I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

MARCH OR DIE, a film Sheldon Lettich evidently watched many times while writing the script for Jean-Claude Van Damme's tighter but similarly disappointing LEGIONNAIRE, follows Gene Hackman as an American Major in charge of a French Foreign Legion company comprised mainly of raw recruits, sent to guard an archaeological site in Morocco amid a Berber uprising.Performance-wise, you could hardly do much better with Hackman, Max von Sydow, and Terence Hill all delivering career-highlight performances and constantly in direct conflict with each other. The waters really muddy heavily upon early entrance of poorly developed love object Catherine Deneuve who seems to just wander around Morocco while these three men (plus a seedy British-Indian merchant) all compete for her attention. Whether or not she sleeps with at least 3 of them is left to interpretation, and to me it really plays very little into the exciting main story, yet hogs an inordinate amount of screen time.Once the film finally gets down to business, it kicks into high gear with one stand-out exciting action scene which beats any other desert action / war scene I've seen (and that includes LAWRENCE OF ARABIA and LION OF THE DESERT). It is no coincidence Maurice Jarre got tasked with the inevitable score for this film, which sandwiches it comfortably between those two other epics. Dick Richards's direction lacks that David Lean epic flair but his handling of the action stands as a revelation, bolstered by some excellently tense editing.There stand however a lot of logical holes that just don't make a lot of sense to me. Why would foreign legion recruits only receive 2 weeks of training before being sent to a dangerous sector where they are almost certain to be attacked? Why don't they make their fortifications taller? What was the rationale behind defiling the Berber's crypt yet offering them the most valuable piece of treasure in it as a 'gift'? Was Hackman's disrespectful character just completely insane up until the end, and if so, why does nobody (save lovable rogue Terence Hill) ever waiver in loyalty-to or confidence-in him?The film calls a lot of French tactical decision-making and military tradition into question, and also takes on a decidedly anti-intellectual stance, especially in terms of our Westernized view of the value of art preservation and archaeology. In the end, it seems its sentiments lie squarely with the Berbers who behave nobly (besides the odd torture-murder they commit) but lovingly captures waves upon waves of screaming masked swordsmen easily mowed down by hip-fired Lewis guns. It's a strange film and has no clear antagonist and not even a clear hero, though Terence Hill seems to be the center of attention as our Everyman to get behind. It's a shame that this was his only big Hollywood role, because he's actually quite decent. Ian Holm returned to play a similarly stern not-quite-Arab authority figure of dubious loyalty the following year in "The Thief of Baghdad" TV movie.

First off, Gene Hackman is always excellent in authoritative roles, whether it be "March or Die" or "Hoosiers". As the commanding officer of a Legion assigned to protect a desert archaeological expedition, Hackman argues unsuccessfully, but quite convincingly, that the dig will have dire consequences. The real surprise here is Terence Hill as the soldier who resists authority. This is without question a completely different Terence Hill than the buffoon we see in his "spaghetti westerns". The film takes it's time to develop characters, and then trains them for their destiny with disaster in the desert. There is nothing predictable about this movie, as it has several twists that are non obvious. Recommended. - MERK

This is a nice story of courageous men who have every gone out to face death ; dealing with an American Major named Foster (Gene Hackman) , recently finished WWI , he joined the French foreign Legion , and is assigned (by Max Von Sidow) to guard an archaeological expedition in Morocco desert . The ragtag team is formed by a rascal soldier named Mario (Terence Hill) , joined to avoid jail , a Russian corpulent (Jack O'Halloran) , a tough corporal (Vernon Dobtcheff) and a sadistic lieutenant (Marcel Bozzuffi) , among others . Following a full-clichéd plot with a brutal commanding , plenty of cruel punishments and brutality of training . Besides , the inevitable mystery woman (Catherine Deneuve) who falls in love with Mario . But the Foster's unit is attacked by Al Krim , an Arab leader who actually lived -in fact , he united the Morrocan tribes to battle French and Spanish army in the North of Africa until being defeated in Alhucemas- . The tiny garrison at the dig making a last stand against the assaults (in the wake to ¨Zulu¨ by Cy Endfield and ¨Dawn Zulu¨ by Douglas Hickox) .This adventure-epic movie contains agreeable acting , drama , noisy action , breathtaking battles and spectacular outdoors . Filmed on location in the Sahara desert , including an impressive production design by Gil Parrondo and marvelous cinematography by excellent cameraman John Alcott . The movie belongs to Foreign Legion genre , the story gets reminiscent with classic movies such as ¨Under two flags¨ (with Ronald Colman) , ¨Beau Geste¨ (Gary Cooper)¨and recently made ¨Legionnaire¨ (with Jean Claude Van Damme) . The pic was lavishly produced by the famous producer Jerry Bruckheimer along with Lew Grade . The motion picture was professionally directed by Dick Richards , and he gets efficiently to remain the adventure and action until the final . Before entering the film industry , Dick Richards was a contributing photographer for Life magazine , subsequently turning into filmmaking . Richards is a good craftsman who has directed a few films but of great quality , such as ¨The Culpepper Cattle¨, ¨March or die¨ , Death valley¨ , ¨Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins ¨and ¨Farewell my lovely¨ at his best . In addition , he found the script for 'Tootsie' and co-produced it with Sydney Pollack . Rating : Acceptable and passable . Well worth watching for Gene Hackman fans and adventure cinema enthusiasts.

This is a very unusual film in some ways, and very interesting. Gene Hackman is good, and Terence Hill is excellent in a different part for him. Hill almost seems to be acting as Steve Mcqueen. Whatever his technique, its effective. There is one thing that sets this film apart from every other movie out there, it has one of the all time great battles. Yes, it has to be one of the best ever filmed, a thing of true beauty. Violent, gritty, and very realistic. You can feel the desperation as the legionaires frantically play out their own version of Custer's Last Stand. Truthfully, the big climatic battle scene could stand alone as a good film. If you like Hackman or Hill/Mcqueen don't miss this one. Papillion joins the Foreign Legion...very cool!!!!! Loved it