Dark of the Sun

Take elite commandos, send them on a do-or-die assignment and sit back and watch the action explode.

The men-on-a-mission formula that worked in The Dirty Dozen and Where Eagles Dare provides another salvo of volatile screen adventure with this strike-force saga released in 1968.

Rod Taylor and Jim Brown are among a mercenary unit rolling on a steam train across the Congo, headed for the dual tasks of rescuing civilians imperiled by rebels and recovering a cache of diamonds.

The film’s violence is fierce, unforgiving, and ahead of its time. Quentin Tarantino would offer a tribute of sorts to this red-blooded wallop of a cult fave by using part of its compelling score in 2009’s Inglourious Bastards.