Here are some fun behind-the-scenes facts every fan will enjoy!
Background of Kelly’s Heroes (1970)
In 1945, as Allied bombers pounded Berlin, the Germans began moving their most valuable assets south to keep them safe. Trains packed with gold and other financial reserves were sent out, setting the stage for a story so compelling it caught the attention of Ian Sayer and Douglas Botting. When they began their investigation, the treasure was believed to be worth around $2.5 billion.
What they uncovered also pointed to a U.S. scandal that predated Richard Nixon and Watergate by nearly 30 years. The authors ran into constant roadblocks and feared for their safety as they dug deeper, exposing layers of cover-ups and deceit.
Their investigation uncovered a murky post-war underworld filled with smuggling, corruption, and organized crime. With help from declassified U.S. government files and eyewitness accounts, Sayer and Botting pieced together a shocking tale that included SS fugitives, a red-haired crime boss, and American military officials living in luxury.
In a surprising twist, the authors even managed to trace part of the missing treasure to the Bank of England.
The Yugoslavian Army’s fleet of M4 Shermans
Fans of Kelly’s Heroes may already know that much of the film was shot in Yugoslavia—but have you ever wondered why? The reason is that the Yugoslavian Army possessed a huge number of M4 Shermans at the time, allowing the filmmakers to showcase these armored vehicles in the movie.
Donal Sutherland nearly lost his life while filming
While shooting the film in Yugoslavia, Donald Sutherland, who played Sgt. “Oddball,” got spinal meningitis. This type of meningitis can be deadly because it causes swelling in the fluids and membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
Sutherland’s wife was urgently contacted by telegram and told to fly to Yugoslavia right away, with a warning that her husband might not make it before she arrived. Thankfully, he fully recovered and went on to have a long career in acting.
Things change during the editing process
Scenes get moved around all the time during the editing process; it’s only after filming that directors realize a certain part would fit better earlier or later on in the film. This was true for Kelly’s Heroes. Eagle-eyed viewers of the film will notice that, when going to visit Staff Sgt. “Crapgame,” Clint Eastwood‘s Pvt. Kelly brings him a bottle of whiskey. However, when he visits Don Rickles‘ character later on, he’s given the exact same bottle.
It’s likely these scenes were switched around during editing, with the initial intention likely being that the second one would occur earlier in the movie.
Using the sound of the Tiger tanks’ turrets in Aliens (1986)
Talk about ingenuity! The distinctive sound of the electric motors in the Tiger tanks’ turrets from Kelly’s Heroes was later recycled by the filmmakers of Aliens (1986). They used this iconic sound to amplify the movement of the power lifters in the sci-fi classic.
Donald Sutherland’s wife was arrested for aiding the Black Panthers
While in Yugoslavia, Clint Eastwood told Donald Sutherland that his wife, Shirley, had been arrested for trying to buy grenades for the Black Panthers, a far-left political group. She had tried to pay with a personal check, but the person she was dealing with turned out to be an undercover FBI agent.
Sutherland recalled that when Eastwood got to the part about the personal check, he laughed so hard that he collapsed and had to be helped up. After regaining his composure, he reassured Sutherland that he fully supported him through the situation.
Kelly’s Heroes pays tribute to a Clint Eastwood western film
During the middle part of his career, Clint Eastwood starred in several spaghetti westerns, among them The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). He’s a member of the main trio, which also consists of Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach. If you’re a fan of the film, then you might have noticed that Kelly’s Heroes references it.
The stand-off with the German Tiger tank is almost an exact remake of the ending to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Not only are the mannerisms the same, the film score is almost identical. On top of this, the sound team also dubbed the sound of jangles over the scene, but you can only hear them if you listen closely.
The Tiger tanks in Kelly’s Heroes were actually Russian T-34s
The tanks featured as Tigers in Kelly’s Heroes weren’t authentic German models. In reality, they were Russian T-34s that had been altered to look like Tigers. This is clear when you look at their suspension systems: the T-34s have a modified Christie suspension, while the Tigers were equipped with a more complex wheel design.
Donald Sutherland teamed up with John Landis in future films
Donald Sutherland has worked with director John Landis on several projects, including National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) and The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977). Their frequent collaborations aren’t just coincidence—there’s a story behind them.
While filming Kelly’s Heroes, Landis, who was working on the production, told Sutherland that one day he’d be directing films instead of working behind the scenes. Sutherland promised that if that happened, he’d appear in Landis’s movies. Landis did go on to become a major director, creating hits like Trading Places (1983), Coming to America (1988), The Blues Brothers (1980), and An American Werewolf in London (1981).
Although Sutherland didn’t act in every Landis film, he did honor his word by making cameo appearances in a few.
A parody of Marlon Brando
Even though Marlon Brando doesn’t feature in the film, doesn’t mean he doesn’t make an appearance… Sort of. The German tank commander played by Karl-Otto Alberty is actually a parody of Brando’s character in 1958’s The Young Lions, Lt. Christian Diestl.
Clint Eastwood, the musician
A vinyl was recorded of Clint Eastwood singing the theme song for Kelly’s Heroes, titled “Burning Bridges.” It was released by Certron Records on a 45-RPM disc. It also featured a B-side – “When I Loved Her” – which was written by Kris Kristofferson and, again, sung by Eastwood!
Ingrid Pitt almost had a role in Kelly’s Heroes
Famed actress Polish-English actress Ingrid Pitt was known for such films as Countess Dracula (1971), The Wicker Man (1973) and The House That Dripped Blood (1971). She also co-starred alongside Clint Eastwood in 1968’s Where Eagles Dare, and was slated to make an appearance in Kelly’s Heroes – that is, until her part was unexpectedly cut.
According to Pitt, she was to play the lone female role in the movie, and was “virtually climbing on-board the plane bound for Yugoslavia when word came that my part had been cut.”
What does the blue “crosshair” patch mean?
The blue “crosshair” shoulder patch worn by Pvt. Kelly and his men actually indicates they’re members of the 35th Infantry Division, a section of the US Army National Guard (AMG) that was called into federal service during the Second World War.
The infantry division is comprised of Guardsmen from Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.
A play on words… Or names
First Sgt. Mulligan, played by George Savalas, is known for making mistakes—and that’s no coincidence! In golf, a “mulligan” refers to a do-over, giving a player a second chance to correct a bad shot. This clever name choice by the filmmakers adds a fun layer of meaning to the character, making it a subtle inside joke for those who catch it.
Who was John Landis in Kelly’s Heroes?
Renowned Hollywood filmmaker John Landis worked as a production assistant on Kelly’s Heroes, but few people know that he also made a cameo in the film. If you watch closely, you’ll spot him disguised as one of the three nuns—a fun hidden detail for eagle-eyed viewers!
There’s an error in the aircraft featured
Although the filmmakers managed to secure authentic World War II-era tanks for Kelly’s Heroes, they weren’t as fortunate when it came to aircraft. The American fighter that attacks Pvt. Kelly’s group isn’t actually from WWII—it’s a Soko 522, a two-seat Yugoslav military trainer that didn’t take flight until 1955.
The only reason Clint Eastwood signed on for Kelly’s Heroes
Clint Eastwood only signed on to appear in the film because his friend, Don Siegel, was supposed to direct it. However, the director ran into post-production issues while finishing up work on 1970’s Two Mules for Sister Sara and had to withdraw.
Following Siegel’s departure, Brian G. Hutton signed on to direct Kelly’s Heroes. Eastwood, who’d already signed a contract to appear in the film, couldn’t pull out.
The man behind “Burning Bridges” held another important role
Mike Curb, the lyricist behind “Burning Bridges,” wasn’t just a famed musician and composer. He also served as the lieutenant governor of California between 1978-82, and as of 2023 is the last Republican to have served in the role.
Sgt. Oddball carries the wrong sidearm
Throughout Kelly’s Heroes, you’ll notice Sgt. Oddball carries a Luger P08 “Parabellum semiautomatic pistol, despite the weapon only being in service in Switzerland and Germany. An American serviceman wouldn’t have had such a weapon assigned to him.
Kelly’s Heroes wasn’t always titled as such
Prior to Kelly’s Heroes hitting theaters, it underwent a number of changes. Approximately 20 minutes of footage was cut by MGM studio boos James T. Aubrey, and the movie was even renamed, with the original title being The Warriors. In post-production, it was retitled Kelly’s Warriors, before the decision was ultimately made to go with Kelly’s Heroes.
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In later interviews, Clint Eastwood revealed how disappointed he was in how the film was recut, as many of the deleted scenes gave the characters much more depth. Some were still shown on promotional stills and were described by the cast and crew in Cinema Retro‘s special edition article about Kelly’s Heroes.