The Rosie the Reviewer Podcast

Welcome to Rosie the Reviewer, a Dutch-Canadian female-led WW2 media podcast. A new episode airs every Friday!

Back to all episodes

Ep 64 – The Devil’s Brigade – The Birth of the Black Devils on Monte la Difensa

Subscribe:

Apple PodcastsCastBoxPocketCastsSpotifyRSSAmazon MusicYouTube

Share

Support the podcast

Rosie the Reviewer is a passion project, built episode by episode. If you’d like to support what we do, you can help keep us on the air or pick up some Rosie merch. We’re working on more ways for you to get involved in the future.

merch

Description

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we take on the 1968 WWII film The Devil’s Brigade, a movie full of misfit characters, Italian mountains, and a whole lot of bagpipes. Based on a real American-Canadian commando unit known as the Devil’s Brigade or the Black Devils, the film mixes adventure with questionable casting choices (why does everyone look 47 or up?) and a fun hour long training session. We talk about William Holden, snake collections, the birth of the Green Berets, and good old Americans scrapping with Canadians. Also: fake red berets, what’s up with that?

The Devil's Brigade trailer

Book Rec by Sam

The Devil's Brigade – book cover

The Devil’s Brigade by Robert H. Adleman and George Walton is the nonfiction book the film is based on, co-authored by a member of the First Special Service Force. It offers rich insight into the origins, training, and dramatic missions of the Black Devils—and clears up which parts Hollywood got wrong.

BUY ON AMAZON
*This is an affiliate link. If you buy through this link, we get a small percentage, and you get a book and help Rosie stay afloat. Thank you!

Discover more from the Rosie the Reviewer Podcast

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More episodes

Rosie the Reviewer the Monuments Men cover image

Ep 82 – The Monuments Men – Art Preservation During WWII

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we talk The Monuments Men (2014), George Clooney’s glossy take on the true story of Allied soldiers racing to rescue Europe’s art from the Nazis. Joined by Merc, we unpack the film’s stacked cast, its mix of humour and drama, and why it never quite decides if it wants to be a comedy, a war drama, or an art heist. From Rose Valland’s secret lists to the missing Ghent Altarpiece, we explore what’s fact, what’s fiction, and why the real story deserves better.

Go to episode »
Rosie the Reviewer logo

Ep 47 – SAS Rogue Heroes Season Two – Part One (With Ben Simmons and George) Exploring Episodes 1-3 of SAS Rogue Heroes Season 2 with Our Military Experts

In this week’s episode, SAS Correspondent George and SAS Rogue Heroes military advisor Ben Simmons are back to discuss the long-anticipated second season. Since we like to give the show the attention it deserves, this is the first part of a two-part episode covering episodes 1-3 of SAS Rogue Heroes season 2. Check back next week for episodes 4-6.

Go to episode »
Ep 84 – Nuremberg – Episode Art

Ep 84 – Nuremberg – Fact, Film, and the Psychology Behind Evil

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we take a look at Nuremberg (2025), written and directed by James Vanderbilt and based on The Nazi and the Psychiatrist by Jack El-Hai. We talk about the performances by Russell Crowe and Rami Malek, what we thought of the film, and, of course, provide you with some real history, including a broader historical context around the Nuremberg Trials.

Go to episode »
Rosie the Reviewer Battle of Britain

Ep 80 – Battle of Britain – Finally Some RAF… Guy Hamilton’s Air Epic

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we take to the skies for Battle of Britain (1969), Guy Hamilton’s sweeping recreation of the 1940 air campaign. We talk about the film’s impressive aerial combat scenes, its documentary-style storytelling, and the astonishing number of real WWII aircraft used on set.

From Christopher Plummer’s dashing Canadian pilot to Michael Caine’s brief but memorable role, we explore how the film mirrors Tora! Tora! Tora! in scope while giving overdue credit to the women of the WAAF. Expect plenty of radar talk, command tensions, and reflections on why this film might teach you more than it thrills.

Go to episode »

Support the podcast

Rosie the Reviewer is a passion project, built episode by episode. If you’d like to support what we do, you can help keep us on the air or pick up some Rosie merch. We’re working on more ways for you to get involved in the future.

Shop rosie merch