"The Proud and the Damned" is a film that was made in 1969 but not released until 1972. This means, most likely*, that the powers that be knew it was a stinker of a film and would lose money...so it just sat in limbo for three years before ultimately being released. Because of this, I had very low expectations for the picture.
The film is about a group of Confederate soldiers who decide to become mercenaries after the US Civil War ends. So, they head to war-torn South America where their services might be needed. Unfortunately, the local authorities seem to know why they are there and order them to leave the country. However, a local mayor (Caesar Romero) sees need of their services and he invites them to stay as his guests. What exactly does he want them to do? See the film...or not.
So is it any good? Well, it's not terrible...but it is, at times, terribly dull and a bit cheap. It's certainly not as bad as I expected....though I expected the worst. Cheap looking despite it's location shoot in Columbia, South America.
*In at least 90-95% of the cases, being shelved is a sure sign of a terrible film. One exception was "Arsenic and Old Lace". When the studio made it, they agreed not to release this Cary Grant film until the play ended its Broadway run. Surprisingly, it was such a hit that it, too, was shelved for a few years until the play closed.
The film is about a group of Confederate soldiers who decide to become mercenaries after the US Civil War ends. So, they head to war-torn South America where their services might be needed. Unfortunately, the local authorities seem to know why they are there and order them to leave the country. However, a local mayor (Caesar Romero) sees need of their services and he invites them to stay as his guests. What exactly does he want them to do? See the film...or not.
So is it any good? Well, it's not terrible...but it is, at times, terribly dull and a bit cheap. It's certainly not as bad as I expected....though I expected the worst. Cheap looking despite it's location shoot in Columbia, South America.
*In at least 90-95% of the cases, being shelved is a sure sign of a terrible film. One exception was "Arsenic and Old Lace". When the studio made it, they agreed not to release this Cary Grant film until the play ended its Broadway run. Surprisingly, it was such a hit that it, too, was shelved for a few years until the play closed.