The Dirty Dozen (1967) - Final Draft Script - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

The Dirty Dozen (1967) Movie Script (Copy)

Complete screenplay including 224 pages
Final Draft dated May 7, 1966, incorporating the latest revisions
Written by Nunnally Johnson and Lukas Heller

The Dirty Dozen stands as one of the most influential war films of its era, redefining the genre through its unconventional narrative and morally complex characters. Centered on a group of condemned soldiers sent on a near-impossible mission during World War II, the film challenged traditional heroic archetypes and introduced a grittier, more psychological approach to wartime storytelling.

The main cast of The Dirty Dozen includes Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Donald Sutherland, Telly Savalas, George Kennedy, and Clint Walker, bringing together one of the most iconic ensemble casts in 1960s war cinema.

The screenplay itself is a significant piece of cinematic history, capturing the evolution of ensemble-driven narratives and anti-hero dynamics that would shape future war and action films. Its structure, dialogue, and character development reveal a deliberate balance between tension, dark humor and dramatic intensity.

As a Final Draft incorporating the latest revisions, this document offers a rare and valuable insight into the creative process behind a landmark production. Combined with the film’s lasting cultural impact and its bold redefinition of the war genre, The Dirty Dozen remains a cornerstone of classic cinema and an essential reference for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Did you know?

Our scripts come directly from the USA. They are easy to recognize because they have the standard U.S. paper size. Typically, people use A4-sized paper (297mm in height) to make fan copies of scripts. This paper size is not used in the United States; they use letter-sized paper (279mm in height). This is noticeable because this scripts usually have black lines at the top and bottom, showing that the original paper size used to copy (any American script) is smaller than A4.

Also, our scripts have been preserved under the strictest climate control standards in HVAC-R conditions, both during storage and throughout the packaging process. As a result, a label is applied after sealing them, as shown in the photos. They are bound in the same way that vault copies of scripts are preserved, without any oxidizable materials that could damage the paper. They are carefully packed in bubble wrap and placed in a cardboard box to ensure they arrive in the best possible condition.