Tarnished Heroes

Tarnished Heroes is a 1961 British war film directed by Ernest Morris and starring Dermot Walsh and Anton Rodgers. It was produced by Danziger Productions.

The film is set in France during World War II, and concerns a British major who destroys a Nazi convoy. The plot of the film bears similarities to The Dirty Dozen, although it was made five years before Robert Aldrich's film, and three years before the novel on which it is based.

Plot
When Major Roy Bell and his company are trapped by the advancing German army, Bell decides to embark on a suicide mission to blow up a bridge which is of strategic importance to the enemy. However, the only resource available to him is a group of rag-tag army failures, made up of drunks, thieves and deserters. According to the officer's handbook, 'an officer will perform whatever task confronts him with whatever men are available'. Under Bell's guidance, these men must now rise to the challenge and prove themselves as heroes if they are to fulfil the mission and come back alive.

Cast

 * Dermot Walsh as Major Roy Bell
 * Anton Rodgers as Private Donald Conyers
 * Patrick McAlinney as Private Timothy Reilly
 * Richard Carpenter as Private Frederick Burton
 * Maurice Kaufmann as Private Thomas Mason
 * Max Butterfield as Private Anthony Burton
 * Brian Peck as Private Bernard White
 * Hugh David as Private Walter Hoyt
 * Graham Stewart as corporal
 * John Scott as Col. Moreton
 * Stuart Hillier as Capt. Mead
 * Sheila Whittingham as Josette
 * Andreas Malandrinos as Flamoun
 * Frank Thornton as trench officer
 * Richard Bennett as officer
 * Eric Corrie as officer
 * Ray Austin as Stunt Coordinator

Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Dragging British World War II film with most of the textbook clichés: standard second feature action sequences, mildly purposeful acting."

Tortillafilms wrote "Ernest Morris makes a good little film."

Sky Movies noted " things are reassuringly in their place with Dermot Walsh, hero of a fistful of `B' movies, at the head of the cast. In a small role as a trench officer, you may spot Frank Thornton, later well-known on television for his long-running role in Are You Being Served?."