'Kelly's Heroes' in the Making Quiz

Answer: The Warriors

Initially, the film was intended as a possible successor to 'The Dirty Dozen' and 'Where Eagles Dare', both unconventional war movies that had seen huge box office success.

Answer: Yugoslavia

Marshall Tito's Yugoslav government were very accommodating to the film production. It offered thousands of Yugoslav army reserves as extras, a couple of tanks, and even the 'expendable' and deserted town of Viznada to double as the French town of Clermont (it was on former Italian territory and had been evacuated following border changes in 1954). Production was also based in the Serbian city of Novi Sad and the ancient Roman port of Umag.

Answer: Telly Savalas

'Big Joe' was Kelly's platoon sergeant. A tough, hard-bitten NCO who was respected by the men he led, he took some persuading to become involved in Kelly's plan to steal 14,000 gold bars from a bank behind enemy lines. Telly Savalas was to become the iconic 'Kojak' on TV.

His brother George Savalas, who also had an important part in 'Kojak', played the role of Sergeant Mulligan in 'Kelly's Heroes'.

Answer: Don Rickles

'Crapgame's co-operation became vital to the success of the mission, since he had access to the necessary supplies and could pull various strings to ensure that things went more smoothly. He came across as more of a profiteer who was out to make a fast buck than a highly professional NCO. The contrast and tensions between 'Big Joe' and 'Crapgame' added to the humour in the film.

Don Rickles' presence in the film gave a strong signal of its light-hearted comedic intent, rather than that of an all-action war film.

Answer: Brian G.Hutton

Clint Eastwood was offered director approval to get him on board with the project. Although he originally wanted Don Siegel to direct, Siegel was still busy with the post-production work of 'Two Mules For Sister Sara'. MGM suggested Hutton instead, who had worked with Eastwood on 'Where Eagles Dare'.

Answer: A nun

As Kelly's team approached Clermont on the back of Oddball's tank, a line of four nuns walked past in the background. One of them, possibly the suspiciously tall one, was Landis in drag!

Landis, who was barely 20 years old at the time, went on to make such famous comedies as 'The Blues Brothers', 'An American Werewolf in London', 'Trading Places' and 'The Three Amigos'.

Answer: True

Clint Eastwood had been more successful as an actor and director but, like so many before him, he saw an opportunity to dabble in a singing career. The song provided the backing music for a hectic opening scene as Kelly drove a jeep through enemy lines with a captured German in the passenger seat. The eventual version of 'Burning Bridges' was performed by The Mike Curb Congregation.

Answer: Donald Sutherland

Donald Sutherland played Sergeant 'Oddball', the incongruous hippy tank commander. He lent the service of his three 'Sherman' tanks in return for a share in the loot.

Sutherland contracted viral menangitis, and had to undergo two spinal tap operations before completing the project.

Answer: Russian 'T-34'

Surprisingly, the Soviet-built tanks were made available by courtesy of the Yugoslav army. Even though it was 25 years after the end of WW2, there were also genuine 'Tiger' tanks still being operated in Spain. The Fascist government under General Franco, however, refused permission for their use.

Answer: Scottish

Martin also wrote the script for another heist movie, the original 'The Italian Job' starring Michael Caine. He had developed his skills as a writer on the long-running British TV cop series, 'Z Cars'.