After a surprise raid on a German convoy goes sideways and their imperious C.O., Lieutenant Quayle (Mark Kitto of "The War Below") is killed, the survivors of an ill-fated British commando unit find themselves cut off in Nazi-occupied France. Sergeant Mason (James Oliver Wheatley of "One Ranger") and a mixed batch of Tommies, both black as well as white, along with a couple of pugnacious female French Resistance fighters take refuge in an apparently deserted farm. Alas, they learn the farm is not completely deserted. Now, between the blotched mission and the forced march that culminates at the deserted farm house, co-writer & director Bill Thomas indulges in moments reminiscent of Louis Milestone's classic World War II movie "A Walk in the Sun" as the Tommies reflect on their predicament. One of the blacks doesn't trust the French girls, while one of the whites, a smart aleck named Leech (Daniel Thrace of “Book of Monsters”), causes no end of trouble. His precipitant action when he whipped back the rear flap of the flatbed revealed a nasty Kraut holding a flame-thrower. Although Leech eludes death, the Tommy who had accompanied him is incinerated. Now, this incendiary death is probably the most violent scene. Meantime, “Fortunes of War" never tries to rival the grit, grime, and gore of "Saving Private Ryan.” Nevertheless, everything about this infantry epic looks entirely plausible. Thomas generates considerable urgency from the get-go with our heroes exchanging gunfire with the enemy. Meaning, less talk and more action! Sadly, the filmmakers reveal next to nothing about that raid gone wrong. Lieutenant Quayle claimed his plan would succeed like clockwork.
Afterward, Mason, his men, and the French dames must fight the Nazis in a baptism of bullets. Essentially, this modest military melodrama could be classified as a single setting actioneer. Eventually, Thomas and co-scribe Ian Thomas came up with a title that foreshadows the chief surprise in this men on a mission movie. As war weary Sergeant Mason, James Oliver Wheatley radiates a gruff virile charm as he chews the scenery. This slap happy combat non-com keeps reminding his men he isn't their "mum." The French Resistance girls know which end of their weapons to aim at the enemy. Annette (Sophie Craig of "The Adventures of Maid Marian") cradles a machine gun like a baby, while her fellow French compatriot, Ines (newcomer Meg Forgan), lugs around a sniper's rifle. Ines rarely misses what she fires at in a fracas. These dames have no qualms about loosening a hail of lead into a passel of Jerries. Would that the filmmakers had developed their characters in greater depth so they would be more memorable. No sooner have our heroes taken up residence at the farm than they encounter some suspicious characters. Turns out one of them is a Belgium guy who has a screwy story to tell them about bricks. Eventually, our outnumbered and outgunned chaps find themselves surrounded by more Germans than they can shower with a hand grenades. It comes as something of a shock when German General Horseler (Bob Cryer of "The Undertaker"), immaculate in his trench coat and cap, wants to negotiate with them. He worries more about what our heroes may reveal when they surrender as well as what his men will think when they discover his underlying motives. Turns out Horseler had been melting down precious Jewish contraband, that is, golden ornaments and glittering jewelry into ingots! The sooner Horseler can get these infernal Brits out of the way, the less attention he will face about his ulterior motives. Mind you, the Brits chop up a fair number of the enemy before this happens. Shrewdly, Horseler uses this moment of silence to wave the white flag of peace. To all outward concerns, Horseler justifies it as time for his troops to remove the wounded and the dead.
Thomas relies heavily on the charisma of his capable cast, since their budget couldn’t accommodate the kind of fireworks display we're accustomed to in million-dollar military melodramas. This stiff upper lip saga about the aftermath of a blown mission clocks in at a meager 85 minutes. Happily, Thomas makes certain the air is swarming with bullets, and our heroes are whittled down one by one until only a handful are alive. Some of the German soldiers look like they are wearing American helmets, but everybody appears to tote period-accurate firearms. Sergeant Mason brandishes a .30 calibered Thompson submachine gun, while the most of the German soldiers carry the familiar MP 40 "Schmeissers." Beware of the DVD cover art for “Fortunes of War,” because a flaming B-17 flies above our heroes. No aircraft are ever seen in this movie. Apart from highlighting the little-known fact blacks served in the British Army during World War II, "Fortunes of War" is a fair to middling potboiler. If racially integrated World War II epics are your cup of tea, you should watch “Come Out Fighting” (2022) about African American tankers in Patton’s army!
