{ "id": "ep9rv7pk84", "slug": "the-dirty-dozen-next-mission", "title": "The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries", "label": "Action, thriller, and crime series film entries", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "label": "Entries released in the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "label": "United States · 1946 to 2000: Entries released in the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946", "label": "United States · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries", "label": "Action, thriller, and crime series film entries", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "label": "Entries released in the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s" } ] } ], "excerpt": "The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985 TV movie, aka Dirty Dozen 2), directed by Andrew V. McLaglen; Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine return as Reisman and Worden leading convicts to kill a Nazi general plotting to assassinate Hitler.", "snippet": "The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985 TV movie, aka Dirty Dozen 2), directed by Andrew V. McLaglen; Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine return as Reisman and Worden leading convicts to kill a Nazi general plotting to assassinate Hitler.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "markdown": "# The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission\n\n**The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission** is a 1985 American made-for-television war film and the first sequel to *The Dirty Dozen* (1967), directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and first broadcast on February 4, 1985.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dirty_dozen_next_mission) [Lee Marvin](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-marvin), Ernest Borgnine, and [Richard Jaeckel](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-jaeckel) return in their original roles, leading an all-new squad of convicted soldiers on a mission to assassinate a Nazi general.[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/961639/pop-culture-101-the-dirty-dozen)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Format | Made-for-TV film, sequel to *The Dirty Dozen* (1967)[3](https://dirty-dozen.fandom.com/wiki/The_Dirty_Dozen%3ANext_Mission_%281985%29) |\n| First broadcast | February 4, 1985[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dirty_dozen_next_mission) |\n| Runtime | 95 minutes[4](https://www.thetvdb.com/movies/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission) |\n| Director | Andrew V. McLaglen[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089026/fullcredits/) |\n| Returning cast | Lee Marvin as Maj. John Reisman, Ernest Borgnine as Gen. Worden, Richard Jaeckel as MP Sgt. Clyde Bowren[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/961639/pop-culture-101-the-dirty-dozen) |\n| Production company | MGM/UA Television[4](https://www.thetvdb.com/movies/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission) |\n| Writers | Michael Kane, with Lukas Heller and Nunnally Johnson (characters), based on the novel by E.M. Nathanson[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089026/fullcredits/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nDuring World War II, Major General Worden orders Major John Reisman to pick twelve soldiers from military prison for a dangerous mission: killing a Nazi general.[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089026/plotsummary/) The target is Waffen-SS General Sepp Dietrich (Wolf Kahler), who is plotting to assassinate Hitler. The Allies, judging that Hitler's failing leadership is weakening Germany, want to keep him in power, so the squad must go behind enemy lines and eliminate Dietrich before the plot can proceed.[7](https://wevegotbackissues.com/2025/03/30/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission-1985-review/) Reisman, facing a court martial of his own, is easily persuaded to take the job and trains a new dozen of convicted soldiers sentenced to death or long prison terms.[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089026/plotsummary/)\n\nThe mission includes a training montage, the takeover of a train carrying the general (with talk of gold aboard, used to motivate the mutinous squad), a high-speed bus chase, and a race to an airplane.[8](https://www.bulletproofaction.com/2020/09/14/bullet-points-the-dirty-dozen-next-mission/)\n\n## Cast\n\nLee Marvin stars as Maj. John Reisman, with [Ernest Borgnine](https://www.edgepedia.org/ernest-borgnine) as Gen. Worden and Richard Jaeckel as MP Sgt. Clyde Bowren, all reprising their roles from the 1967 film.[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/961639/pop-culture-101-the-dirty-dozen) The new dozen includes [Ken Wahl](https://www.edgepedia.org/ken-wahl) as Louis Valentine, Larry Wilcox as Tommy Wells, Sonny Landham as Sam Sixkiller, and [Gavan O'Herlihy](https://www.edgepedia.org/gavan-oherlihy) as Conrad E. Perkins, with Ricco Ross as Arlen Dregors.[9](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission/cast/2030117876/) Wolf Kahler plays Gen. Sepp Dietrich, and Michael Sheard appears as Adolf Hitler.[9](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission/cast/2030117876/)\n\n## Production\n\nMcLaglen, whose credits include *The Wild Geese* and [John Wayne](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-wayne)'s *Hellfighters*, directed from a screenplay by Michael Kane, with characters credited to Lukas Heller and Nunnally Johnson and the underlying novel credited to E.M. Nathanson.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089026/fullcredits/) • [8](https://www.bulletproofaction.com/2020/09/14/bullet-points-the-dirty-dozen-next-mission/) Harry R. Sherman produced, Richard Harvey composed the score (performed by the [London Symphony Orchestra](https://www.edgepedia.org/london-symphony-orchestra)), John Stanier was the cinematographer, and Alan Strachan edited.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089026/fullcredits/) According to [Turner Classic Movies](https://www.edgepedia.org/turner-classic-movies), some shots and sequences from the original 1967 film were edited into the sequel.[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/961639/pop-culture-101-the-dirty-dozen)\n\n## Release and reception\n\nThe film aired on February 4, 1985, with a listed runtime of about 95 minutes to 1 hour 36 minutes depending on the source.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dirty_dozen_next_mission) • [4](https://www.thetvdb.com/movies/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission) Film historian Stuart Galbraith IV, writing for DVD Talk, notes that it received mostly bad reviews but good ratings, and seems to have done very well overseas, possibly even receiving a theatrical release in some markets.[10](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/68013) Critics have generally treated it as a cheaper replica of its predecessor, with limited production values and a recycled plot, while crediting Marvin's return as the film's most consistently enjoyable element.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dirty_dozen_next_mission) On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 22% Tomatometer from one critic review.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dirty_dozen_next_mission)\n\nNext Mission was later included, in high definition, as an extra feature on the [HD DVD](https://www.edgepedia.org/hd-dvd) and Blu-ray releases of *The Dirty Dozen*.[10](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/68013)\n\n## Place in the series\n\nThe original film inspired three loosely connected television movie sequels. *Next Mission* (1985) was followed by *[The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-dirty-dozen-the-deadly-mission)* (1987), in which [Telly Savalas](https://www.edgepedia.org/telly-savalas) took the lead as an Army major leading a misfit band to destroy a nerve gas plant, and *The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission* (1988), in which Borgnine and Savalas reprised their roles one last time.[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/961639/pop-culture-101-the-dirty-dozen) Borgnine played General Worden in all four films.[10](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/68013)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dirty_dozen_next_mission)\n2. [Pop Culture 101: The Dirty Dozen, Turner Classic Movies](https://www.tcm.com/articles/961639/pop-culture-101-the-dirty-dozen)\n3. [The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985), Dirty Dozen Wikia](https://dirty-dozen.fandom.com/wiki/The_Dirty_Dozen%3ANext_Mission_%281985%29)\n4. [The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission, TheTVDB.com](https://www.thetvdb.com/movies/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission)\n5. [The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (TV Movie 1985) Full Cast & Crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089026/fullcredits/)\n6. [The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (TV Movie 1985) Plot, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089026/plotsummary/)\n7. [The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985) Review, We Have Issues](https://wevegotbackissues.com/2025/03/30/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission-1985-review/)\n8. [Bullet Points: The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission, Bulletproof Action](https://www.bulletproofaction.com/2020/09/14/bullet-points-the-dirty-dozen-next-mission/)\n9. [The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission Full Cast & Crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission/cast/2030117876/)\n10. [Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission / The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission Blu-ray review, DVD Talk](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/68013)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Action, thriller, and crime series film entries › Entries released in the 1980s*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-dirty-dozen-next-mission. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission, directed by Andrew V." }