When fans talk about Lee Van Cleef, they usually jump straight to his legendary Spaghetti Westerns—For a Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Sabata, Death Rides a Horse. But in 1968, right at the height of his fame in Italy, Van Cleef stepped away from the dusty frontier and into the middle of World War II for one of his most overlooked films: Commandos, a gritty Italian-Euro war movie directed by Armando Crispino.
Though it never reached the cult status of his Westerns, Commandos has an unexpectedly interesting production history. Here’s a look behind the curtain at how this unusual Lee Van Cleef project came together.
A Western Star Dropped Into WWII
By 1968, Lee Van Cleef was incredibly in demand in Europe. His stern features and quiet intensity made him a natural fit for western antiheroes, but producers also realized he could carry other genres—especially films set in harsh, dangerous terrain.
The Italian production company behind Commandos wanted a familiar, bankable American face to anchor a gritty war drama. Van Cleef’s rising popularity basically guaranteed international distribution. Even though war films were not his usual territory, he took the role for the challenge—and for the chance to avoid being typecast.
Behind the scenes, Van Cleef reportedly enjoyed the change of pace, especially the military-style precision required for the action scenes.
Filming in the Desert: Tunisia as WWII North Africa
While many Italian war films of the period were shot cheaply in Spain or rural Lazio, Commandos aimed for a more authentic look. Production moved to Tunisia, where the dunes, abandoned forts, and colonial-era architecture provided a convincing North African setting.
The desert, however, was not kind to the cast and crew:
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Temperatures on set frequently exceeded 110°F (43°C).
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Equipment overheated, and film reels had to be stored in shaded makeshift tents.
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Van Cleef, a heavy smoker, joked in interviews that the desert was the only place where “even a cigarette feels exhausted.”
The heat became such a problem that shooting schedules shifted to early mornings and late afternoons to avoid the worst of the sun.
Action Scenes on a Budget
Like many Italian “macaroni combat” films, Commandos pushed its limited budget to the limit.
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Real WWII vehicles were scarce, so mechanics modified trucks and jeeps to resemble period German and Italian hardware.
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Explosive effects were done practically with small charges buried in the sand—something that required careful coordination and occasionally startled cast members when the timing wasn’t perfect.
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Because Tunisia had leftover WWII equipment scattered in remote areas, the production actually purchased and repurposed some authentic items.
Van Cleef, known for doing many of his own action moments, participated closely in choreographed firefights. Crew members later noted that he handled weapons confidently thanks to his long history of Western stunt work.
Director Armando Crispino’s Ambitious Vision
Armando Crispino, later known for cult horror films (The Etruscan Kills Again, Autopsy), approached Commandos with more ambition than most wartime B-pictures of the era.
He wanted the film to feel tense and morally gray, steering away from gung-ho patriotism. Crispino pushed for:
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A gritty, dirty battlefield look
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Low-key character conflict rather than heroic speeches
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Realistic portrayals of soldiers under stress
This often led to long discussions between Crispino and Van Cleef, who brought his own ideas about toughness, guilt, and leadership. Despite occasional disagreements, both respected each other, and their collaboration gave the film its more serious tone.
The International Cast and On-Set Culture Clash
As with many Italian co-productions of the 1960s, Commandos featured actors from all over Europe and the U.S.—each speaking their own language during filming. Dialogue was dubbed in post-production anyway.
The mix of Italian, American, German, and Yugoslav crew members created occasional communication hiccups, but it also made the set lively. Cast members recalled:
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Long communal dinners after shooting
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Card games and wine-filled evenings
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A playful divide between the “Western guys” who idolized Van Cleef and the European dramatic actors who approached scenes more theatrically
Van Cleef, who didn’t speak much Italian, often communicated with gestures, humor, and that unmistakable stare.
A Film Overshadowed by Spaghetti Westerns
When the movie was released, it performed respectably in Europe but barely registered in the U.S. It arrived at a time when Lee Van Cleef’s identity was firmly cemented in the Western genre. Fans expecting another gunslinger film weren’t quite sure what to make of him in desert fatigues.
Still, Commandos found a second life on late-night television in the 70s and 80s, and today it occupies a special niche in Van Cleef’s career—an example of what he could do outside the saddle.
Why Commandos Matters Today
It may not be his most famous movie, but Commandos shows Lee Van Cleef experimenting, stretching his range, and tackling a tough, physically demanding shoot. It also represents the fascinating moment when Italian cinema was trying to blend Hollywood action with European filmmaking grit.
For Van Cleef fans, it’s a unique snapshot of a superstar during his most prolific years—working hard, sweating in the desert, and giving even a modest war film his trademark intensity.
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