'Herlihy)

A pragmatic, steady member who endures injury and keeps strategy on track. He balances risk against duty, grounding the team’s plans in practicality. His calm presence helps steer the group through chaotic moments.

🧭 Strategy 🛡️ Bravery 🧱 Steadiness

Otto Deutsch (Stephen Hattersley)

A loyal, wary member of the Dozen whose skepticism is tempered by discipline. He shows steady resolve under pressure and contributes to the operational flow. His cautious nature contrasts with hotter impulses within the group.

🧭 Caution 🛡️ Resolve 🤝 Loyalty

Reynolds (Paul Herzberg)

One of the initial recruits who remains practical and engaged under fire. He contributes to the team’s adaptability and resilience as plans unfold. His presence emphasizes the mix of risk and camaraderie among the Dozen.

🛡️ Endurance 🗺️ Resourcefulness 🤝 Camaraderie

Baxley (Michael John Paliotti)

A dependable member whose resolve is tested by injuries and intense combat. He shows grit and loyalty, staying committed to the mission despite setbacks. His endurance helps sustain the team through critical moments.

🛡️ Endurance 💪 Loyalty 🧭 Resilience

Sanders (Jeff Harding)

A Dozen member who endures the mission and contributes despite hardship. His participation underscores the collective effort and the human costs of covert warfare. He remains part of the group’s fighting spirit until the mission’s end.

🛡️ Endurance 🤝 Teamwork 💥 Courage

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:18

Major Themes – The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985)

Explore the central themes of The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎯 Courage & Sacrifice

Twelve convicted soldiers accept a suicide mission, forced to confront fear and loyalty under extreme risk. The operation asks them to weigh personal safety against the greater good. The narrative uses this premise to examine how far people will go when facing almost certain death for a cause.

🧭 Leadership

Reisman’s tough, disciplined guidance keeps a diverse group together under pressure. He negotiates discipline, trust, and the temptation to bend the rules for self-preservation. His decisions shape the mission and define the line between command and coercion.

🕵️ Deception

Disguises and misdirection drive the plan, with the team posing as German soldiers and manipulating both enemies and allies. The strategy relies on stealth and false signals, risking catastrophic failure if details unravel. The moral cost of deceit is weighed against strategic necessity.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:18

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The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission Summary

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The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission Summary

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The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission Timeline

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