Was it explained why Richard Jaeckel's character (an MP, Sgt. Bowren) went on the mission? Lee Marvin's character Reisman was the leader, and the 12 convicts were hoping for a pardon, but what was in it for Bowren to go on a virtual suicide mission?
shareIn the novel he said Reisman would need someone to watch his back and that he didn't want any of the prisoners to think they could something he couldn't. He ended up killing Franko at the end when Franko pulled a gun on Reisman.
shareAh! Thanks!
shareMakes sense.
shareIn the novel he said Reisman would need someone to watch his back and that he didn't want any of the prisoners to think they could something he couldn't.
In the novel, he actually stows away in order to go along. When Reisman goes to the pilot's compartment during the flight into France, he finds Bowren hiding there.
I think this scene might have been filmed and deleted from the finished film. At one point, Reisman does go forward to speak to the pilot, then we jump ahead to everone on the ground. Bowren is with them, but notice his uniform is a different shade from the others. I think its possible Bowren was stowing away in the movie as well, but they simply opted to cut that scene out.
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Having a non-convict NCO accompany the major made it a little less likely that this collection of rather undisciplined soldiers would not just frag Reisman and abort the mission.
"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."
As I understand it from the trivia section
Trini Lopez quit before the flight and Bowman was there so they would have 13
You don't see Trini on the flight, and when they land He is the one dead in an apple tree --- still leaves 13